Fascinating look at dark introspection and paranoia. It all begins with a chance meeting with a man named Kirby Allbee. He blames the protagonist, Asa Leventhal, for his earlier downfall in life.

I couldn't help but see minor connections, perhaps because I wanted to. It reminded me of Roman Polanski's 'The Tenant' with its voyeuristic apartment-come-to-life aspects of fear and conflict. Of course, minus the supernatural elements.

The primary antagonist here isn't actually the man harassing Leventhal. Instead, it's his own mind. As the encounters with the other man grow increasingly strident, Leventhal's mind soon becomes a breeding ground for panic.

We watch as he descends into a world of self-doubt and paranoia, unable to escape the grip of his own thoughts. It's a captivating exploration of the human psyche and the power of fear to consume us.

The story keeps us on the edge of our seats, wondering what will happen next and whether Leventhal will be able to break free from the cycle of paranoia that has taken hold of him.

At times, it was truly striking.

The scenes and events that unfolded before my eyes had a certain allure and power.

However, as time went on, there was a strange sensation that began to creep in.

It was as if I was sort of going through the motions.

There was a lack of true connection and engagement.

The initial excitement had worn off, and what remained was a sense of routine and detachment.

I found myself simply performing the actions and tasks required, without really feeling the passion or purpose behind them.

It was a bit disconcerting, as I had expected more from the experience.

But perhaps this is just a phase, and with time and effort, I can rekindle that initial spark and find a deeper meaning within the seemingly mundane motions.

Only time will tell.

Leventhal IS Allbee (I'll be). You'll notice that Leventhal and Allbee are never seen together, except near the end of the novel by Leventhal's brother, Max. Max hardly ever sees Leventhal and has a weak relationship with him. Leventhal is also Max. Therefore, Max's children are really Leventhal's children, and Max's wife is Leventhal's ex-wife. The young boy who dies from an illness is Leventhal's own child.

When Leventhal first meets Allbee, both of their wives are not with them. This is the first hint that Allbee (I'll be) is Leventhal's unconscious self or his 'guilt complex'. Maria, Leventhal's wife who is away visiting her mother, doesn't actually exist. She is a fantasy figure, perhaps the memory of an ex-girlfriend.

Leventhal is alone and in the process of becoming Allbee throughout the novel. Some might argue that this can't be so because other characters refer to Allbee as a differentiated person. However, observe the uncertainty and ephemeral menace that hangs over the scenes where Allbee is discussed. The characters who discuss Allbee with Leventhal understand that they are really talking to Leventhal about himself.

Near the end of the novel, Leventhal gets drunk at a party. Nobody finds it odd that he drinks four glasses of wine in quick succession and then proceeds to drink himself into a blackout. This is something Allbee would do, not Leventhal. Why does Leventhal feel responsible for Max's children? Why do Elena and her mother dislike Leventhal when he is taking care of the family during the child's illness? Because Leventhal IS Max, and he initially left the family to become a paranoid drunk whose alter ego is Allbee.

After the final confrontation, we find Leventhal three years later with a pregnant wife, Maria. There is a final meeting with Allbee that makes it clear: Leventhal was a suicidal, guilt-ridden alcoholic who left his family. Allbee was his guilt complex and his alcoholism manifest as a split-personality. Maria never existed until he banished Allbee from his life. The postcards from his 'wife' that Allbee found in Leventhal's bathrobe were actually from the girlfriend that Leventhal admits to beating in an early chapter. This is a superb, creepy, and Kafkaesque book.

It was truly impossible to determine, right from the very start, what was going to unfold. And perhaps it was rather unjust to have to take responsibility at the age of forty for the actions committed at twenty. However, as Mr. Schlossberg aptly put it, unless one was either more than human or less than human, the payment simply had to be made. Leventhal, on the other hand, held a different view regarding the term "less than human." Since so many people engaged in such behavior, wasn't it just a part of being human? "More than human" was a characteristic belonging to a much smaller number. But the reality was that most people harbored fear within them - fear of life, fear of death, perhaps even a greater fear of life than of death. It was an undeniable fact that they were afraid, and when this fear took precedence, they simply didn't desire any additional burdens. At twenty, they possessed youthful vigor and thus were carefree, but later on, they felt too feeble to be held accountable. They would say, "Just leave me alone, that's all I ask." But either they managed to find the strength to meet the costs or they refused and succumbed to dizziness - a complete state of dizziness, the dizziness of pleasures that preceded catastrophes. Maybe one could label the act of refusal as "less than human"; he preferred to think that "human" meant being accountable despite numerous weaknesses - being tough enough to hold on until the very last moment. But if one were to go by what occurred in the majority of cases, it was this dizziness that was the most typical and had the strongest claim to that name.

What can one possibly say about this truly breathtaking novel?

It delves deep into the psychological realm, exploring the various aspects of human frailty, the captivating beauty that lies within, and the disturbing ugliness that can rear its head.

It is a profound exploration of the tricks that our minds are capable of playing on us, the intricate nuances of human relationships that are often overlooked, and the harsh reality of the cruelty of anti-Semitism.

This novel stands as the best one I've read in 2020.

It has left such an indelible mark on me that I am already eagerly ready to embark on another novel by Bellow.

I can't wait to see what other literary treasures he has in store for us to discover and be amazed by.

A great introduction to Bellows and a rather impressive early novel indeed. Right from the start, the story is highly intriguing, captivating the reader's attention. However, the ending fails to live up to the suspenseful build-up that constitutes the majority of the novel. The plot centers around the character of Asa Leventhal, who finds himself being stalked by the rather unusual alcoholic character of Albee. Bellows' detailed description of the backdrop, that of a 1940's summer in New York, effectively helps to set the mood of tension for the story. It creates a vivid atmosphere that adds to the overall allure. The sudden abruptness in the story perhaps hints at Bellow's eagerness to finish an engaging story, yet it leaves the reader with a sense of slight disappointment.

The story doesn't have as much depth as Bellow's more typical works, but it is still very good. What is also atypical is the setting - New York instead of Chicago. And it has the nice flavor of the reminiscences of the second generation of immigrants, with their intermarried families of Italians and Jews.

Otherwise, it revolves around the envious anti-Semitism that marks some non-Jews, and the unacknowledged, disguised, and despised pride of some Jews. It has a bit of a flaw at the end, with a kind of "...years later..." - but even that doesn't seem too out of place.

This work offers an interesting perspective on the immigrant experience and the complex relationships between different ethnic groups in a big city. It shows how the past can still influence the present and how people try to come to terms with their identities and prejudices. Overall, it is a worthwhile read that may not be a masterpiece but has its own charm and value.

The Victim is an astonishingly well-written piece of work that showcases remarkable psychological depth.

The exploration of the characters' defense mechanisms is meticulous, delving deep into the recesses of their minds. The relationships depicted within the pages are so palpable that they seem to leap off the paper.

I would narrowly classify this book as an extraordinary account of a moderately interesting story. While the events that actually took place were perhaps a bit on the staid side, the author's masterful storytelling elevates it to a whole new level.

The Victim is highly recommended for those who appreciate a thought-provoking read that combines excellent writing with a keen understanding of human psychology. It will keep you engaged from start to finish and leave you with much to ponder long after you've turned the final page.

Every sentence in this 1947 novel by Saul Bellow is rich and worth savoring.

As I was following the plot, I found myself constantly wanting to slow down and read whole paragraphs over again.

The setting is such an integral part of the tone of the character Leventhal's state of mind.

Most of the time, it is a stifling NYC August without air conditioning.

From the descriptions in this book, I really don't know how people survived.

Leventhal is an interesting main character. He is very average.

His nemesis is a man named Albee who, on the surface, is equally uninteresting.

However, the game that is played out between them is quite captivating.

Lovely deep conversations, pulsating with arguments and the search for fundamental truths of being human, were my favorite parts to read.

Bellow's novel is intelligent and thought-provoking.

The climax is swift, cutting the relationship between the two men like a knife.

The only reason I did not give it five stars is that the conclusion is a little rushed.

Overall, it is a remarkable work that offers a profound exploration of human nature and relationships.

Who is the victim? Is it Asa Leventhal, his brother Max, Albee, Mary, or all of them? In a labyrinth of scenes, you are faced with many ordinary yet important things in a man's life, which makes you think about your responsibilities. Above all his brother's family problems, his wife's brother, and... Leventhal meets Albee whom he can't remember but has had a big role in his life! One goes through an unimportant situation that unbelievably changes important things in others' lives!

The main character, like many of "Blue's" works, is a clerk living in New York, in the middle years of his life. Due to an old acquaintance, he is unjustly accused of being the cause of all his misfortunes. Asa Leventhal, while struggling with his own family problems, tries to clear himself of this accusation. With his wife away for a few weeks to help her elderly mother move out of the old family house in Baltimore, he is responsible for all the duties that are usually his wife's. His brother-in-law has fallen ill and he has to visit them. His wife's brother has also left his wife and two sons alone in Texas for work and only sends them money. Leventhal is in a dilemma; at the same time, he has to deal with the problems of his friends and acquaintances. Now, Mr. Kirby, whom Leventhal can hardly remember, claims that Leventhal is the cause of his unemployment and misfortune. His brother's child is dying and a new pangs of conscience are added to the misfortunes. But then Mr. Albee's situation improves by chance, he meets a woman, gets a job, and... comes to Leventhal to apologize for his violent behavior... So who is the cause of Leventhal's misfortunes?

I recently read an interview with Saul Bellow, and in it, he remarked that he wrote this particular book in a rather restrained manner. At that time, he didn't feel entirely confident in certain aspects of his identity as a writer. I firmly believe that this sense of restraint is quite evident in the somewhat heavy-handed consistency of the style. The moral and dramatic conflict between Leventhal and Allbee was never fully explored or delved into. Their seemingly resolved ending was rather pat and left me feeling disappointed. However, the prose itself is simply starkly brilliant and incredibly vivid. It almost seems to breathe with Leventhal's sense of uneasiness and alienation during his various banal and lurid experiences over the course of a fortnight. After reading this book, I am definitely going to read more of Bellow's novels. I am eager to see how his writing evolves and how he tackles different themes and characters in his other works.

Definitely, it is a novel full of profound thoughts. I read it some time ago during my course. However, even though the haziness in my memory of the central plot and its offshoots somewhat clouds my perception of the work, I would assert that Bellow's themes splendidly mirror what we term 'the modern' human being.

The story seems to delve deep into the psyche and experiences of modern individuals, capturing their dilemmas, aspirations, and the complex web of emotions and relationships that define their lives. It makes me realize the importance of re-reading this novel to gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of its nuances and the masterful way in which Bellow has crafted his narrative.

A need to resolve for a re-read is indeed certain. I look forward to uncovering the hidden gems and subtleties that I might have missed during my first reading, and to further explore the rich tapestry of ideas and characters that Bellow has created.