Bellissimo romanzo, di una tristezza infinita. It is a beautiful novel, filled with infinite sadness.

In esso la morte rappresenta, come è logico, il punto d’arrivo, cioè la conclusione dell’esistenza, ma al tempo stesso costituisce anche il punto di partenza, ossia la prospettiva in base alla quale vengono considerate e ripercorse le varie fasi della vita. In it, death represents, as is logical, the endpoint, that is, the conclusion of existence, but at the same time it also constitutes the starting point, that is, the perspective from which the various phases of life are considered and retraced.

Ad accentuare questa impressione concorrono sia la tecnica narrativa adottata da Roth (una voce narrante in terza persona, che si identifica totalmente con il protagonista già defunto), sia la scelta degli episodi che scandiscono il racconto. Dall’infanzia all’età avanzata, infatti, i punti salienti su cui si incentra la riflessione sono rappresentati dagli incontri, dapprima isolati e poi a mano a mano sempre più frequenti ed assillanti, con la malattia, il decadimento, il dolore fisico e il terrore della morte. To enhance this impression, both the narrative technique adopted by Roth (a third-person narrator who completely identifies with the already deceased protagonist) and the choice of the episodes that punctuate the story contribute. In fact, from childhood to old age, the salient points on which the reflection focuses are represented by the encounters, at first isolated and then increasingly frequent and disturbing, with illness, decay, physical pain and the terror of death.

Quasi a volervi ravvisare dei segnali, dei moniti sull’unica verità esistente, ovvero la fine ineluttabile di tutto. Almost as if one wanted to perceive there some signals, some warnings about the only existing truth, that is, the ineluctable end of everything.

Il lungo flashback che parte dal funerale, riavvolgendosi per così dire su se stesso, fino a concludersi nel momento preciso del trapasso, comunque, non si risolve in una riflessione sul senso del vita o in un bilancio delle proprie scelte o, ancora, in un ripensamento dovuto al rimorso per gli errori commessi; bensì esclusivamente nel rimpianto vivido e struggente per il vigore della giovinezza, per il tempo che fugge e per tutto ciò che comporta essere forti e sani. The long flashback that starts from the funeral, winding back on itself, so to speak, until it concludes at the precise moment of the passing, however, does not resolve into a reflection on the meaning of life or into a balance sheet of one's choices or, again, into a reconsideration due to remorse for the mistakes made; but exclusively into a vivid and poignant regret for the vigor of youth, for the fleeing time and for everything that being strong and healthy implies.

Insomma un inno all’energia, alla vitalità, alla fisicità integra e possente, ai piaceri del caldo, dell’estate, del nuoto, del sesso; alla sensazione di tenere tra le proprie mani la vita, di esserne padrone indiscusso, e all’illusione che essa durerà in eterno. In short, a hymn to energy, to vitality, to integral and powerful physicality, to the pleasures of warmth, of summer, of swimming, of sex; to the sensation of holding life in one's hands, of being the undisputed master of it, and to the illusion that it will last forever.

Vero protagonista nel romanzo, quindi, è il corpo umano (non per nulla il protagonista afferma che se avesse deciso di scrivere un’autobiografia l’avrebbe intitolata ‘Vita e morte di un corpo maschile’): tutto è corpo e il corpo è tutto; vivere è essere fisicamente presente. E la morte è assenza, il terribile nulla. Therefore, the true protagonist in the novel is the human body (not without reason the protagonist states that if he had decided to write an autobiography he would have titled it 'Life and Death of a Male Body'): everything is body and the body is everything; to live is to be physically present. And death is absence, the terrible nothing.

"Si era sempre sentito corroborato dalla stabilità, mai dalla stasi. E questa invece si chiamava stagnazione. C'era ormai un'assenza di conforto in tutte le sue forme, un'aridità mascherata da consolazione, e non era più possibile tornare indietro. Era stato preso da un senso di \\"alterità\\" [...] Non c'era più nulla che stimolasse la sua curiosità o che rispondesse ai suoi bisogni, nè la pittura, nè la famiglia, nè i vicini, nulla tranne le giovani donne che gli passavano davanti facendo jogging la mattina sulla promenade. Mio Dio, pensava, che uomo ero una volta! Che vita avevo intorno! Che forza avevo dentro! Nessuna \\"alterità\\" da avvertire! Una volta ero completo: ero un essere umano."

"He had always felt strengthened by stability, never by stasis. And this instead was called stagnation. There was now an absence of comfort in all its forms, a dryness masked by consolation, and it was no longer possible to go back. He had been seized by a sense of \\"otherness\\" [...] There was no longer anything that stimulated his curiosity or that responded to his needs, neither painting, nor family, nor neighbors, nothing except the young women who passed in front of him jogging in the morning on the promenade. My God, he thought, what a man I was once! What life I had around me! What strength I had inside! No \\"otherness\\" to perceive! Once I was complete: I was a human being."

The protagonist harvests a bitter balance after a dramatic journey among memories.

A life in ruins to which redemption or atonement is not granted, but only the remorse induced by the achieved awareness.

A careful analysis, written with an impeccable style.

A bitter but unforgettable novel.

It seems that the protagonist is trapped in a web of past experiences, unable to break free. The journey through memories is like a painful excavation, unearthing all the mistakes and regrets.

The lack of redemption or expiation adds to the sense of hopelessness, making the remorse even more profound.

The author's analysis is so detailed and the style is so flawless that it draws the reader in and makes them feel every emotion.

This novel is not only a story but also a reflection on life, making it truly unforgettable.

Absolutely harrowing—and yet, in some strange way, by the conclusion, it is oddly comforting. The text is filled to the brim with Roth's trademark, stark, unflinching, and razor-sharp aperçus. However, these are softened and rounded into a peaceful slumber, much like the protagonist's all-too-human and small life. This is achieved by the often graceful cadences of the prose here, which is so different from the crashing waves that the boy still alive within the dying older man recalls body-surfing in his youth. I have an immediate urge to open the next installment in this series of late career novellas. At the same time, I don't want to let go of this state of gentle melancholy that Roth has so elegantly (and seemingly without effort) instilled in me. It's a complex and captivating emotional landscape that Roth has masterfully painted, leaving the reader both eager for more and reluctant to part with the current moment of literary immersion.

The story of this book is about the encounter with death in middle-aged people. Well, one would expect it to be a cold and gloomy story, and indeed it sometimes even brings a bitter smile. In fact, one of the characters that I paid a lot of attention to and wanted to read more about in detail was the old man who committed suicide.

Moreover, some time ago, my friend who writes short stories and we talk about people's views and feelings together raised a topic, and we came to the conclusion of this question: Why would an old person commit suicide? We had seen an example of it in the movie "Shawshank Redemption". I tried to find an answer using that example, but neither of us could put our words on the table and declare the end of the session. Because of this, I was curious to bring out more of their thoughts and feelings.

This exploration of the reasons behind an old person's suicide is a complex and thought-provoking one. It may involve various factors such as loneliness, illness, a sense of purposelessness, or past traumas. By delving deeper into the minds and emotions of these characters, we can gain a better understanding of the human condition and the challenges that come with aging.

Perhaps through this examination, we can also find ways to offer support and compassion to those who may be struggling with similar issues. It is important to remember that everyone's journey is unique, and sometimes a kind word or a listening ear can make all the difference.

The central theme of the story

I am from Allah and to Allah I return


We didn't come to live but to die
I wanted a narrator who could penetrate the lower layers of the first character's personality as a third person and not just stay on the surface
Of course, it can be said that the modern American novel is like this
Very superficial
Of course, it is easy to read and has a good translation

The story seems to revolve around the profound concept of life and death, as expressed by the phrase "We didn't come to live but to die."

The author desires a more in-depth exploration of the character's personality through a third-person narrator, rather than a merely surface-level portrayal.

It is interesting to note the comparison with the modern American novel, which is often criticized for being superficial.

However, despite this, the story is still easy to read and has a good translation, which may make it accessible to a wider audience.

Overall, the central theme of the story appears to be a complex exploration of human nature and the meaning of life and death.

Late Roth is truly a hard act to follow. His works are so masterfully crafted that whatever I read after them, it just feels like the author couldn't string two words together. The depth of his characters, the complexity of his plots, and the beauty of his language set a standard that is nearly impossible to reach. It's as if he has raised the bar so high that other writers pale in comparison. After experiencing the genius of Roth, it becomes difficult to appreciate the efforts of others. Their words seem flat, their stories lack substance, and their writing style pales in comparison to Roth's. It's a bittersweet feeling, knowing that such greatness exists but also realizing how rare it is. But perhaps it's also a challenge, an inspiration to keep reading and writing, hoping to one day come close to the level of excellence that Roth has achieved.

Mira atrás y repara lo que puedas reparar - le dijo su padre. Esto es una palabra de sabiduría que merece ser considerada detenidamente. Cuando miramos atrás, podemos ver nuestras acciones, nuestras decisiones y los resultados que han tenido. Y aunque no podemos cambiar lo que ya ha pasado, podemos aprender de nuestros errores y reparar lo que es posible reparar.

Además, el padre también le dijo a su hijo que sacara el máximo provecho del tiempo que le queda. El tiempo es un recurso precioso y limitado, y debemos aprovecharlo al máximo. No podemos perderlo en cosas que no son importantes o en lamentarnos por lo que ya ha pasado. En cambio, debemos enfocarnos en lo que podemos hacer ahora para mejorar nuestro futuro.

En resumen, la palabra de sabiduría del padre nos recuerda que debemos mirar atrás para aprender y reparar, y sacar el máximo provecho del tiempo que tenemos para construir un futuro mejor.

I absolutely love Roth, but with this book, I just didn't resonate much.

Perhaps I didn't pick it up at the right time as I spent a whole month on it.

A MONTH on a book that's only 200 pages (actually 232).

I must admit that towards the end, it did capture my attention more strongly.

Roth's works usually have a certain charm and depth that draw me in, but this one just didn't have that same effect initially.

Maybe it was my mindset or the circumstances under which I was reading it.

However, as I persevered and got closer to the end, I started to see some of the qualities that make Roth's writing so unique.

The characters became more vivid, and the story took some unexpected turns that kept me engaged.

Overall, while it wasn't my favorite Roth book, it still had its moments and I'm glad I gave it a chance.

Perhaps on a second reading, I'll be able to appreciate it even more.

Almost perfectly balanced, Everyman reads almost like a funeral dirge. The unnamed protagonist meticulously goes over various significant milestones in his personal life. He deeply reflects on the inescapable inevitability of death and the numerous difficulties that often plague love. It is a relatively quick read, yet it manages to leave an incredibly deep impression. As has always been the case, Roth's prose is descriptively vivid but not to an excessive extent. The dialogues are all highly realistic, and the story unfolds in a manner that keeps you eagerly turning the pages, almost kind of wishing there were more even after the end. For me, this is yet another highpoint in an already celebrated and astonishingly prolific career for Roth.

I came across this short but revealing interview of Philip Roth about Everyman on the NPR website: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st.... It is definitely well worth a listen!

RIP (1933-2018). One of America's literary giants has unfortunately left us, but his works will surely live on and continue to inspire generations to come.

Just living was her own choice, but not to be so alone. The worst aspect of loneliness is that you have to endure it. Either you endure it or you drown. You must strive hard to keep your hungry mind away from looking back at the past.

This is from the text of the book.

In December 2015.

She often found herself lost in thought, wondering how she had ended up in this state of solitude. It seemed as if the world around her was moving forward, while she was stuck in a never-ending cycle of memories and longing.

But she knew that she couldn't let the past hold her back any longer. She had to find the strength within herself to break free and embrace a new beginning.

With determination in her eyes, she took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

This book had nothing for me.

I felt that the only thing I was reading were the memories of going to the hospital and the male patients who are now dead, not in the fascinating space where you want to continue the text; in the most ordinary way and with the least appeal.

It seemed as if the author had failed to capture my interest from the very beginning. The descriptions were平淡无奇and lacked the necessary charm to engage the reader.

I found myself constantly losing focus and having to force myself to continue reading.

Perhaps if the author had taken a different approach or added more vivid details, the book might have been more enjoyable.

As it stands, however, it was a rather disappointing read for me.

One like all, may seem in appearance a common and simple romance, but beneath the surface it is the narration of a life - a confrontation of tears and smiles...

It is the story of a lifetime told in the language of an unnamed man (perhaps the author deliberately didn't give him a name, just like the title of the book, to tell us that this story is not only his life story, but could be the life of any man).

He passed away at the age of seventy-one. While narrating his life from childhood to death, he makes us familiar with the challenges of his life, including emotions, feelings, health, and relationships with those around him.

A man who, despite the events and experiences in his life, after three marriages and divorces, and after relationships with different women, still has no interest in death. And while he is anxious about death, as he gets closer to the end of the road, his longing for life grows stronger.

I didn't know Philip Roth. While reading "Exit Ghost", I was led by an unknown entity to the play "My Name Is Asher Lev", which I didn't get, but as a result of the search, I came across this book, which is related to the subject of that play and has the same title. But due to the lack of a Persian equivalent, the translator has chosen this title for it.

Quotation

"Reality cannot be reconstructed. Accept it as it is. You must stand firm in your place and face it."

"When you are young, it is the outer appearance of the body that matters, how you look from the outside. When you grow older, what is inside becomes important and it no longer matters to anyone what shape you are."

"The worst aspect of loneliness is that you have to endure it... either you endure it or you drown. You have to make a great effort to keep your hungry mind from looking back so that you don't disappear."

Book Review

I only deduct one star from the book so that the qualities and content that I have given five stars to are not overshadowed. Otherwise, the story is very readable, engaging, and touching.

Fifth of December, one thousand four hundred and one.