Wednesday, December 23, 2020

AN AMERICAN DREAM


 An American Dream, Norman Mailer, The Dial Press, 1965, 270 pp

Norman Mailer. Was he just a bad man, misogynist, and curmudgeon? Or was he a deep thinker, great writer and possible genius? I think probably both. He was full of himself as a younger man and he liked to antagonize anyone he could. He certainly had trouble with females. Do I read him because it is sensible to know the enemy? No, I think he was so perceptive concerning American society. I aways get insights from his books.

An American Dream was his fourth novel and came ten years after his third. It is a day in the life of Stephen Richards Rojack in which he murders his wife, makes it look like a suicide, faces the cops, starts an affair with another woman, confronts his enormously wealthy father-in-law, while staying drunk the whole time and facing all his demons.

The story is gritty, violent, sexy and psychological in the extreme. I don't particularly recommend it to anyone, but perhaps some men who read it will see themselves and some women will go, umhum, yes, that is what we are up against. In other words, read it at your own risk.

16 comments:

  1. i read the naked and the dead eons ago but never anything else... probably a reason, there somewhere... i liked it tho...

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  2. It occurs to me that I have never read him. I want to.

    It turns out that many great writers were terrible people. It is something that most perceptive readers eventually grapple with.

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    1. I try not to confuse the artist with the person. I wonder what you would think of Mailer.

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  3. I will consider myself well warned! [grin]

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  4. This for sure sounds will not be for everyone but I'm not going to lie, you've peaked my interest!

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    1. Carrie, this is not the first time you have surprised me! But you sure have this time.

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  5. Now, of course, you've made me all the more curious...like women who attracted to "bad boys." LOL

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    1. Well now that you mention it, that has been me at times.

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  6. Okay, then.... I think I'll pass on this book!

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  7. I'm not sure if I want to read this, but you've made me SO curious!
    I'll put it on my "maybe-tbr-with-buddyread" !

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  8. Replies
    1. You're welcome. No problem!

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    2. I've never read any of his books, though a couple have been recommended to me. I didn't know the backstory though, so thanks for providing some insight into the author!

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