The Anatomy Lesson

THE ANATOMY LESSON

by Philip Roth

 

Nominations: National Book Finalist 1984, National Book Critics Circle Finalist 1983, NY Times Finalist 1983

 

Date Read: February 7, 2021

 

The Anatomy Lesson finds Nathan Zuckerman a hot mess. Overmedicating for a pain no doctor can diagnose, over-womaning to soothe his sexual and mental isolation and overtaxed by his chosen profession, Zuck is in a bad way that just keeps getting worse. Add in middle age, three failed marriages and a non-existent relationship with his brother who is his only remaining family and you almost feel sorry for the poor bastard. You know, if he wasn’t such a prick.

 

As this is the second Zuckerman novel in a row, I have to admit that I don’t believe his work ages well. I find him so misogynistic that it’s difficult at times to continue. Consider this lovely gem: “On his back he felt like their whore, paying in sex for someone to bring him the milk and the paper.” Because his cock is such a gift to women! And this nugget from one of his harem: “…you’ve provided a chance for me to provide in a womanly way.” Zuckerman’s needs create an opportunity for a woman to reach her ultimate role – that of caretaker and servant? Ew.

 

I can see why this was the least well received of the Zuckerman novels. But, and there is a large but coming again – Roth is definitely talented. I am not arguing he isn’t. His meta-writing about an author examining the impact of writing autobiographical novels is simultaneously genius and self-indulgent. But without that self-indulgence his work wouldn’t be the quality it is. An artistic conundrum.

 

The Anatomy Lesson ends with Zuck still wanting to attend medical school to have a defined career that doesn’t derive from his own thoughts and solitude (which, by the way, I can completely identify with) and wandering the halls of a Chicago hospital detoxing with his jaw wired shut. I am interested to see what happens to this poor sod as I embark on The Counterlife.

 

Looking Forward: American Pastoral, The Counterlife, Everyman, The Human Stain, Operation Shylock, The Plot Against America, The Professor Of Desire

 

Looking Back: The Ghost Writer, My Life As A Man, Sabbath’s Theater

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