The Ghost Writer by Philip Roth

Philip Roth

Philip Roth’s book, “The Ghost Writer,” leaves one feeling that the book should be discussed in an American Literature class. There is so much to discuss. It needs to be analyzed in detail –all the clever lines need to be underlined and studied. I haven’t read Philip Roth for some time, but reading this makes me want to change all that. This book was recommended for December reading in “ A Reader’s Book of Days” by Tom Nissley. “The Ghost Writer” was published in 1979, twenty years after his famous first novel, “Goodbye, Columbus.” I love to read books with a winter setting during the snow-filled days. The opening line of the book is, “It was the last daylight hour of a December afternoon more than twenty years ago….” A young twenty three year old published writer has been invited to the home in upper New York of his idolized writer of Jewish extraction who is fifty-six years old. This older gentleman is very self-effacing as he gains the attention of the younger generation. What draws out in the next twelve or more hours is the adoration of the twenty three year old writer looking for a father figure to understand and appreciate his art as a Jewish writer. The introduction of the famous author’s wife and a young refugee from Europe act out a drama that the writer begins a fantasy and imaginational dream about that validates him as a loyal Jew.

To The Letter by Simon Garfield

Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Years_a_Slave I just finished reading the book that was published in 1853 by Solomon Northup. It was hard to read of his misfortune and the hardships that he suffered at the hands of the slave owner in his last years on a cotton platation. I can't imagine not being able to write a letter to my loved ones, and especially loosing my name. Everytime the slave is sold he is known by his master's last name. After years of suffering and hopelessness he finds a carpenter from Canada who will write his letter and post it for him and the process begins from New York that had a law on their books since 1840 that no free black man could be sold. Money is taken from the state to send a representative to Louisana to bring him back home safely. Alas he tells of many slaves who have faced imprisonment since infancy and have no hope. The tearing apart of the children from their parents is the most hearbreaking, usually because there is little sympathy for their fellow man. I don't think I could watch the movie that was made this year for the suffering and violence that would be depicted..

Elizabeth George

El;izabeth George