I have a great fondness for Saul Bellow. However, unfortunately, this particular work of his just doesn't do it for me.

It has been three months now, and I'm still only on page 40. This is a clear indication that it is boring me to the point of death.

I'm truly sorry, Mr. Sammler. ☹ It's not that I don't appreciate Bellow's talent and literary contributions.

But for some reason, this book just fails to capture my interest and hold my attention.

Maybe it's the writing style, or perhaps the story just doesn't resonate with me.

Whatever the reason, I find myself constantly struggling to get through each page.

I had such high hopes for this book, but it has turned out to be a disappointment.

Nevertheless, I will still continue to explore Bellow's other works in the hope of finding one that truly speaks to me.

A super heavy novel written by Bellow in 1969/1970, "Mr. Sammler’s Planet" is loaded with philosophy and Western civilization name dropping. It's far from light reading and at times suffers from the brooding slabs of Sammler's thought. If we were to compare it to something, we could say its lyrics would be like Eliot's "Prufrock," with its musings on "squeezing the universe into a ball" and the difficulty of expressing oneself.

The novel opens in New York City's Upper West Side, which serves as the geographical setting for almost all of it. It's a degenerating New York, where Sammler reflects on Broadway and offers more painterly views of the city along West End Avenue. Bellow's despair, and Sammler's, at the crumbling of spirit among Western civilization's so-called elites is a major theme, and Bellow describes this beautifully and powerfully in some sections.

Right from the start, Bellow demolishes Hannah Arendt's notion of "the banality of evil." He argues that making the century's great crime look dull was not banal but a disguise. He criticizes Arendt for using the Germans to attack the twentieth century and promote the foolish ideas of Western intellectuals.

Almost all of the story comes through Sammler. Although there are other characters and it's written in the third person, Bellow never gives us the thoughts of anyone else; everything is filtered through Sammler's perspective. Sammler himself has had his flirtation with Marxism, which he later realizes was a kind-hearted but stupid scheme.

Bellow also makes some interesting observations about the USA and the USSR, seeing both as utopian projects with different emphases. He comments on the collapse of confidence and the difficulty of separating Sammler from himself. The novel is often profound, with Sammler acquiring wisdom and making statements about revolutions, the nature of man, and the existence of good and evil.

Overall, "Mr. Sammler’s Planet" is a depressing but thought-provoking novel. Bellow tries to bring it all to a conclusion, arguing that despite all the problems and madness, the bedrock truth of right and wrong in individual conduct remains. At the end, over his friend's corpse, Sammler delivers a Jewish prayer, emphasizing that we all know the truth.

This book contains numerous long paragraphs of stream-of-consciousness from Mr. Sammler. At the twilight of his life, he discovers that the world surrounding him is a chaotic mess of physical and mental discomforts. The writing is both witty and scathing, unrelenting, and often features long sentences with resounding adjectives strung together, building towards a crescendo of contempt or anger that dominates the first part of the book.

In the middle of the book, things begin to take form. Sammler's relatives are given full rein in their own acting, reacting, scheming, and pursuing. All are imperfect human beings, some with more faults and flaws than others, yet all striving towards some human destination. With the exception of Sammler and Dr. Lal, who jointly and separately consider the human striving - physical, technological, and psychological - with its own metaphysical meaning. Should we land on the moon? What does it mean if we choose to do so?

By calling the "earth" a "planet" and adding the adjective "Sammler's", we arrive at the entire focus of this book: the meaning of one person's life on earth, from birth to death.

Mr. Sammler survived the Second World War and now lives in New York.

Mr. Sammler has already seen a lot and it was completely accidental that he survived.

But is this really an accident? Maybe it happened because everything was taken away from Artur Sammler, who was a Nazi, from the very beginning and for those around him (who are known as "exemplary") and for us he tells about the planet - about the place where he settles himself with his own hands.

Perhaps there is more to this story than meets the eye. Maybe Mr. Sammler's experiences have shaped his views on life and the world in a profound way.

As we continue to follow his story, we may discover new insights and perspectives that will help us better understand the human condition.

Or perhaps there are still mysteries and secrets hidden within Mr. Sammler's past that will be revealed as the story unfolds.

Only time will tell what lies ahead for Mr. Sammler and what we can learn from his journey.

An occasionally intriguing but often shambolic meandering,

this work seems to cobble together bits of Bellow’s life. There are altogether too many characters thrown in,

producing a general sense that the book is searching for a reason to exist. It feels a little like a season of a TV show

where the writers aren’t sure what to do next, so they just throw in a series of improbable events. The late 60s were apparently a different time for writers like Bellow.

They could stitch together the most improbable and flimsy plots, and get away with multi-page digressions on “What It All Means.”

It’s maybe most intriguing as a time capsule of late 60s Literary Deep Thoughts. Still, oddly compelling,

despite the general lack of effort or coherence on the actual story. One wonders if this was a deliberate choice by the author

to create a certain atmosphere or if it was simply a result of a lack of focus. Either way, it makes for an interesting read,

even if it doesn’t quite deliver on the promise of a fully realized narrative.

I have just completed reading "Mr Sammler's Planet", and truly, it was a struggle to finish this novel.

There were certain moments that managed to draw me in, and the characters had their interesting aspects on occasions. However, the excessive amount of over-descriptive introversion was simply frustrating and extremely boring in several areas.

I can comprehend that we were being taught about the meaning of life, or at least Sammler's life, and the way he was perceiving the vast changes that were occurring in the way individuals lived their lives during that time. But surely, this could have been accomplished in a more engaging and entertaining manner.

I had no concern for Sammler or his friends, not because of their selfishness or way of life, but rather due to the language used to describe everything. It felt as if Bellow had ingested a philosophy book and then regurgitated it, not just once but on every single page.

Now, this is not to suggest that philosophical thought has no place or that esoteric literature is without value. But unfortunately, this particular work is not for me. It had far too much navel gazing.

It is truly a pity that this site does not permit negative stars. This is just an atrocious book. The meandering stream of consciousness presents a disjointed hodgepodge of platonic nihilistic existentialism. The author appears to long for some grand teleological event, yet has no clue as to what that event might be or how it would manifest. It's truly astonishing!

The writing style is convoluted and difficult to follow, making it a chore to read. The ideas presented are often muddled and lack coherence. It seems as if the author is simply throwing random thoughts and concepts onto the page without any real purpose or direction. One can't help but wonder if the author themselves truly understands what they are trying to convey.

In conclusion, this book is a disappointment and not worth the time or effort of any reader. It fails to engage, inspire, or provide any meaningful insights. Avoid it at all costs!

I would highly recommend this book to individuals who have a profound love for the internal monologues of hyper-intellectuals. This book offers a unique and captivating exploration into the minds of such highly intelligent and introspective characters. The author masterfully delves deep into their thoughts, emotions, and the complex inner workings of their intellect. Through vivid and detailed descriptions, readers are able to gain a rare insight into the world of hyper-intellectuals, experiencing their joys, struggles, and the constant battle within their minds. It is a truly engaging and thought-provoking read that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the power of the human mind and the beauty of internal monologues.

Bellow's work is truly remarkable, to the extent that it almost feels insignificant to gripe about the deep misogynist undertone present in "Mr. Sammler's Planet." Sammler, a seventy-year-old man, is completely overcome by the sexuality of the women around him. This includes his flighty bag-lady daughter. Somehow, I have my doubts that you or I, in this day and age, would be so affected by the estrogen or whatever it is that these ladies are giving off. However, for Sammler, everything related to women is about tights, legs, knees, thighs, female smells, hair, wigs, food preparation, panties, breasts, veined nipples, and again, those smells. Every time a woman crosses her legs, Sammler's nose twitches. Perhaps, having been blinded in one eye by a Nazi rifle butt, his sense of smell has become heightened.

That, however, is just a side story. The main narrative revolves around Sammler, a Polish Holocaust survivor. He is living on the Upper West Side in the sixties and is being intimidated by a large Negro pickpocket. He is also trying to persuade his H.G. Wells-obsessed daughter that Wells had his imperfections. Additionally, he is reading a manuscript about the moon and waiting for his nephew and benefactor to pass away from an aneurysm.

In another astonishing and deeply moving tour de force, Saul Bellow delves into the profound themes of mortality and morality. He does so by spending a 48-hour period with his Holocaust survivor, Mr Sammler. Every character is meticulously crafted from Sammler's perspective, and the action of the novel forms a perfect circle, adding a sense of symmetry and completeness.

The philosophical ruminations within the story are absolute treasures, as are the vivid descriptions of Manhattan. The city comes alive on the pages, with its unique energy and character. Naturally, the descriptions of Lodz, where Sammler endured the horrors of the Holocaust, are terrifying, serving as a stark reminder of the atrocities that took place.

The main thrust of the story, and an overarching theme in Bellow's works, is the remarkable strength of the human character. People are able to overcome seemingly insurmountable hurdles, all for the simple desire to live and breathe. One could be led to think that being in a place like New York or Chicago is part of that longing for life. I firmly rank this novel up there with Augie March, Herzog, and Seize the Day as masterpieces of American literature. It is yet another must-read for any lover of great literature.

This was a rather difficult book for me to get through.

At the very beginning, I found it almost deliberately distant (with so many references to this philosopher's name and that author's).

It seemed as if without a master's degree in literature and philosophy, I was bound to be completely lost.

However, as I progressed through the book and reached the end, I had become quite attached to Mr. Sammler and his deep musings.

Perhaps this isn't one of Bellow's absolute best works, but it is still interesting and challenging nevertheless.

It makes the reader think and reflect on various aspects of life, literature, and philosophy.

Despite the initial difficulties, I'm glad I persevered and was able to appreciate the unique qualities of this book.

It shows that sometimes, even when a book seems inaccessible at first, it can still offer great rewards if we are willing to put in the effort.

Artur Sammler, a 70-year-old Holocaust survivor, finds himself residing in New York City during the late 1960s.

He is deeply troubled by what he perceives as the behavioral and cultural decline of the world around him. Everywhere he looks, he witnesses nothing but a litany of misfortunes: the suffering of the masses, the prevalence of muggings, the harsh reality of poverty, the rampant crime, and the ever-present specter of death.

His novel serves as a rich tapestry, populated with a diverse cast of interesting characters. As he delves into the pages of his work, he contemplates a plethora of debatable issues, exploring the human condition and the state of society with a critical eye.

Through his writing, Sammler attempts to make sense of the chaos and decay that he observes, offering his own unique perspective on the challenges and dilemmas that face humanity in this tumultuous era.