A letter to Philip Roth

May 14, 2009

You don’t know me (nor I you). But I am one of your legions of readers; and have been for many years. I think it’s safe to say that your fiction has helped shape and deepen my understanding of the human condition.

I recently finished reading Indignation, your latest novel, and I just wanted to thank you. For being so eloquent and witty, for posing the essential (existential?) questions, for screaming our insecurities into the night and for showing us how a small community can be a microcosm for the rest of the world.

Your book tells the story of a smart young man from Newark who comes of age in the 1950s. He ventures from his cloistered Jewish-centric hometown to college in the blandly-dangerous Midwest because he desires to escape his family’s narrow beliefs; he wants to be worldly and craves mainstream acceptance. Yet despite his best attempts to be himself, to excel academically, circumstances cause him to make choices that lead to an unfortunate path.

There are few artistic events I look forward to more than one of your books. You never fail to challenge my curiosity, spark an intellectual debate, entertain and make me laugh (and cry) at life’s unavoidable triumphs, mistakes and yes, indignities.

About Martin Waxman


Martin Waxman, MCM, is a digital communications strategist. He conducts AI research, leads digital and social media training workshops and speaks at events across North America. He's co-founder of two PR agencies, president of a consultancy and has worked in the industry for nearly 30 years. Martin is a LinkedIn Learning instructor, teaches digital strategy and social media at McMaster University, the Schulich School of Business, University of Toronto SCS and Seneca College. He's a member of the Institute for Public Relations Digital Media Research Center and a past-chair of PRSA Counselors Academy. He has a Master of Communications Management (MCM) from McMaster-Syracuse Universities.

2 Comments

  1. martinwaxman
    martinwaxman on June 6, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    Thanks for the comment. The Counterlife is a wonderful novel. I think, and maybe this is nostalgia, The Ghost Writer is my favourite Zuckerman novel – possibly because it feels like a compemporary ‘Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man’. I never did send the letter – just posted it on my blog…

    Reply
  2. Wendy Ganz
    Wendy Ganz on June 6, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    Hi there,

    All true, of course–Roth is without peer. Try The Counterlife to see him at his peak, I think.

    Just out of curiosity–did you actually send this letter to him? Any luck?

    Best
    WG

    Reply

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