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G.R. Reader's Reviews > Portnoy’s Complaint
Portnoy’s Complaint
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Portnoy's Complaint was my first husband's favorite book, and he used to quote from it all the time. When we got divorced (it wasn't amicable), my lawyer asked how I'd feel about using that fact in court. I was strongly tempted but told him after careful consideration that it was below the belt.
As it turned out, my instincts were sound. The judge knew Philip Roth personally, and it would have been a disaster. I only discovered this several years later and was amazed at what a close call I'd had.
As it turned out, my instincts were sound. The judge knew Philip Roth personally, and it would have been a disaster. I only discovered this several years later and was amazed at what a close call I'd had.
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Finished Reading
February 19, 2014
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message 1:
by
Negri
(new)
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rated it 4 stars
Sep 17, 2015 12:27AM
Perhaps it's there to keep the second marriage intact.
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Wow! Fiction meeting fact.
Is this review rating based on your divorce or reading the book?
Your first husband seems like a intelligent, sensitive person.
this might be the funniest review i've ever read
Lol at the Portnoy bros coming here to scoff. Sit down, boys. You're proving her point.
So you rate this * because of your divorce?
Sounds like something you should be telling your therapist about, not a goodreads review.
I think Philip Roth would have liked this review!
So what if she didn’t read it. She probably got the gist from her husbands quotes and abridgement. What’s interesting is why it would have been used in court. I suspect the quotes were so dull it bordered on abuse. Anyway, It’s just another way of knowing a book. And TBH one star is not far off. It’s not a great book.
This actually made me laugh (sorry, I hope you're OK in 2020).
you all missed the point. she finds it overly disgsutin
Most useful critir ever. For real.
I think this review is unfair because you don't mention that this book is abysmally bad on it's own merits! 😂
message 19:
by
Bucky Buchanan (from Saratoga)
(last edited Jul 05, 2022 06:49PM)
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Such a shame having this on GR as 2nd most popular review of Portnoy’s. What’s wrong with you people for upvoting it so many times? Smh
it ain’t a goodreads if the top review for an iconic book isn’t some moron whining about it for the most nonsensical reason ever
does a review have to be good. is it not enough for it to be funny.
max wrote: "it ain’t a goodreads if the top review for an iconic book isn’t some moron whining about it for the most nonsensical reason ever"I know. And it's always some trite attempt at 'epic clapback.' Like 'watch me take down these sacred cows as I torch your idols because I'm just a(nother) no-nonsense chick who speaks truth to power.'
Lady, you are the power! Your mediocre Buzzfeed-friendly sass is winning. It's all just so boring and tired now.
@Katie Except it ain’t funny�
Lighten up, guys. The likes are for the entertaining anecdote, from people who also disliked the book. Also, if you're dying on the hill of this middlebrow piece of crap book then you really need to reevaluate your taste.
I also dislike this book, but this isn't the intelligent way to go about it. I suppose this is the level to which the criticism of our age has sunk. And we cannot expect great literature without truly great criticism.
It's silly and useless to lament that someone's review of a book on ŷ doesn't meet high standards of thoughtful, measured criticism. Of course it doesn't, but that doesn't mean light, whimsical satire like this review doesn't have a right to exist. Get some perspective.
The only thing more fictitious than this book is this review.
So what's your actual take on the book? Why did you give it one star?
lol @ anyone deeply upset and annoyed by this post from 2014. there are a gazillion other takes you can read and peruse. move on. or log out.
And btw, no one cares about your irritation. let’s see you come up with a concise, yet relevant ŷ post (yes, post. not review. this isn’t the ny times) that can get this much attention :)
yall can stop policing how people use their goodreads accounts, maybe?
🥬 ab wrote: "yall can stop policing how people use their goodreads accounts, maybe?"And you can stop policing other people's comments perhaps? This is internet, so be prepared that not all comments will be "convenient" to you. Gtfo
And the one star review is for ?
Your review gave me a good laugh!
what am i supposed to do with this information
y a nadie le importa tu vida we, que ingenuidad de 1 estrella, menos mal tu marido te dejó, alta tonta.
fun fact, this reviewer in another review admits to cheating on her husband. do what that information what you will
A hilarious review - but is it deliberate? - which shows just how far ahead of his time Philip Roth was, and how he perceived the bottomless stupidity of our age. Unfortunately for her author - and for the pleasure of his readers - he would certainly have used it to enrich the gallery of his neurotic and paranoid characters.
This is my favourite ŷ review.
I had never even heard of Roth or his books at 64 years young. (I’ve been too busy tweezering lint out of my belly button.) I found it to be one of, if not the most outrageous, fun, funny, cleverly written books I’ve read so far!
