Rating: 
Summary: Sabbath at Rest
Review: I have enjoyed several of Roth's books including Portnoy's Complaint, When She Was Good, American Pastoral, and Patrimony. This novel displays Roth's writing style as well as any other. Mickey Sabbath is living in the hell that he has cultivated for himself and has earned. If Roth's intent was to create a sympathetic figure with Sabbath he has failed with me. All persons have suffered something in the past that could explain, if not condone, some irresponsible behaviors. For Sabbath, however, I feel nothing--not because of his hedonism but because of his irresponsibility and insensitivity to those with whom he interacts. Sabbath rests in hell. He is indeed his own puppet and directed the show. It's hot in the theater.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty boring and just about gagged me
Review: Okay, I didn't really like Portnoy's Complaint either although I appreciate it as a coming of age type of novel. This novel is like Portnoy grows old and still does disgusting things with his body fluids. Even worse, the plot dragged. I feel as though I'm reading the reminiscences of a stunted teenager who hasn't a clue that he's stunted.
Rating: 
Summary: My first Roth
Review: and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mickey Sabbath was so real that even his status as an absolutely moral-less anti-hero couldn't push me far enough away not to feel sorry for him as the story went on. Reading this book made me want to go out and do something totally outrageous just to feel more alive. I agree with many of the other reviewers. David Duke (the narrator of the audio book) did a superb job with accents, emotions and even sexual noises (although I wish he would have done the gorilla noises toward the end). The sex was too analytical to be erotic in most cases (which is good if you happen to be standing in line at the post office listening to it on tape). I do have to admit I fast forwarded through one of the scenes I found particularly disgusting and I wish I would have fast forwarded through another one of the scenes.
Rating: 
Summary: An alter-ego
Review: This is a book that'll make you laugh out loud with the sad and disturbing antics of Mickey Sabbath. I cam to realize that many of the things that Mickey did are a Freudian alter-ego of the self - that's the scary part! What's more, the scenes are played out in constant flash backs and forwards, so you truly get the sense of the disturbing realities surrounding Mickey - death. It's inevitable and Mickey abhors reality for that very reason. One more reason to read this is the bathroom scene at his friend Norm Cowans - I won't tell you what happened, but I found myself cringing and laughing at the utter awkwardness and the bravo that Mickey carried himself with. Superb book!
Rating:
Summary: What do you know- a funny jewish storyteller.
Review: This is one of the best Roth novels I have read. It is funny ,filthy,perverse and very very readable.I rather wasted a sojourn in Israel by staying in the hotel to read this rather than explore Tel Aviv.It was no contest.This novel is the dogs.
Rating:
Summary: The degenerate strikes again
Review: Roth is truly one of America's greatest living authors. Funny, insightful, original, he's a great storyteller. Like his "Professor of Desire" Roth goes beyond the traditional antihero and writes a book from the point of view of a total degenerate. His 'protagonists' are antagonistic. Not as evil as Brent Easton Ellis's character in "American Psycho" but depraved notheless. Roth seems to love telling stories from the point of view of politically incorrect, irresponsible perverts. He is to fiction what Hunter S. Thompson is to journalism and Henry Miller is to the autobiographical novel. What a misanthrop.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Prose But No Redeeming Value
Review: I truly enjoy dark characters, but this book provided no entertainment what so ever. However well-written, I could not appreciate the "hero's" horrible treatment of wives, friends and lovers. Although nearly every page is about sexual exploits, they were not remotely erotic. Of course, erotism was not the point of the book. But maybe it could have made the read more bearable.
Rating:
Summary: Literate pornography underscored by deep pathos
Review: I listened to the audiotape, and commend David Dukes (not the Klansman) for his realistic, skillfully accented performance. Mickey Sabbath is a repulsive but ultimately sympathetic character who submerges deep sorrow over the losses of his brother, wife, and lover through relentless manipulation of others and self-destructive sexual indulgence. His transgressions alienate him from all of those who would have loved or admired him, and drive him ever deeper into suicidal self-loathing. Structurally this narrative seemed to divide roughly in two, with the first half dominated by Sabbath's erotic reminiscences, and the second half spent in motion, journeying into his past in search of lost meaning. The book engaged me slowly at first, but grew on me as the details of his life were layered on. It wasn't a great story by any means, but still fascinating as a character study of a man with extravagant talents and equally extravagant flaws.
Rating:
Summary: one of the decade's finest novels
Review: It pains me to see so many reviewers either entirely miss, or disregard, the key note of this book. That is, quite ironically, loss; the story uses an unconventional, intentionally confrontational approach to depict a sad struggle with spiritual and physical decay. Sabbath's lifelong inability to empathize with anyone (incuding himself) is his downfall and is NOT something Roth celebrates. Disgust with the scatology of this book comes from a reductionist reading; we can harbor some disgust only while taking up the challenge of feeling pity for the repulsive puppeteer, particularly in the masterful and heartbreaking encounters with Uncle Fish, his parents' graves, and all things past. An inspiring book, written in Roth's trademark lyric American vernacular, to be read and re-read.
Rating:
Summary: Obsessive and boring sexology
Review: Having read Roth since "Goodbye Columbus" I can honestly say that, in spite of his brilliant narrative skills and scintillating dialogue this book's content,the repetitive use of sexual scatology, the obsession with sexual deviance was first shocking and ultimately boring. Compared to " The Counter Life " it rates a 3 at best. As I struggled through the book I wondered what possessed Phillip to write it.
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