Mark ’s review of Patrimony > Likes and Comments

Mark, you really don't need to say any more than this!

Perfect review.

Wow!!🤩

Double Wow!

I thought American Pastoral left you scarred for life, Mr President. 😂

Love to see five stars. I have yet to read Roth, but your reaction to his writing says it all. I need to make time to read him. Love your review, Mark!

Lisa wrote: "Mark, you really don't need to say any more than this!"

Bahahahaha - I had to say a little bit more Lisa!!!!

Elizabeth wrote: "Perfect review."

Cheers Elizabeth 🤗🎈

Canadian Jen wrote: "Wow!!🤩"

Definitely one of my favourites Jen Jen 🤗🎈

Lori wrote: "Double Wow!"

Cheers Lori - a great book for sure 🤗🎈

I've only read Roth's fiction and that was years ago. I'm glad his memoir resonated with you, Mark.

Pedro wrote: "I thought American Pastoral left you scarred for life, Mr President. 😂"

Well, kind of Pedro - you had your hands full managing that buddy read, I still gave it 3 stars though. This one is brilliant - highly recommended for your mate 🤗🎈🎈

Jonas wrote: "Love to see five stars. I have yet to read Roth, but your reaction to his writing says it all. I need to make time to read him. Love your review, Mark!"

Very kind of your to say Jonas, this is well worth picking up - such a brilliant memoir. Thanks again mate 🤗🎈🎈

Holly R W wrote: "I've only read Roth's fiction and that was years ago. I'm glad his memoir resonated with you, Mark."

It certainly did resonate with me Holly, a beautiful memoir - thanks so much for stopping by and commenting 🤗🎈🎈

Great review, Mark! I’m not sure if I’ll like Roth’s works, but this one I know I’m going to love. 🤓

Sounds like this was a deep reading experience on so many levels for you, Mark. Your reviews are always perfect to read on a park bench in Paris, waiting for my day to start. :-)

Brilliant review, Mark. Sadly we all follow the same path at some point with our loved ones. Not surprised you and Lisa had much to discuss.

Oh, Mr President, my heart and soul just grow bigger and bigger every time I think about how full my hands were during that buddy read. Nothing was by chance, you know. I knew exactly who I wanted to invite, and I also knew it had to be American Pastoral, not because I thought you were all going to love it, but because I knew none of you would remain indifferent to it or ever be able to forget it.

The rules were simple, weren’t they? “Just finish the damn book,” and don’t be offended by the fact that Philip Roth could piss a lot further than any of us ever will.

I love the fact that he could piss so much further than me, and that’s exactly why I’ll be coming back to him.

Great review, by the way. I’ll get to this one at some point, I’m sure.

Hugs.

This is certainly a different kind of Roth book. I'm sure reading this with Lisa made the experience that much richer and more meaningful. Great review, Mark.

I can see why this story resonated with you, Mark.
Another wonderful review, mate!

Roth lost me forever with American Pastoral.

I see you decided to expand your review. This is such an exceptional work in many ways and a wonderful tribute to Herman Roth.

I also appreciate the balance between the soberness and impending grief with the laugh aloud funny moments.

And the discussion this one spawned is priceless!

Maricarmen wrote: "Great review, Mark! I’m not sure if I’ll like Roth’s works, but this one I know I’m going to love. 🤓"

This one is well worth it Maricarmen - I hope you read it amongst the 1,000 other reads you have going at any one time 😂😂, thanks gain for your kind comments 🥰🎈🤗

Ulysse wrote: "Sounds like this was a deep reading experience on so many levels for you, Mark. Your reviews are always perfect to read on a park bench in Paris, waiting for my day to start. :-)"

Oh wow Ulysse - what a wonderful image in my mind of you sitting there in Paris!! Were you eating a nice French pastry and slurping down a nice coffee?? Thanks again mate - lovely comments 🤗🎈🎈

Antoinette wrote: "Brilliant review, Mark. Sadly we all follow the same path at some point with our loved ones. Not surprised you and Lisa had much to discuss."

Yes indeed Antoinette - you'd love this one I'm sure. It's also very funny in parts, we all have funny stories of our 'hapless dads' I'm sure - some of the anecdotes of Herman Roth (and his mates) shared by Philip are priceless. Thanks again my friend 🤗🎈🎈

Great review, Mark! Sounds like a powerful read, glad you enjoyed it so much! Calling it a favorite is a high praise! :)

Pedro wrote: "Oh, Mr President, my heart and soul just grow bigger and bigger every time I think about how full my hands were during that buddy read. Nothing was by chance, you know. I knew exactly who I wanted ..."

"Just finish the damn book" love it Pedro!! Yes, it was a great group for discussion - that's what buddy reading is all about right? Discussion and disagreement!!! You're due to set up another buddy read mate, with another volatile group hahahaha. Love it brother 🤗🤗

Laysee wrote: "This is certainly a different kind of Roth book. I'm sure reading this with Lisa made the experience that much richer and more meaningful. Great review, Mark."

Oh you bet Laysee, it certainly added to the experience here too. Made all the better because it was a 'metaphor free' read, and Lisa usually quizzes me about the last metaphor I missed!!!! Not this time - thanks so much my friend 🤗🦘🎈

Kevin wrote: "I can see why this story resonated with you, Mark.
Another wonderful review, mate!"

Thanks very much Kevin, too kind - always a pleasure to see you mate 🤗🤗

Diane wrote: "Roth lost me forever with American Pastoral."

Awwwwww Diane - I KNOW you'd love this one!!! 😬🎈

Terrific review Mark 🤗

Sir Mark...Excellent review. As a buddy read, a super level of compassion and understanding was there to embrace!🤗🤗

Love memoirs, Roth, and also lost my father to brain cancer. Did not know this existed...Thanks, Mark! I'm going to check it out for sure.

Wonderful review Mark, so glad you loved it so much!

Lisa wrote: "I see you decided to expand your review. This is such an exceptional work in many ways and a wonderful tribute to Herman Roth.

I also appreciate the balance between the soberness and impending gr..."

Igualmente mi querida amiga!! Wasn't it fun? Also gave us pause to reflect about the things that have happened in our lives and to our loved ones around us. Not many reads truly do that. 🥰🎈🦘

Yun wrote: "Great review, Mark! Sounds like a powerful read, glad you enjoyed it so much! Calling it a favorite is a high praise! :)"

Yes, a profound book Yun - not just my usual hyperbole 😂😂, thanks so much again 🤗🎈

Ceecee wrote: "Terrific review Mark 🤗"

..............of a terrific book Ceecee - thanks so much, good to see you 🤗🎈

Fran (on semi- hiatus) wrote: "Sir Mark...Excellent review. As a buddy read, a super level of compassion and understanding was there to embrace!🤗🤗"

Oh yes, there sure was plenty there to embrace Lady Fran. Shoving our Lisa aside for the moment (hahahahahaha), the father Herman Roth, was a character to behold. He had all the faults/quirks of a man of his time, but showed these wonderful sparks of love and compassion from time to time. Very Dad-like. 🤗🦘🎈

I have yet to read this, Mark. Compelling review. Well said. My favourite book by Roth is The Human Stain. Glad you enjoyed this. 🤗💕

Adam wrote: "Love memoirs, Roth, and also lost my father to brain cancer. Did not know this existed...Thanks, Mark! I'm going to check it out for sure."

Neither did I Adam, until I looked up a list of Roth's works recently. Great to see you've added it and I looked forward to reading your thoughts. RIP Your Old Man :(

This sounds both difficult and worthwhile, Markus. My heart can't do it right now, but I've no doubt the writing is superb. Marvelous review :)

Happy to hear that you and Lisa were able to collab on this read Mark - terrific review!

That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, Mr President. I’d totally join the same group again, but I wouldn’t choose the title again. Here’s a list of who I think should pick the next one:

1. Justin
2. You
3. Diane

I’ve done my bit. One of you can be responsible for our collective suffering next time. 😂

Love you all. 🤗😘

Pedro wrote: "That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, Mr President. I’d totally join the same group again, but I wouldn’t choose the title again. Here’s a list of who I think should pick the next one:

..."

Bahahaha - Let's have a think mate!! We can choose the same group and add a few others, I dont mind running it - I like herding cats!!!! We need to think of a book that will extract some contentious views from our buddies 😬😬.......Lolita?

Karen wrote: "Wonderful review Mark, so glad you loved it so much!"

Thanks heaps Kazza - hope all is well in Kazzland!! 🤗🤗🤗

Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "I have yet to read this, Mark. Compelling review. Well said. My favourite book by Roth is The Human Stain. Glad you enjoyed this. 🤗💕"

Well, I think you'll love this one Shelley. You know The Human Stain was my first Roth, and I gave it 5 stars, loved it. Love the title too!!! I'll have to check out your review. Thanks again 🤗🎈🎈