[amadeus3000]

Since I have finished The Human Stain by Philip Roth a few weeks ago, I was wondering if the book, besides the obvious things Amy Hungerford had to say about it – mainly man fantasies, generation conflict, race issues and censorship, actually depicts the famed 'American soul'? Especially in the beginning, with its comments about Clinton, football, etc. and later on the things about a medium-sized American town – do they resonate within the Americans? I just want to know if my impression is right, that Roth manages on relatively few pages (compared to the rest of the novel) to accurately describe the United States before 9/11.


Another topic: Has anyone of you read Thomas Bernhard? From the English section of my bookstore I gathered that his translated works are quite popular. If that's the case, what do you think about the most-hated Austrian writer?

[amadeus3000]

Stephen King is most certainly not literature. But does one have to read him? So far I made sure to avoid his works, but I still keep wondering: Has he written any good books? And which three should I get, if any?

[amadeus3000]

Ok thanks, might be the perfect easy summer reading. And with the weather looking rather bleak I should get into the right mood.