Operation Shylock

The protagonist this time is simply named Philip Roth. It gives us the impression that it is a more autobiographical novel. Surely, it delves into Roth's most significant theme: Jewish life and identity. In the background lies the story of John Demjanjuk, the supposed concentration camp guard known as Ivan the Terrible.

However, what further questions Philip Roth's identity is the presence of an imposter who claims to be him. The lookalike aims to save Israel from annihilation, using Philip Roth's identity for his cause, a cause that Philip Roth apparently isn't overly involved in. The book is complex, and halfway through, there is even a summary. It addresses all the themes we are familiar with from Philip Roth's works.

If you have a love for Philip Roth (as I do), this book is an absolute must. It is truly brilliant. It offers a deep exploration of identity, Jewish life, and the various complex issues that Roth has always been known for addressing in his writing. The addition of the imposter adds an extra layer of intrigue and mystery, making the reading experience even more engaging and thought-provoking.

Old review below -

new review after rereading is here

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've been quite vocal about my negative views on Philip Roth. I've called him a sexist fucker, which is really just the standard criticism. He has this knack for getting under my skin. I endured reading "American Pastoral" and "Sabbath's Theatre", and oh my, what drivel! Sure, he can craft a remarkable sentence and make the English language dance with elegance, like a five ball juggler. He's annoyingly talented in that regard. But it's a pity that he can't come up with a half-decent story that has some semblance of humanity. However, "Operation Shylock" is the book that reveals a different side of Roth. If you haven't read it, let me tell you, it's a hoot for those who aren't fans of Roth. The concept of this crazy novel is that one day, Philip Roth is reading the New York Times and is shocked to discover that he's been on a speaking tour in Israel for the entire month. But of course, he's been in New York all along. It turns out there's someone impersonating him in Israel, spreading a wild idea called Diasporism. This idea goes something like this: "Jews! Get out of Israel now! Are you crazy, coming here to Israel? Now you're all in one convenient small country, surrounded by your enemies. What do you think's going to happen? Get back to Germany and Poland! They're the safest places for Jews now! Go on, scram! Now!" So Philip Roth boards a plane to track down the other Philip Roth, and much hilarity unfolds. Yes, it's a black comedy. What other types of comedies are worth reading? Are there any white comedies? I give this book five big stars.

Interesting for sure but so dense. It feels like there is a wealth of information packed into every sentence.

And long! The length of the text can be a bit overwhelming at times.

And a little repetitive. Some of the ideas seem to be repeated over and over again, which can make it a bit tiresome to read.

However, despite these drawbacks, there is still a lot of value in the article. The dense nature of the text means that there are many details and nuances that can be explored.

The length also allows for a more in-depth examination of the topic.

And the repetition, while a bit annoying, can also serve to emphasize certain key points.

Overall, it's a challenging but rewarding read that requires some effort on the part of the reader to fully understand and appreciate.