(This is a review of the leatherbound book itself, not the story. I am reading Roth's books in chronological order and will update my review on the story at a later date.)

I don't think the seller realized this book was signed by Philip Roth. The book was received in mint condition. It was labeled "Used/ Good", but after briefly looking at the ball point pen autograph, and lightly flipping through the pages, I'd say this book has never been read.

If this isn't a knockoff (I have no reason to believe it is), and is an actual Franklin Library Signed Copy, I just made a purchase that makes me very happy-- not because I collect autographs (I don't) but because I have just discovered Roth's writing and this is a wonderful addition to my library.

Nathan Zuckerman again inhabits this work by Philip Roth, and is now forty years old. He has enjoyed success as a writer, has been married three times, has complicated and varied encounters with women, and most shockingly, has suffered under chronic pain in his body to such an extent that he cannot write, and can barely function. As a result, he immerses himself deeply into a life of Percodan, vodka and delusion. He is racked with pain about the death of both parents, particularly his mother, and feels the customary Jewish guilt that their deaths were somehow helped along by his writing. His brother will not speak to him. Others sweep in and out of his life. People avoid him for fear of ending up in his next book. The one constant is the pain in his body.

This novel is a great blend of pathos, dark humour and some honest and moving reflections on family. There are some wonderful passages where Nathan is going through his mother's things after her death, and recalling his childhood and his mother's tender and optimistic love for him.

I found Roth's descriptions of Nathan's impersonations or appropriations of his nemesis (Jewish book critic and commentator Milton Appels) a little long-winded but they were designed to offend and annoy, so they accomplished their purpose, with Roth's typically brilliant style uncompromised. We get great insights into the nature of Jewish "political correctness" and how that can stifle creativity and thought. Roth is hilarious when he demonstrates that Zuckerman has no real political agenda, even though the Jewish thinkers want him to. Perhaps this is reflective of Roth's experience after his early successes.

"Look, I obviously don't want to see the Jews destroyed. That wouldn't make too much sense. But I am not an authority on Israel. I'm an authority on Newark. Not even on Newark. On the Weequahic section of Newark. If the truth be known, not even on the whole of the Weequahic setion. I don't even go below Bergen Street." We get Roth's trademark originality and hilarity in large doses.

Not many writers can achieve the dual result of making a reader weep and laugh at the same time. Roth does, and his is a talent that few possess. Another great novel in a rich body of work.

After a false start with The Human Stain, I am making my way through all the Zuckerman books, in order. I quite liked The Ghost Writer and Zuckerman Unbound. I like The Anatomy Lesson too, but just not as much. This is one of the Roth novels with too much kvetching in it.

Here's the paradox of Nathan Zuckerman: he is an author thrust into the spotlight with the publication of his bestselling novel, "Carnovsky." This novel is critical of Jewish-American culture. Now that Zuckerman is famous, he spends most of his time explaining that he IS NOT Carnovsky, and that he doesn't necessarily mean all the things that Carnovsky says. In other words, it's just a story. Here's the problem though: it isn't just a story - Zuckerman is obviously a stand-in for Roth and Carnovsky is obviously a stand-in for Portnoy's Complaint. So, how are we meant to interpret the author's claim to fiction - as sincere or ironic?

This book finds Zuckerman paralyzed by some unexplained ailment. He suffers sever neck pain and cannot move his head. He cannot write - all he can do is lie on his back, have sex, and complain. It's the complaining that got to me. It's reminiscent of the complaining in Portnoy and - let's face it - despite its popularity, Portnoy is one of Roth's worst books. Perhaps it's the spirit of Portnoy in the guise of Carnovsky that haunts this novel - dragging his chains and complaining for all eternity.

The seller was dyskolosdaskolos sent this book in a beautifully wrapped box even with spectacular stamps and i am keeping the box! Roth novel precisely as described. As a bibliophile, i have rarely found a provider like dyskolosdaskolos. Truly superb! Dr j mimbs. 2/24/2024

At first I thought I was swindled. But after a very detailed response from the seller, I now understand the details and history of this kind of book. I gave it to a friend for his birthday and he was in awe. This is a great option for someone trying to get signed memorabilia without paying an arm and a leg.

The third of the Zuckerman novels was my favorite. I found it very, very funny.

Nathan Zuckerman, has pain and a major writer's block. Is the pain unexplainable or does his writing need it. The source is very unclear. He does spend a lot of time in his apartment, on his back, being serviced by one of his four girlfriends who are all very different.

His mother's death has caused guilt. His enormous success has caused guilt. He questions the value of being a writer and thinks about doing something more worthwhile like becoming a doctor.

There's a period of the book where he simply pretends to be a pornographer and publisher of Lickety Split magazine. That whole section is uproariously funny. His whole trip to Chicago is actually very funny.

Mix everything together with his guilt about his portrayal of Jews in his novels and Roth has created a very funny book.

Zuckerman reminded me a lot of Larry David in the TV show "Curb Your Enthusiasm".

I enjoyed The Anatomy Lesson very much but definitely suggest reading The Ghost Writer and Zuckerman Unbound first. the first two books provide a lot of context for this one.

This is a great book by the true master of American literature. Highly, highly recommended. One of Philip Roth’s best.

Clearly there is no direct relationship between Philip Roth and Harold Bloom, but as I moved on the last chapters of The Anatomy Lesson all I could think of was Bloom's comments about his theory of shattering vessels to explain how strong poets strived to overcome their predecessors... Here, Zuckerman in pain slowly decays to his own destruction (physically) from which he needs to emerge just like a rebuilt vessel in Harold Bloom's terms. That Zuckerman's fall has to do with his sentiment of guilt and repentance towards his parents is also remarkably in tandem with Bloom's A Map of Misreading. I am certainly overinterpreting Roth, of course, but that made me like the book better. Among the three in the Zuckerman Trilogy this Anatomy Lesson sounded the weakest, took me longer to read as there are several passages that just didn't work well for me. Not surprisingly, this book seemed also to me a rehearsal for Sabbath's Theater, which is a book I didn't enjoy that much. The last chapter of this Anatomy, however, is great. That is what I really admire in Roth, his effort to make all the pieces to come together at the end, even if they are thrown in the air in a chaotic disconnect, even still if coming from Zuckerman's confusing mind in this book.

i love philip roth