Herzog, Saul Bellow, The Viking Press, 1964, 371 pp
In Saul Bellow's sixth novel, I met Moses Herzog, another one of this author's unique male characters. The book hit the #3 spot on the bestseller list for 1964 and won the National Book Award in 1965.
I wasn't sure I was in the mood for a Bellow novel because he demands quite a lot from his readers, but as soon as I was a few pages in, I recognized his familiar voice and we were off.
Moses Herzog is a middle-aged intellectual who has just been divorced by his second wife. He is in a state, hurt, angry, defeated and full of self doubt. He has been cuckolded by a man he considered a friend, he is out of money and the great work of his writing career has become meaningless to him due to his anguish.
Throughout the book he writes unsent letters to all manner of people, including God, trying to explain how he sees things. In actuality he is trying to explain his life and his place in it to himself.
If this sounds like a book in search of a plot, it sometimes is, especially in the somewhat sagging middle section, but it is about a journey through despair. Despair can cause plenty of sagging.
I felt for Herzog in his manic attempts to outrun the madness he has fallen into, especially because his actions are bound to bring more trouble down on his head. That perception of being misunderstood to the point of doubting one's sanity has happened to most people at some point, but most people cannot write about it like Saul Bellow.
I worried for the man that he might take himself beyond some point from which he could not come back. Yet, in those letters he kept writing I could sense that the cold brilliance of his intellect was always aware of the people and society around him, of his options, and of himself. Since I am a person who regularly attempts to think my way out of problems, I could relate.
Perhaps this is not a novel for everyone though I cannot imagine anyone who ventures into it not being brought under its spell. It is not about being wordy, as so many "serious" writers seem to think. It is about the power of his words, the storm of emotion. He can capture on the page the way most of us feel on both our best and worst days.
(Herzog is available in various formats by order from Once Upon A Time Bookstore.)
This is another one on my list of "Books I Always Meant to Read But Never Have." Reading your review makes me want to get to it. Maybe I finally will.
ReplyDeleteI know about that list, I have several of them in fact. I will await your review.
DeleteThis is one of those modern classics that I've always intended to read, but have never placed on my current TBR pile. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteYes, I know. That is how I read it. It was on my TBR for this spring! Hope you like it.
DeleteInteresting topic and it seems it has been strongly executed. Sometimes I'm afraid of this sort of books because my mood can mirror the mood of the story. I know, crazy!
ReplyDeleteNot crazy at all. It happens to me all the time. It is not a depressing story in spite of Herzog's troubles though, I guess because of his irrepressible spirit. Up to you.
DeleteI agree with Carmen. Sometimes I get too caught up in dark books.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I am drawn to them.
DeleteI often like saggy despair (a la A Fan's Notes and A Confederacy of Dunces): but I have not read Herzog or Saul Bellow yet. He's been on the shelf. But I want to read his writing eventually. Thx for the review
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny sometimes. I needed a laugh today. I have not read A Confederacy of Dunces yet, but it has been on my shelf for a long time. Had not heard of A Fan's Notes but I looked it up. I have heard of Exley. Good exchange, Susan.
ReplyDeleteHa. The guyfriend I worked with at the Colorado bookstore used to judge his friendships secretly on whether the person liked A Fan's Notes. Ha. He would loan it to them and then nonchalantly ask what they thought of it. Little did they know it was quite a test. Luckily I passed with flying colors. It's a funny and quirky book which I need to reread so many years later.
DeleteI like that secret test. I admit, I do that with some people. Great bookstore story!
DeleteI have yet to read a book by him. Which one would you recommend to start?
ReplyDeleteI would recommend The Adventures of Augie March (http://keepthewisdom.blogspot.com/2008/12/books-read-from-1954-part-six.html) Either you will grow to love it as I did, or you will not, but you will find out what he did that made him so successful, Nobel Prize and all. Thanks for visiting my blog today!
DeleteI have yet to read anything by Saul Bellow. I have liked reading certain well written dark books as they can capture an essence of a situation quite nicely.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned "It is about the power of his words, the storm of emotion. He can capture on the page the way most of us feel on both our best and worst days." This is a sign of a great author.
Thank you! He is (or was) a great author. I hope you try him.
DeleteThis is one I've wanted to read for a while but I keep putting it off because I just never seem to be in the right headspace for it... one day!
ReplyDeleteYes, I know what you mean. When that day comes, you are in for a treat because it is an enlightening look at the male viewpoint.
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