favorites and firsts

I would love to know two things about those joining this group:

(1) Which Bellow novel is your favorite?
(2) Which Bellow novel did you read first?

I'll start off by saying that my answer to both questions is Herzog.

I'll just link you to my obituary for the man and let you make p your own mind

http://www.spymac.com/blogs/blog_show_entry.php?entry=112503

I'm a newcomer to Bellow. A good friend of mine recommended him so often that I began picking up his books at book sales whenever I found them. So far I've only read Ravelstein, which I liked, in part because it's about Allan Bloom, but I've started the Dangling Man and think it's brilliant so far.

My friend's favorite was Mr. Sammler's Planet, so I look forward to that.

Favorite and First.
I was in a bookstore off Michigan Avenue in Chicago more than 20 years ago. Chicago was proud of Saul Bellow and I had never read any of his books. The sales clerk put The Dean's December in my hands and said "read it, if you want to know Bellow and the real Chicago." Because it was the first I have to say it was my favorite, since it was a gateway to eventually devouring everything else he has written." I've since read it again, just to relive the discovery of this great writer.

If I had to pick a favorite it would be Humboldt's Gift, but I'm a fan of almost everything Bellow wrote. If you are looking for something fairly brief, Dangling Man , The Victim and Seize the Day will not disappoint (at least I don't think they will).

I put off reading Bellow for years because of all the favorable criticism of him, it just made his books sound so heavy and worthy. Fortunately, I ended up having to read Dangling Man, which because of it's length is a good way in.

Better novels were to come though, Herzog and Humboldt's Gift are masterpieces, but I've always had a soft spot for Henderson the Rain King.

I can't remember which i read first but my favorite is definitely Humboldt's Gift. I also liked Ravelstein mentioned above .

I got so into Humboldt that years later I had to read James Atlas Delmore Schwartz biography which was tragic and interesting. Of course, as most of you probably know, Bellow based Humboldt on his friend Delmore, a literary flame whose bi-polar illness left him unfulfilled in his own eyes.

My first was Augie March, and my favourite so far is Humboldt's Gift.

My first was dangling man but my favorite is still augie march. i did get to see the kirchner opera based on henderson the rain king which i loved but the critics didn't.

I'm starting to read my first Bellow, Seize the Day. He is one of my husband's favourite authors, and he has been on at me for a while to give him a try. I hope I enjoy it !

so how did you like it #10?

Suggestions for which Bellow novel is best to start with, for a first-time reader of his work?

if you like short reads, go for Dangling Man or Seize the Day; if you like long reads, The Adventures of Augie March.

Thanks, tcM.

Has anyone heard of Bellow's story, Leaving the Yellow House? I believe it's his only work that has a woman as it's protagonist. Or is he masquerading as a woman. I know place-belongingness was one of his specialties.

Herzog is my favourite, followed by Humboldt's Gift. However I have not read all Bellow's works yet. I am currently half way through Augie March.

The first work I read was Seize the Day, many years ago. I was not enthusiastic about it and for years I read nothing more. Then when Bellow died, I read the obituaries and decided to give it another go. I read Humboldt's Gift, then Herzog and it was very exciting to discover these great works. Now I somehow feel cheated that I didn't get to know Bellow's work while he was still alive. I don't know what difference it would have made, I would just have preferred to discover him sooner. Perhaps if he went on a lecture tour or something like that, I could have gone to listen.

I am also reading the collected interviews, 'Conservations with Saul Bellow', which are very illuminating.

I'm a great fan of Seize the Day and Mr. Sammler's Planet.

Humboldt's Gift is my favorite. I also recommend Ravelstein - maybe his last novel written(?).

if you are also fascinated by Humboldt it is loosely based on the life of Delmore Schwartz and there is an excellent bio on him: by James Atlas, The Life of an American Poet.

I share with you a wonderful essay by the great Cynthia Ozick writing on the letters of the great Saul Bellow.

There are vivid excerpts depicting the cultue from which Bellow came to become a unique voice in literature.

this essay is marvelous!

http://www.tnr.com/article/books-and-arts/magazine/83143/saul-bellows-letters-re...

This past year, I added Herzog to my list. Really enjoyed it.

Also enjoyed Ozick's article, which was a more favorable look than Joseph Epstein's. He is usually reliable but in this case seemed to know the author too well to praise him.