Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Some thoughts about The Human Stain...

- I love the title of this book. What do you think it means?

- Is the relationship between Coleman and Faunia immoral or somehow exploitative?

- Should Coleman have apologized for using the word "spooks"? What do you think of his decision to resign?

- Was Coleman's decision to lie about his race justifiable? Was it necessary for him to disown his family?

- Is Les Farley accountable for his actions?

- How, if at all, is this book about Bill Clinton?

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Philip Roth is one our nation's most critically acclaimed novelists. Here's an interview with him:



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The character of Coleman Silk is thought to be based on real life literary critic Anatole Broyard. Broyard's daughter Bliss wrote a memoir, One Drop: My Father's Hidden Life -- A Story of Race and Family Secrets, about her father and learning learn of his racial identity two months before his death. Here's a short feature about her book:



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We'll be meeting to discuss Philip Roth's The Human Stain on August 13th at the Main Library in Conference Rm 3 at noon. Feel free to bring a lunch.