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Operation Shylock by Philip Roth
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Operation Shylock (original 1993; edition 1993)

by Philip Roth

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,4782212,240 (3.64)51
What if a look-alike stranger stole your name, usurped your biography, and went about the world pretending to be you? In his extraordinary new book, his most ingenious and original work since Portnoy's Complaint, Philip Roth confronts his double, an impostor whose self-appointed task is to lead the Jews out of Israel and back to Europe, a Moses in reverse and a monstrous nemesis to the "real" Philip Roth. Suspenseful, hilarious, hugely impassioned, pulsing with intelligence and narrative energy, Operation Shylock is at once a spy story, a political thriller, a meditation on identity, and a confession. This master novelist has never been more demonically brilliant than in the re-creation of his frightening and mysterious journey through the volatile Middle East. Operation Shylock is Philip Roth's twentieth published book - and perhaps his very best.… (more)
Member:slickdpdx
Title:Operation Shylock
Authors:Philip Roth
Info:Vintage Boks,1993 (1993)
Collections:Your library
Rating:
Tags:novel, tbr

Work Information

Operation Shylock: A Confession by Philip Roth (1993)

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» See also 51 mentions

English (17)  Dutch (2)  Danish (1)  Spanish (1)  Italian (1)  All languages (22)
Showing 1-5 of 17 (next | show all)
This is not my favorite book by Philip Roth, an author whom I greatly admire. The book examines set in 1980's Israel, examines the conflict between the Israeli's and Palestinians. Roth created a doppelganger, in order to more fully explore both sides of a contentious issue. His double is purporting to be him, and is supporting a theory of "diasporism", that is; the Jewish people are safer and more fully embracing life if they return to Europe. By creating a body double, Roth presents his ambivalence regarding the formation and settlement of Israel by the Jewish people and the state of Israeli- Arab relations. The book has been described as "comic" and hilarious. I found the manic tone exhausting. ( )
  Chrissylou62 | Aug 1, 2020 |
3.5 stars.

So... I read this pretty fast, since it was a required read for my crazy-shit class, and I didn't realize I had to finish it until one day before (and I was then only 70-ish pages in...).

And it was a pretty cool read, I have to say. The best thing about it was how it maintained my interest throughout. I found myself continuing to read not only because I had to, but because I genuinely wanted to know what the fuck was going on (not that I actually got any concrete answers. Heh-heh.) I think that's always a big factor in the goodness of any kind of book.

As I expected, this book focused on many of the themes we've been dealing with in class: Doubles, materiality, and paratext to name a few. I'm not going to go into any of this because we've only just begun discussing this book and also because this is the kind of book that you have to go into blind and just let yourself be manipulated freely.

So, yeah. A very decent read. ( )
  UDT | May 1, 2018 |
I don't know how to rate this.

I've spent a lot of time railing about Roth but every seven years or so, I read one of his novels and they are brilliant. And then I feel a little sick inside.

This was no exception. It pushed every button I have and then some.
  laurenbufferd | Nov 14, 2016 |
Hilarious and troubling and has aged exceptionally well. ( )
  benjaminsiegel | Jul 30, 2016 |
¿Realidad o ficción? Todo muy judío. A ratos divertida, a ratos espesita ( )
  aliolica | Jun 24, 2016 |
Showing 1-5 of 17 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (4 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Roth, Philipprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Arro, TõnisTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bitoun, LazareTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hallik, TiinaEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hoog, ElseTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ζουμπουλάκ… ΣταύροςTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mantovani, VincenzoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pelar, RudolfTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pelarová, LubaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pilter, LauriTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Trobitius, JörgTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Zo bleef Jakob alleen achter. En een man worstelde met hem, totdat de dag aanbrak.
Genesis 32:24
Mijn hele wezen verkeert in schrille tegenstrijd met zichzelf.

Het bestaan is kennelijk een conflict...
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Voor Claire
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Om juridische redenen heb ik in dit boek een aantal feiten moeten veranderen.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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What if a look-alike stranger stole your name, usurped your biography, and went about the world pretending to be you? In his extraordinary new book, his most ingenious and original work since Portnoy's Complaint, Philip Roth confronts his double, an impostor whose self-appointed task is to lead the Jews out of Israel and back to Europe, a Moses in reverse and a monstrous nemesis to the "real" Philip Roth. Suspenseful, hilarious, hugely impassioned, pulsing with intelligence and narrative energy, Operation Shylock is at once a spy story, a political thriller, a meditation on identity, and a confession. This master novelist has never been more demonically brilliant than in the re-creation of his frightening and mysterious journey through the volatile Middle East. Operation Shylock is Philip Roth's twentieth published book - and perhaps his very best.

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