Nemesis in Around the World in 80 Books

Sep 05, 2019 Steve rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Briefly, the story (Roth's last novel) is about a young physical education teacher, Bucky Cantor, and the choices he makes, during, and after, the polio epidemic in the summer of 1944. As you quickly discover, Bucky is brave, diligent and kind. He's also a fine athlete, a javelin thrower, who has, nevertheless, been barred from service during the war because of his poor eyesight. Still, Bucky has a lot going for him. He has landed a coveted job in the Newark school system working with children, ...more

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Dec 22, 2010 Mary rated it liked it

Written very simply and sparsely this is a story taking place during the polio epidemic; the story of one young man and the way his life is affected because of this epidemic.

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Oct 29, 2016 Anna rated it it was amazing

This is an exceptionally good book and Roth's invention of Bucky Cantor is one of the best characters I have had the pleasure of reading.

For my full review please visit my blog at: http://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogspo... ...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Lisa of Hopewell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, 1001-books-to-read-before-you-di

Excellent....shocking end.

June 15--hope to get to read some of this tonight--I've had wireless on my trip so I've caught up on some tv shows.

"Equatorial Newark" is the perfect description of any big city in the tropical heat of summer. Polio hits the city and parents struggle with paranoia............ ...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Bilhá Calderón rated it it was amazing

Long and wonderful description of all the things we want and cannot have. The "too good to be true" boy who can't save his country or his city, not even the children left to his care.

Guilt... good old Jewish guilt. ...more

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