Goodbye, Columbus and Five Short Stories / Letting Go

After several false starts over the years, I finally read Goodbye, Columbus (1959) all the way through.

Last fall, without a copy at hand, I was eager to read Roth's second book and first full-length novel, Letting Go (1962). It's not a widely known title these days, overshadowed by his later successes like Portnoy's Complaint, American Pastoral, and The Plot Against America, and of course, his first book that established his reputation.

Letting Go may not be easily available now, and my only copy is in the first of the Library of America volumes dedicated to Roth's works. Since it's paired with Goodbye, Columbus, I saw this as a chance to finish the latter and gain a better understanding of his earliest writings. I'll try to put together a somewhat coherent review of both, but I might just ramble from thought to thought.

Goodbye, Columbus might seem like a rather uneven collection, but it perhaps reflects Roth's talents and the directions he would take. It includes melancholic love stories, pitch-perfect comedic pieces, and Newark nostalgia (even in the 50s). The first time I read the title novella, I didn't like it much and found the characters Neil and Brenda rather annoying. This time, I may not have been more sympathetic to Neil, but I appreciated the story more. "Defender of the Faith," "Epstein," and "Eli, the Fanatic" are great at exploring different kinds of tension. "Conversion of the Jews" was hilarious, and I don't think I fully understood "You Can't Tell a Man by the Song he Sings."

The only references I've seen to Letting Go were made by Larry McMurtry, who called it the best exploration of a particular social milieu, that of graduate school in the 1950s, a world Roth and McMurtry both belonged to. When I first read the reference in McMurtry's book, I was pleased that one of my favorite writers had favorably mentioned another. Both entered graduate studies in English literature around the same time, McMurtry at Rice and Roth at Chicago, and both emerged without a doctorate.

Letting Go centers on Gabe Wallach, a part-time narrator, but there are several other characters whose forays into adulthood, love, and sex Roth explores. Wallach is the least attached but finds himself involved in the lives of others. The novel starts in Iowa City, where Wallach meets Paul Herz, a creative writing PhD candidate. Their circumstances are almost opposite. Both are Jewish men from New York in their 20s, but Gabe is wealthy and Paul is hapless. Gabe is seeking love and is untethered, while Paul is in a troubled marriage. They all move around a lot in the 50s, seeking but never quite finding the right place. They end up in Chicago, where the bulk of the book is set and where Gabe and Paul teach at the University of Chicago. While there, Gabe gets involved with Martha Reganhart, a single mother dealing with the social constraints of the 50s.

This novel seems both more and less measured than Roth's other works I've read. More in that there is less narcissism or chauvinism. The male characters may make unfortunate statements and actions, but these are presented as human flaws. The women are well drawn, and their desires and opinions are not ignored. However, the novel is less measured in its sprawl. It's not indulgent or boring; on the contrary, it's nice to get lost in. Whereas his later works focus on some artistic conceit, this one is more of a contemplative character study. There are some profound scenes and narratorial musings, and it anticipates some of the themes of The Unbearable Lightness of Being. I'll be thinking about this one for a while. It wasn't everything I hoped, but it was satisfying. As always, I love great prose stylists, and Roth is one of them.

July 2019.

Our book group at LMU was assigned "Defender of the Faith", a truly wonderful short story.

I took the time to read some of the other reviews on Goodreads. Interestingly, more than for any other author I've read, the readers here really showcased their "rating system". It seemed that most of them were of the college professor type, extremely tough graders!

I am most intrigued by the reactions from Jewish readers and those from non-Jewish readers. The first-person protagonist is Nathan Marx and the antagonist is Sheldon Grossbart.

I've never done this before, but upon finishing this story, I made detailed lists of adjectives to describe both Nathan and Sheldon.

In some aspects, the story might seem quite dated, perhaps due to the era in which it was written. However, in other ways, it is remarkably timely, addressing themes and issues that are still relevant today.

Overall, I highly recommend this story. It offers a unique perspective and引发 deep思考 about various aspects of faith, identity, and human nature.

I'm eager to hear the different interpretations and reactions from the members of our book group when we discuss it further.

I'm still in a state of indecision regarding whether I have an affinity for the short story form or not. This collection, unfortunately, didn't tip the scales in either direction for me.

I found myself disliking Epstein mainly because at the climax, there were two glaringly unanswered questions. Firstly, why on earth did he go to the neighbor's house? This mystery remained unresolved, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction. Secondly, what exactly happened when his daughter went into the house after the ambulance had left? The lack of clarity on this front was equally frustrating.

Goodbye, Columbus was the very reason I initially picked up the book, and it was, without a doubt, the standout piece of the bunch. It had a certain charm and depth that the other stories seemed to lack. However, overall, the collection failed to truly win me over and convince me of the merits of the short story form.

Perhaps I need to explore more diverse collections or give the form more time to grow on me. But for now, my verdict remains undecided.

A snapshot of post WWII Jewish folks in the US in the late 50s provides a fascinating glimpse into their lives and experiences.

In the 70s, I delved into several Roth novels, among which was our well-known friend, Portnoy. However, I had never before read Goodbye, Columbus or any of the short stories.

After finally getting the chance to read them, I found that Columbus was just okay. It had its moments, but it didn't quite capture my attention as fully as I had hoped.

On the other hand, the short stories were truly excellent! They were filled with vivid characters, engaging plots, and thought-provoking themes. Each story seemed to offer a unique perspective on the Jewish experience in America during that time period.

I was particularly impressed by the way Roth was able to capture the nuances of human relationships and the challenges faced by the characters. The short stories left a lasting impression on me and made me eager to explore more of Roth's work.

Roth experiences the inevitable growing pains as he endeavors to find his rhythm.

He is on a journey of self-discovery and refinement in his writing style.

The short stories he has crafted possess their own charm and merit.

However, "Letting Go" presented a bit of a challenge for me.

It felt like a bit of a slog to make my way through it.

While there were captivating passages that drew me in, they were unfortunately bogged down by insufferable characters.

Their actions and behaviors were at times so off-putting that it detracted from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Despite this, Roth's talent as a writer is still evident, and I look forward to seeing how he continues to evolve and grow in his craft.

“Goodbye, Columbus” – this is a work that holds a certain significance for me. I remember that I went to school with this guy. In fact, I went to school with six of this guy. It's quite an interesting coincidence.

Each of these encounters in school has left an impression on me. Maybe it was the way we interacted in the classroom, or the shared experiences during breaks.

Oh, well, Roth was U of C. This fact adds another layer to the story. It makes me think about the different paths we all took after school.

Despite the passage of time, these memories still linger. They are a part of my life, and “Goodbye, Columbus” serves as a reminder of those days.

Roth's debut collection consists of the eponymous novella and several short stories. Saul Bellow once commented that Roth "emerged fully formed, claws and fangs in full." Indeed, there is a great deal of playfulness and even a touch of piety within these pages.

However, this collection also marked the beginning of Roth's conflict with Jewish conservatives. He was condemned in synagogues as anti-Semitic, which was a significant controversy. Despite this, it remains an amazing debut. In fact, "The Conversion of the Jews" alone is more than worth the price of admission. Arguably, it is a perfect short story, filled with equal parts hilarity and touching moments.

The final image of the young student descending from the heavens is among the most moving in all of Roth's work.

On the other hand, "Letting Go" is a 'big' novel, with Roth venturing into the territory of Henry James. While there are very moving passages within it, it is not a work that I would rank at the top of his writings. Perhaps it is best recommended for die-hard Roth fans only.

Please see my reviews of each of the two volumes included in this collection.

My edition contained obvious typographical errors. These errors might have originated from the uncritical adoption of the original printed versions of these texts.

It is quite concerning as these typographical mistakes can potentially affect the reader's understanding and interpretation of the content.

One would expect a certain level of quality control in the production of a published work, especially when it is a collection of important texts.

The presence of these errors gives the impression that perhaps not enough care was taken during the editorial process.

It is essential for publishers to be more vigilant in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the texts they release.

This would not only enhance the reading experience for the consumers but also uphold the reputation of the publisher and the works themselves.