American Pastoral by Philip Roth

[e_l_i_t_e]

this is hands down one of the best books i have ever read in my lifetime. it's said to be a "classic" and a "must-read" and after reading it i definitely have to agree with that. it is both captivating and mesmerizing, extremely well written, and develops so many distinct and diverse characters throughout the book that you really feel as though these are real life people whose brains and minds you have entered and understood. roth does an incredible job of being extremely descriptive, in-depth, and detailed while at the same time keeping all passages intensely interesting and poignant. by weaving in, out, and around the lives of the different characters within the novel roth creates a mesh of wonder, intrigue, and fascination that does not stop flowing until the final word of the book.

i highly recommend this book to everyone and especially to lovers of fine and exquisite literature.