The Human Stain by Philip Roth

The Human Stain

The American Trilogy #3

Philip Roth

384 pages • first pub 2000 (view editions)

fiction literary challenging dark reflective slow-paced
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The Human Stain is ideal for readers who appreciate thought-provoking explorations of identity and societal hypocrisy through complex characters and interwoven personal and political histories.

Description

It is 1998, the year in which America is whipped into a frenzy of prurience by the impeachment of a president, and in a small New England town, an aging classics professor, Coleman Silk, is forced to retire when his colleagues decree that he is a ...

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Community Reviews

3.72
based on 3,080 reviews

Moods

reflective: 66%

dark: 63%

challenging: 55%

emotional: 32%

sad: 28%

tense: 26%

mysterious: 16%

informative: 8%

funny: 7%

adventurous: 4%

inspiring: 4%

Pace

3% of readers chose fast
44% of readers chose medium
52% of readers chose slow
fast
medium
slow

Plot or character driven?

3% of readers chose Plot
30% of readers chose A mix
67% of readers chose Character
Plot
A mix
Character

Strong character development?

48% of readers chose Yes
29% of readers chose Complicated
21% of readers chose No
Yes
Complicated
No

Loveable characters?

12% of readers chose Yes
39% of readers chose Complicated
47% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Diverse cast of characters?

69% of readers chose Yes
15% of readers chose Complicated
13% of readers chose No
2% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus?

89% of readers chose Yes
7% of readers chose Complicated
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
N/A

Content Warnings

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