And the books narrative style, a huge departure from the stately. Portnoys complaint by roth abebooks shop for books. Format paperback 289 pages dimensions 3 x 210 x 20. Pulitzer awardwinning author philip roth s iconic and sensational novel about sex, psychoanalysis and growing up portnoy s complaint n. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Portnoys complaint by philip roth, paperback barnes. Apr, 2011 the groundbreaking novel that propelled its author to literary stardom. Portnoy s complaint is just that his carnal maladjustment described by his psychotherapist as a syndrome. Portnoys complaint, however, is a book with perfect pitch. Portnoys complaint mass market paperback 1978 by philip roth author.
Portnoys complaint, which the new yorker greeted as one of the dirtiest books ever published, helped roth shake off any lingering respectability he had earned from his early novels. I have a vague memory that when i first read portnoy s complaint as a teenager i was probably 16 or 17 at the time i either carried my paperback copy with me to my grandmother s condo, or perhaps just mentioned to her that i was reading the book. Accessories such as cd, codes, toys, may not be included. Buy portnoys complaint by philip roth, in good condition. Buying this book helps spread literacy in southern ontario. Portnoys complaint by philip roth 1972, paperback for sale. The book is a sort of confession during alexander portnoy s counselling session. Portnoys complaint by philip roth paperback, 1998 for. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. May 26, 20 when author lucas mann turned, his father gave him a copy of portnoys complaint, a novel the new yorker dubbed one of the dirtiest books ever published. I enjoyed portnoy s complaint, though it did focus on masturbation more than i recalled but the novel really addresses jewish identity issues which may have changed somewhat over the past decades but undoubtedly remain in the minds of many jewish people. The book is a sort of confession during alexander portnoys counselling session.
This book is the 234th greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. It was published by vintage and has a total of 289 pages in the book. The book is a flowing and humorous monologue by alexander portnoy to his virtually silent psychoanalyst. He challenged me to read portnoy s complaint because he found it the smuttiest book he had ever read. Philip roth s gift for fantasy, his superb dialogue, his ability to evoke places and atmospheres, make portnoy s complaint at once hilariously, scabrously funny and deeply moving financial times alexander portnoy is a great comic character. Portnoys complaint edition international by roth, philip paperback 1994. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 274 pages and is available in paperback format. In this book, alex portnoy is not at 14 having sex, but he calls himself the raskolnikov of jerking off, and this is how the book comically opens, focusing on this.
Be warned though, part of portnoys complaint has to do with what teenage boys do with their nether regions. Portnoys complaint by philip roth 1969, hardcover, 6th printing. When author lucas mann turned, his father gave him a copy of portnoys complaint, a novel the new yorker dubbed one of the dirtiest books. A disorder in which stronglyfelt ethical and altruistic impulses are perpetually warring with extreme sexual longings, often of a perverse nature. Portnoys complaint vintage international paperback book listings on our website do not always reflect the current availability of books on our store shelves. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Its success turned roth into a major celebrity, sparking a storm of controversy over its explicit and candid treatment of sexuality, including detailed depictions of masturbation using various props including a piece of liver. I read about philip roth death so i decided to buy one of his books portnoys complaint was the only one that i recognized.
Buy portnoys complaint vintage blue by philip roth from amazons fiction books store. Portnoys complaint paperback september 20, 1994 by philip roth author. When she was good portnoys complaint our gang the breast library of america. Portnoys complaint by philip roth 1969, hardcover for. Check a book s instore availability beneath the add to cart button. The first edition of the novel was published in 1969, and was written by philip roth. When i saw his name on the bargain shelf i was pleasantly surprised so i took a chance on portnoys complaint for 7 bucks to see what another from him would be like.
When we got divorced it wasnt amicable, my lawyer asked how id feel about using that fact in court. Portnoys complaint 52nd on its list of the 100 best englishlanguage novels of. There is a neurotic mother with an obsession for hygiene a closet sufferer of munchausen s syndrome by proxy. Name binding sales rank lowest new lowest used published. Portnoys complaint vintage international paperback portnoys complaint vintage international paperback book listings on our website do not always reflect the current availability of books on our store shelves. Philip roths gift for fantasy, his superb dialogue, his ability to evoke places and atmospheres, make portnoys complaint at once hilariously, scabrously funny and deeply moving financial times alexander portnoy is a great comic character. The humor and volcanic energy of an elkin is combined with sheer readibility, accessibility, and the stench of a psyche spraying the page with candor. Oh and his fathers chronic and ever present constipation. Portnoys complaint by philip roth the greatest books. Possible ex library copy, will have the markings and stickers associated from the library.
This page contains details about the fiction book portnoy s complaint by philip roth published in 1969. Most obviously, the books sexual frankness was both a product of and a reflection on the sexual revolution that was in full swing during the late 1960s. Condition is good, with the dust jacket showing a little wear such as scratches, wrinkles, and a slight tear in the upperback portion and inside flap see images. Roth has written several great booksgoodbye, columbus and when she was good among them, but it is perhaps portnoys complaint for which he is best known. Portnoys complaint and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Touching as well as hilariously lewdroth is vibrantly talentedas marvelous a mimic and fantasist as has been produced by the most verbal group in human history. Portnoy s complaint, however, is a book with perfect pitch. Portnoys complaint by philip roth 1969, hardcover for sale.
By the beginning of 1969, much of portnoys complaint had already appeared in print. The most outrageously funny book about sex yet written guardian. Portnoys complaint, novel by philip roth, published in 1969. From audiofile roths comic novel, his most popular and most admired, receives a stellar reading by ron silver in this vintage recording. Editions of portnoys complaint by philip roth goodreads. Portnoys complaint still shocking at 40 books the guardian. Portnoys complaint project gutenberg selfpublishing. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. Portnoy s complaint is sort of known as the great american novel of teenaged masturbation. Philip roths fourth book, portnoys complaint was the one that made his reputation for the newly crowned booker international prize winner and long touted for the nobel prize for literature. The novel tells the humorous monologue of a lustridden, motheraddicted young jewish bachelor, who. Portnoys complaint is just that his carnal maladjustment described by his psychotherapist as a syndrome. No matter where he goes and how many girls he can have at one time in his bed, portnoy is still a masturbator at heart, still rebelling against the undefeatable.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read portnoys complaint. Roth later explained that the artistic choice to frame the story as a psychoanalytic session was motivated by the permissive conventions of the patientanalyst situation, which would permit me to bring into my fiction the sort. The title of this book is portnoys complaint and it was written by philip roth. This comic novel is structured as a confession to a psychiatrist by alexander portnoy, who relates the details of his adolescent obsession with masturbation and his domination by his overly possessive mother, sophie. The groundbreaking novel that propelled its author to literary stardom. I told him i had read it many years ago and would reread it if he would agree to read geek love which i found to be the most memorable book i had ever read. Portnoys complaint is a 1969 american novel by philip roth. Portnoys complaint paperback sep 20 1994 by philip roth author 3. Acts of exhibitionism, voyeurism, fetishism, autoeroticism and oral coitus are plentiful. Our books are stored in amazon and shipped from their warehouse. Portnoys complaint vintage international paperback.
Structurally, portnoy s complaint is a continuous monologue as narrated by its speaker, alexander portnoy, to his psychoanalyst, dr. There is a neurotic mother with an obsession for hygiene a closet sufferer of munchausens syndrome by proxy. Coming of age, mothers and sons, czech fiction, young men in fiction, jewish men in fiction, fiction, jewish men, sex addicts, young men, mothers and sons in fiction, sex addicts in fiction, coming of age in fiction, jewish families, families, psychotherapist and patient, sexual behavior. Portnoys complaint is also emblematic of the times during which it was published. I recommended a book that surprised him because he considered it risque. Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from penguin random house. Portnoy s complaint is a 1969 american novel by philip roth. The book became a minor classic of jewish american literature. Free download or read online portnoys complaint pdf epub book.
Sep 07, 2009 portnoys complaint, which the new yorker greeted as one of the dirtiest books ever published, helped roth shake off any lingering respectability he had earned from his early novels. I was strongly tempted but told him after careful consideration that it was below the belt. The main characters of this classics, literature story are. Portnoys complaint was my first husbands favorite book, and he used to quote from it all the time. I am someone who gets enmeshed with the stories and characters in the books i read, i will nerdily encounter some mild dysphoria when i end a book, apprehensive about starting a. Portnoys complaint by philip roth, 9780099399018, available at book depository with. Or to be certain that a book youve found on our website. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the uk. Jan 04, 2017 roths masterpiece takes place on the couch of a psychoanalyst, an appropriate jumpingoff place for an insanely comical novel about the jewish american experience.