Philip Roth

Had forgotten the subplot of Philip Roth's goodbye Columbus about the black kid who goes into the Newark lib to read the "heart" books ie art books and draws racist suspicion from the staff except for Neil the narrator who is moved by the kid's innocent awe at the Gauguin images. Part of the point of course is to build the social strata - Neil has so many fewer prospects than Brenda w her wealth and social poise but the black kid from the city has so much less. What are the chances of a parent or teacher nurturing his love of art? Think of how the Potemkin family dotes on each child and as Neil chides "fixes" everything. Neil feels inferior, from a crummy college and in a drudge job he fears will b his gate, but we know he will thrive - will become the acerbic and trenchant roth or someone like him - but what will become of the millions of others in Newark? Roth so bitter in this novel a real chip on his shoulder re the emigre Jews - but his real affection is for his native city - description of downtown Newark outside the library is classic.

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