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Philip Roth

American Pastoral

Philip RothFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1997

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Book Brief

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Philip Roth

American Pastoral

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1997
Book Details
Pages

432

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New Jersey • 1960s

Publication Year

1997

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In American Pastoral, Nathan Zuckerman recounts the life of Seymour "the Swede" Levov, a Jewish man who seemingly embodies the American dream with a successful business, a beautiful home, and a family. However, his idyllic life unravels when his daughter Merry becomes radicalized against the Vietnam War, bombings a post office, causing immense family turmoil and exposing underlying tragedies. The story includes themes of radicalism, violence, and the disintegration of idealized success.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Dark

Challenging

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.1

87,240 ratings

72%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Philip Roth's American Pastoral is widely praised for its deep exploration of postwar American life, complex characterizations, and masterful narrative style. Some readers, however, find the pacing sluggish and the prose occasionally overindulgent. Despite these critiques, it remains a compelling and thought-provoking novel, earning its place as a modern classic.

Who should read this

Who Should Read American Pastoral?

A reader who would enjoy American Pastoral by Philip Roth is likely an enthusiast of complex, character-driven narratives that explore the American Dream and post-war societal tensions. Fans of Saul Bellow’s Herzog and Don DeLillo’s Underworld will appreciate Roth's incisive examination of family, identity, and cultural upheaval.

4.1

87,240 ratings

72%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

432

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New Jersey • 1960s

Publication Year

1997

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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