Although this was the second of the so-called American Trilogy that also included American Pastoral and The Human Stain, it turns outs that reading it last may have been to my benefit. There is a richness, a depth, an intoxicating and insatiable and unrelenting convolution to all of these books, and it wasn't until the end of this one that author Philip Roth (writing as narrator Nathan Zuckerman) himself explained what it is they're all trying to say.Whether you're the son of a successful immigrant who runs a glove factory (American Pastoral), an academician who's falsely accused of racism (The Human Stain) or a ditch digger cum radio star in the '40s, or the man who chronicles all of their stories, there are two conclusions to be drawn.The first is that you can never outrun or outlive your past, no matter how much time and effort you put into doing so. In the case of Ira Ringold, it is his allegiance to the Communist Party in an era when two words were hardly more unspeakable that eventually leads to his personal and professional destruction. That he marries Eve Frame, a successful silent film actress who also becomes a contemporary radio star, only sets the stage for the inevitable conflict between class and culture that Roth explores so deftly, so minutely, so passionately. (In this case, that may be partially if not largely attributable to the suggestion that I Married A Communist is based on his own marriage to English actress Claire Bloom, who wrote her own caustic memoir of their relationship after they divorced.) That both husband and wife bring more baggage than a porter to their marriage clearly illustrates this point while enriching the narrative immeasurably. But you don't have to be an actor in order to go through life acting.Throw in the fact that many of the characters and narrator are Jewish in an era when even that was suspect and you can understand why this trilogy says so much about ourselves and our country. This was a time when one's identity (as defined by race, religion, sexuality and/or politics) was often best left unknown or, at least, unspoken. (Sadly, it seems that not enough has changed in subsequent generations.)The other point that Roth/Zuckerman makes is that, even for those who choose to acknowledge, explore and own the past, none of us (with rare exception) can really explain why we do what we do, how we've become who we are with our beliefs, values, prejudices, misgivings, attractions, strengths, vulnerabilities and flaws. Granted, not everybody cares; such curiosity is not inherent in all humans and there is certainly no connection between knowing those things and a greater enjoyment of life or better health or a higher income. Conversely, some of us (along with many of Roth's characters) may never stop striving to learn the answers to those questions but, as Roth so colorfully illustrates, even a full and varied and well-lived life is no guarantee that we'll ever know. That may be the only reason we have to get out of bed in the morning, but it's reason enough.Similar to those readers looking for a happy ending to any of these novels, the quest for knowledge and explanation may never be quenched. And if someone with Roth's extraordinary ability to research, explore, reason and articulate--not to mention his life experiences--is unable to provide either himself or us with a satisfactory explanation, the rest of us can at least take solace in knowing that we are in good company. That he has invited us to share in his journey is an opportunity that should not be overlooked or ignored; to the contrary, it should be welcomed and embraced like an unexpected gift received graciously and enjoyed infinitely.In any order, this book and its two companion pieces are time well spent.
Anyone who's paid any attention whatsoever to my reading habits knows that Philip Roth is far and away my favorite author. I've made it through about half of his books now and while I Married a Communist didn't quite earn the title of my favorite Roth book, it is easily in the top 5. Many of the novels I've enjoyed by Roth I would hesitate to recommend to someone who's never experienced him before. Often times they build on one another, or I think it's necessary to know certain things about his life or his philosophy to get what you need to from his books. However, I Married a Communist certainly stands on its own and makes an excellent starting point for someone who's never experienced him before. There were many reasons I loved this book, not the least of which was the total saturation with McCarthy-era politics. The characters were rich, the book was complete. With other authors I'll often read a book and be left wondering what happened after it was over, or I'll be curious about details regarding what happened before the story began. Roth manages to start right in the midst of the story and yet the novel is 100% complete. Though I loved the book I did not feel like it needed a single additional word, nor were any of the words superfluous.As always, there were many little sentences that proved Roth's understanding of the human condition. “I'd say to Doris, 'Why doesn't he leave? Why can't he leave?' And do you know what Doris would answer? 'Because he's like everybody – you only realize things when they're over.”or “I headed down the stairs with the seething self-disgust of someone young enough to think that you had to mean everything you said.”My politics are about as left as you can get and this book certainly focuses on left-wing politics, which is certainly a bonus for me. However, there were several sections regarding the inability of a writer/artist/etc. to be political, and while I generally disagree with that point of view...well, I was a bit swayed.“Politics is the great generalizer,” Leo told me, “and literature the great particularizer, and not only are they in an inverse relationship to each other – they are also in an antagonistic relationship. To politics, literature is decadent, soft, irrelevant, boring, wrongheaded, dull, something that makes no sense and that really oughtn't to be. Why? Because the particularizing impulse is literature. How can you be a politician and allow the nuance? As an artist the nuance is your task. Your task is not to simplify. Even should you choose to write in the simplest way, a la Hemingway, the task remains to impart the nuance, to elucidate the complication, not to deny the contradiction, but to see where, within the contradiction, lies the tormented human being. To allow the chaos. To let it in. You must let it in.”Overall, this book reminded me that Roth is the most awarded living author for a reason. Every word he writes is there for a purpose and he rarely oversteps his reach. I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in literary fiction.
What do You think about I Married A Communist (1999)?
The plot is mainly set in the 1950s when Joseph McCarthy and the rest of the country was on the warpath to flush out as many "Reds" as they could. The novel is pretty hefty and a joy to read. The most interesting aspect of it is that the narrative is driven mostly by a long-running conversation between Nathan and his old high school English teacher, Murray Ringold, that recounts past conversations and statements and describes the other characters' moods, attitudes and actions."You want a lost cause to fight for? Then fight for the word. Not the high-flown word, not the inspiring word, not the pro-this and anti-that word, not the word that advertises to the respectable that you are a wonderful, admirable, compassionate person on the side of the downtrodden and the oppressed. No, for the word that tells the literate few condemned to live in America that you are on the side of the word!" (218)What Leo's character says about artists affecting an untouchable virtuousness and repeating empty slogans spoke to me with a truthfulness that I wished I had been told earlier. Art in the service of a higher calling no longer accepts interpretation or allows for playful imagination; it talks down to the audience and gives no room for critique.Another good point that Leo makes is that the artist should transcend the easy, cliched feelings that so many people share with each other day in and day out."As an artist the nuance is your task. Your task is not to simplify. Even should you choose to write in the simplest way, à la Hemingway, the task remains to impart the nuance, to elucidate the complication, to imply the contradiction. Not to erase the contradiction, not to deny the contradiction, but to see where, within the contradiction, lies the tormented human being. To allow for the chaos, to let it in." (222)Overall, a well thought out narrative that teaches and inspires the reader to use his brain for once.
—Walk-Minh Allen
OK, it's not as good as American Pastoralbut it still packs a bite. Lots of ranting, raving, and unfettered nastiness, what's not to love? Sure it gets bogged down in places and I had some issues with a few (let's call them) flaws: the lack of distinction between Murray Ringold's and Zuckerman's voices, the fact that Zuckerman was basically in the dark as to Ira's destiny before his fated late-life meeting with Murray, etc. Nevertheless, a perceptive take on the motivations behind idealism and betrayal, and no doubt one of the most enticing titles for any American novel.
—Andrea
This wonderful book reminded me that there was a vibrant radical movement in the States before the '60's. Ira Ringold is almost a tragical figure to me with the full Aristotelian meaning: he is exalted to a prominent figure of both the Communist Party and his professional circles. He is strong, self confident and above all idealist. He struggles to fit in his new life among the rich and famous of New York after marrying his super-famous co-protagonist, which, I believe, represents the apolitical bourgeoisie, until she decides to out him as a Communist. His fall is thunderous. Great depiction of the era of McCarthyism, the narration is put forward by two unforgettable characters, Ira's brother (and protector) and his pupil who befriended Ira while a teenager and, of course, admired him as a god. The prose is brave, with scattered funny episodes, ("She married me to carry her daughter's harp!"), a great contemporary novel.
—Caterina
