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Nemesis
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Nemesis, by Philip Roth
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Read in 2015
A story set during the polio outbreak during WWII explores how communities and individuals react in the face of epidemic. It especially explores how one young man's view of God is changed by circumstances of life and the polio outbreak.
A story set during the polio outbreak during WWII explores how communities and individuals react in the face of epidemic. It especially explores how one young man's view of God is changed by circumstances of life and the polio outbreak.
Nemesis by Philip Roth
4 stars
This is my third book by this author and so far I have really enjoyed his books. This particular book is about a “fictionalized but plausible� polio outbreak in New Jersey in the 1940s. The similarities to our current coronavirus outbreak on not lost on me. The outbreak is seen through the eyes of Bucky Cantor, a twenty something who graduated from college as a PE instructor but whom is 4F due to poor eyesight. Bucky feels tremendous guilt by not serving his country in World War 2 and in the polio outbreak of his community; this internal conflict of guilt and responsibility runs throughout the book.
I think Roth's books are a master of the human experience.
4 stars
This is my third book by this author and so far I have really enjoyed his books. This particular book is about a “fictionalized but plausible� polio outbreak in New Jersey in the 1940s. The similarities to our current coronavirus outbreak on not lost on me. The outbreak is seen through the eyes of Bucky Cantor, a twenty something who graduated from college as a PE instructor but whom is 4F due to poor eyesight. Bucky feels tremendous guilt by not serving his country in World War 2 and in the polio outbreak of his community; this internal conflict of guilt and responsibility runs throughout the book.
I think Roth's books are a master of the human experience.

4 stars
This is my third book by this author and so far I have really enjoyed his books. This particular book is about a “fictionalized but plausible� polio outbreak in New ..."
WOW, great review. I loved this book as it reminded me of my times in Newark. I had to go there occasionnally to work.
My review starts by identifying Nemesis as a punishing goddess. I saw as I read the book that Bucky Cantor is not only punished by the goddess, but also by himself.
This book allowed me to consider morality, my belief in God and how a person's attitude can ruin his life. I would describe Cantor's conscience as overly scrupulous.
Full review can be found here:
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