Having delved into Humboldt's Gift and unashamedly proclaiming myself a die-hard fan of Saul Bellow, I now find myself rather disillusioned with this particular novel.

Kafkaesque is typically employed in a positive light, yet in this work, it seems applicable in a negative sense. That is, one is left unsure about the nature of the problem and who exactly is the victim. Bellow's writing is undeniably excellent and highly descriptive. He vividly captures the searing heat of New York, painting a brilliant picture.

The crux of the matter, however, lies in the story. Asa Leventhal encounters someone named Albee, who holds him accountable for his present life circumstances. Albee then proceeds to harass him continuously. At this juncture, one might expect Asa to simply land a punch and put an end to it all. This is also in congruence with Asa's character, who appears capable of being curt and rude to others. Had the Asa character been timid, it would have been more believable. Or, if the tit-for-tat violence had escalated, it would have raised the question of to what extent. At what point would a man consider it sufficient or enough? This would have been an intriguing question. Regrettably, the novel fails to pose these questions and concludes rather anticlimactically. All in all, it is a disappointment.

"The Victim" is an early work of Bellow, and I truly miss the exuberance of character that bursts forth in his later novels. The plots of his novels are never overly remarkable, and the writing itself, while very good, is not quite great enough. One interesting discovery I made from his recent biographies is that Bellow found many of his novel ideas in his own life. So, in a sense, what we get from Bellow is not even pure "invention".

It is the characters that we read Bellow for. Works like "The Adventures of Augie March", "Herzog", and "Humboldt's Gift" are testaments to this. The main protagonist of "The Victim" is Abe Leventhal, and he is a surprisingly lifeless character - a victim of his own indecision. He is victimized by Kirby Allbee, a drunk Caliban who at least spurs Leventhal into taking some action.

I believe there was an attempt to draw a parallel between Leventhal/Allbee (a Jew and a gentile) and the recent Holocaust in the novel. Allbee is constantly making remarks about "you people", and Leventhal just seems to endure it. The fact that Allbee feels victimized by an act of Leventhal that only a narcissist would think was intentional seems related to the Nazis' absurd sense of being victimized by the Jews. However, as a whole, this construct is not entirely convincing as I couldn't believe that Leventhal would be such an easy target. Maybe that was Bellow's point - don't be a pushover for bullies.

The character of Allbee is closest to the characters Bellow created later, although he is distinctly unsympathetic. Bellow's later main characters were flawed, but never to the extent of Allbee.

Bellow's second novel was penned shortly after the war. At that time, reports of the extermination camps and the war-crime trials of Nuremberg were in progress.

Although Bellow doesn't directly address these topics, his protagonist, Leventhal, experiences a form of "persecution" at the hands of a fallen, wealthy WASP. Moreover, he is generally surrounded by Christians who, both subtly and blatantly, treat him as an inferior.

Bellow demonstrates remarkable skill in handling bigotry and anti-Semitism without transforming the novel into a political treatise. Leventhal has achieved some minor success among the Gentiles, but there is a constant underlying fear of being ostracized or blacklisted by the Christians who hold the key to his livelihood.

It makes for an interesting read for fans of Bellow, offering a nuanced exploration of the challenges and prejudices faced by a Jewish protagonist in a predominantly Christian society.

'It’s almost a sin to be so innocent.'

“I’ll tell you. It’s bad to be less than human and it’s bad to be more than human. What’s more than human? Our friend-” he meant Leventhal, “was talking about it before. Caesar, if you remember, in the play wanted to be like a god. Can a god have diseases? So this is a sick man’s idea of God. Does a statue have wax in its ears? Naturally not. It doesn’t sweat, either, except maybe blood on holidays. If I can talk myself into it that I never sweat and make everybody else act as if it was true, maybe I can fix it up about dying, too. We only know what it is to die because some people die and, if we make ourselves different from them, maybe we don’t have to? Less than human is the other side of it. I’ll come to it. So here is the whole thing, then. Good acting is what is exactly human. And if you say I am a tough critic, you mean I have a high opinion of what is human. This is my whole idea. More than human, can you have any use for life? Less than human, you don’t either.”

They say you go to the zoo to see yourself in the animals. There aren’t enough animals in the world to see ourselves in. There would have to be a million new feathers and tails. There’s no end to the twists.

Human nature is a complex and mysterious thing. We often strive to be more than human, to achieve god-like status, but as the speaker points out, this can lead to a warped view of life. On the other hand, being less than human also has its drawbacks. True humanity lies in the middle, in being exactly who we are. Good acting, as the speaker suggests, is about capturing the essence of what it means to be human. We go to the zoo to see ourselves in the animals, but perhaps there are still many aspects of our own nature that we have yet to discover. The twists and turns of human nature are endless, and it is up to us to explore and understand them.

Although this book was truly a masterpiece, with a captivating and twisted plot that was rich in the unique flavor of New York, I could only bring myself to give it 4 stars.

The reason for this was that it left me with a profound sense of melancholy. It was as if the story had sucked all the joy out of me, leaving me feeling drained and downcast.

This is the second book by Saul Bellow that I have had the pleasure of reading, but unfortunately, I don't think I will be continuing with his works.

As much as I appreciate his writing style and the depth of his characters, the overall tone of this particular book was just too overwhelming for me.

Sorry, Saul Bellow, but this one just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

I was extremely bored. Oh, no, not extremely, but the boredom it caused me was really tiresome.

I found myself in a state of utter ennui, with nothing to engage my interest or stimulate my mind.

The days seemed to drag on endlessly, and I felt as if I was stuck in a rut.

Even the simplest of tasks felt like a chore, and I had no motivation to do anything.

I longed for something exciting to happen, something that would break the monotony and bring some life back into my days.

But for now, all I could do was endure the boredom and hope that something would come along to relieve it.

Once more, there is a book centered around the theme of anti-semitism. However, what we have here is just a fragmented and rather weak presentation. Woven around this is a plot that has a certain Dostoyevskian nightmare quality. When Asa Levinthal is held accountable by Kirby Allbee, whom he knew only casually and disliked due to Allbee's intense anti-semitism, for the loss of his job, Asa reluctantly finds himself in the position of his brother's keeper. Alcoholism was the underlying cause not only of the job loss but also of the subsequent breakup with his wife. And Allbee once again makes Asa feel responsible, to the extent that Asa becomes a victim of his own inner conflict. Eventually, Asa manages to reach a more objective stance and breaks free from the false hold that Allbee has had on him. This is a story set in New York today. In general, it is introspective and thought-provoking. However, the focus is more on the idea rather than the people, who are little more than lifeless figures.

Βαρετο, κουραστικο, μακρυ, εσωτερικο κι ανουσιο, με ολη την καλη διαθεση.

It's boring, tiring, long, internal and worthless, with all the good will.

If anyone reads it, I'm willing to listen to the story... :)

This description seems to convey a sense of dissatisfaction or weariness. Maybe the person is feeling unfulfilled or frustrated with something in their life.

Perhaps they are going through a phase where everything feels mundane and lacking in meaning.

However, the mention of being willing to listen to a story shows a glimmer of hope or a desire for something more interesting and engaging.

It could be that they are seeking an escape from the monotony or a way to find inspiration and excitement.

Overall, this text gives a sense of a person who is in a bit of a rut but still has the potential to break free and find something more fulfilling.

Saul Bellow is a renowned author, and this particular work is considered one of his best.

It delves into the realm of paranoia with great finesse. The story masterfully portrays how men can completely fall apart when their wives are away on vacation.

It's truly a fabulous example that showcases the complex emotions and behaviors that can surface in such a situation.

The lighthearted "tee hee! :)" at the end adds a touch of playfulness to the overall tone.

Overall, it's a captivating piece that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

Whether you're a fan of Saul Bellow or simply interested in exploring the human psyche, this work is definitely worth a read.

It offers a unique perspective on relationships and the effects that separation can have on individuals.

So, don't miss out on this精彩的 story!

Read this for one of my English classes.

I found it much funnier than most in the class. The two main characters really reminded me of Zach Galifianakis and Robert Downey in the film Due Date.

While the majority of people thought Kirby was creepy, I actually found him amusingly awkward. It was quite an interesting perspective.

I had to write a little essay about it, and I mainly focused on the business themes that I discovered in the story, like networking.

Also, there was a wealth of material in here regarding the advantages of being an extrovert and how that was becoming increasingly valued over introverts in the 1950s.

This aspect really caught my attention as it provided an interesting insight into the social and cultural context of that time period.

Overall, it was a great piece of work to analyze and discuss in class.

Spectral, ambiguous, writing somewhere between a handful of different truths. Saul Bellow is a man after my own heart. His works are like a mysterious labyrinth, leading readers into a world full of complexity and depth.

Each sentence he writes seems to carry multiple meanings, inviting us to explore and interpret. Bellow's characters are vivid and real, with their own unique personalities and struggles.

They face the challenges of life with courage and determination, yet also show vulnerability and confusion. Through their stories, Bellow explores the human condition, delving into themes such as identity, morality, and the search for meaning.

His writing style is both elegant and powerful, captivating readers from the very first page. Saul Bellow is truly a master of literature, and his works will continue to inspire and influence generations to come.

It's truly interesting and quirky.

It's as if you are compelled to finish it just to find out what occurs, which is invariably a great sign.

However, it is a bit rough around the edges and a touch untidy.

Nonetheless, I am eagerly looking forward to reading more works by Saul Bellow.

I have heard that he is highly regarded and has made significant contributions to the literary world.

His writing style seems to have a certain charm that keeps the readers engaged.

I can't wait to explore more of his literary masterpieces and discover the unique perspectives and stories he has to offer.

Hopefully, his future works will be even more polished and captivating.