I can't lament that he was cut down in the prime of his life, but as someone who has brought Portnoy's Complaint and/or The Human Stain aboard every passenger train, plane, or ship I've been on since 2008, it feels significant. He was my favorite on the Mount Rushmore of horny white men of letters, towering above Mailer (The Executioner's Song is a masterpiece and the rest I can take or leave), Bellow, and Updike.

I read an interview with him in the NYT magazine -- on newsprint and everything -- a few months ago and had the sinking feeling this was the last goodbye after retiring from writing and public appearances, so I'm glad I read it. It's here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/16/book ... rview.html

Though I guess if anything was his final literary act, it was arguing with wikipedia mods that he was qualified to write his own biography. A fine coda.

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He was the Jonathon Toews of literature.

Guess I better read one of his books and see what all the hubbub is aboot.

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Someone once said about him, "Hes a good writer, but make sure you don't shake his hand."

Sounds more like 1938.

When I was a kid Portnoy's Complaint was a forbidden book in our bookcase. Of course I got it down and read it every chance I got. I didn't find it nearly as titillating as the beach scene in Jaws. My mom was always an avid reader. I don't think she cared for Roth. My guess is that he was too Jewish.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Where does John Cheever rank on this list?

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