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Sabbath’s Theater Audiobook
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(3.01) - 3,083 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Winner of the National Book Award
The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of American Pastoral delivers his “richest, most rewarding novel” —the New York Times Book Review, about Micky Sabbath, a scandalous hero who embarks on a turbulent journey into his past.
Once an inventive puppeteer, Sabbath at sixty-four is still defiantly antagonistic and exceedingly libidinous. But after the death of his long-time mistress—an erotic free spirit whose adulterous daring surpassed even his own—Sabbath, bereft and grieving and besieged by the ghosts of those who loved and hated him most, contrives a succession of farcical disasters that take him to the brink of madness and extinction.
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"This is my favorite novel ever. Angry, profane, hilarious and dirty, dirty dirty, it's also the most moving writing I've ever read. The last hundred pages are heartbreaking and the last line of the novel is a piece of evil brilliance. This is Roth at his best, which means writing at its best."
— Zach (5 out of 5 stars)
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“A book that will shock and delight in equal measure, the summit of a remarkable literary career.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Roth here creates one of contemporary fiction’s great characters—and manages the Herculean feat of containing him in a savage, spectacular novel that may well be his best.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Sabbath’s Theater Listener Reviews
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" My favourite book in the whole wide world. No contest. "
— Retha, 2/18/2014 -
" A little disturbing, but I had a hard time putting it down. Different from other books I've read by him. "
— Mariah, 2/14/2014 -
" enjoyed the beginning more than the middle, but still liked it, think i like anything of roth. a little long winded, but never dull. "
— Laureen, 2/14/2014 -
" This was my first Phillip Roth book. Sickened me but absolutely Loved it. "
— Dov, 2/12/2014 -
" Il manuale di sopravvivenza di quel cinico, egoista e bastardo di Sabbath. In salsa tragicomica. Pornografico, grottesco e pieno d'amore. Dura la vita. Anche la morte. "
— , 2/7/2014 -
" Even more demented than Portnoy's Complaint. Absolutely brilliant in long stretches, particularly in the first half, but the last 100 pages or so are just okay. "
— Luis, 1/26/2014 -
" Really didn't like it. Too much stream of conscious blah blah. Kind of a Gunter Grass, Tin Drum stylistic rip off. Also, I read Tin Drum first and maybe had too much of this style for the time. "
— Scott, 1/20/2014 -
" this was the first one i read by roth, got it for like $5 in a bargain bin. i love it when great writers' books get tossed into bargain bins, because people would much rather have some chicken soup for the soul. anyway, it was the first of many roth books for me. "
— Jared, 1/17/2014 -
" So dark it's illuminating. Puppets away. "
— Seth, 1/16/2014 -
" Philip Roth's Irish novel . . . Yeats, and Beckett, and Joyce are the influential ghosts of this novel (and Drenka too, obviously). "
— Davidnathan, 1/2/2014 -
" you feel worse and worse until ... "
— Benboy, 12/17/2013 -
" The writing reminds me of Nabokov, but the end is less than satisfying. "
— Tim, 11/26/2013 -
" Loved his outrageous characters and unusual plot turns. "
— Jane, 10/15/2012 -
" Roth, dude, go to therapy already. "
— Mary, 6/7/2012 -
" I have read many of Roth's novels and liked most of them, but I could not read Sabbath's Theatre. There are glowing reviews with many proclaiming this possibly his best work. I will never find out why. I gave up after about 70 pages. I could go no further. "
— Laysee, 12/3/2011 -
" Goddamn. Fucking genius. This is the fourth novel by Roth I've read and by far the best. What's it about? Living. Death. Sex. Unexpected how such a character as Sabbath could be so penetrating. "
— Ron, 12/3/2011 -
" The first Roth I've read. What a waste of good talent on a cliche character, i.e. dirty old man full of self pity, facing mortality. "
— Ona, 9/20/2011 -
" This was my first Phillip Roth book. Sickened me but absolutely Loved it. "
— Dov, 5/6/2011 -
" Well, it was a long time ago, but I recall the book seemed forced, not as if Roth had any personal stake in the narrative. Was it his SIXTH book ? Felt like he was, you know: trying to write a book. "
— Thom, 5/5/2011 -
" The story is so poetic. I couldn't believe in the Drenka's voice.<br/><br/>It also got too long. I didn't really care about the protagonist.<br/><br/>The story reminds me of Catcher in the Rye and the Odyssey. "
— Ke, 4/10/2011 -
" "I am sure that each of you has an unworthy mate-I am hers. I am Mickey Sabbath. Everything you have heard about me is true. Everything is destroyed and I have destroyed it. Hello, Rosie." "
— Patrick, 3/6/2011 -
" This book marked the beginning of Philip Roth's rejuvenation. Mickey Sabbath is not the most attractive character in fiction yet Roth portrays him with insight, depth and humanity. This is a fine, substantial, serious existential read. "
— Eamonn, 2/24/2011 -
" My first attempt at Philip Roth...not really sure it's for me. "
— Julie, 2/6/2011 -
" Sabbath is an odd, sad man. I didn't know if I would finish it or not-got pretty tired of him "
— Sue, 12/29/2010 -
" Even more demented than Portnoy's Complaint. Absolutely brilliant in long stretches, particularly in the first half, but the last 100 pages or so are just okay. "
— Luis, 11/4/2010 -
" An excellent book. Roth always captivates me with the development of his novel's characters. "
— Mathieu, 10/20/2010 -
" I think this book probably deserves more than 2 stars, it's just that I am finally tired of Philip Roth and need a break. "
— Emily, 8/24/2010 -
" Was Roth worried he was to shortly die or did he just have an erection? "
— Jeremiah, 8/8/2010
About Philip Roth
Philip Roth (1933–2018) was one of the most decorated writers in American history, having won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction, the National Book Critics Circle Award twice, the PEN/Faulkner Award three times, the National Book Award, and many more. He also won the Ambassador Book Award of the English-Speaking Union and in the same year received the National Medal of Arts at the White House. In 2001 he received the highest award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Gold Medal in Fiction, given every six years “for the entire work of the recipient.”
About John Turturro
John Turturro is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his wide range of roles in independent films and has appeared in over sixty feature films. He has worked frequently with the Coen brothers, Adam Sandler, and Spike Lee.