Cursive frontman Tim Kasher continues his graphic storytelling on sixth album Mama, I’m Swollen, out this week on Saddle Creek. He keeps it blunt and lyrically entertaining on the Omaha group’s moodiest LP yet, with song themes ranging from masturbation to tales starring Pinocchio. Kasher is guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.
I was introduced to Philip Roth a few years back. A friend had given me a copy of 1974’s My Life As A Man, suggesting I might like it. Considering the brutal (and I mean brutal) misogyny of this book, it might make one curious: “Why have you recommended this for me?” What’s worse, the friend was a woman. What’s better, at the very least, is that she loved the book as well. Not sure if that gives me a pass on the misogynist list, but for now, I’ll take it. And yes, I did love the book. I even purchased a hardcover version of it recently at a used bookstore, sparking a new conversation in my head: “Do I collect books? Am I a book collector?” Jury’s out, but it’s still nice to have an older, hardcover version of My Life As A Man. And hey, it was only six bucks. Just started 1995’s Sabbath’s Theater yesterday, about the sexual travails of a dirty, old man; so far … man, he is a dirty, old man. Hmm, this isn’t sounding too good: my perverse, misogynist leanings in literature. I should take a moment to assure you that if you are not familiar with Roth, that he is one of the most highly revered, lauded writers of the last century. In other words, I did not find these in the bargain bin at the Adult Sex Emporium. One of his most successful books is one of his oldest, 1969’s Portnoy’s Complaint. Highly recommended. (And, yes, highly perverse.)
3 replies on “From The Desk Of Cursive’s Tim Kasher: Philip Roth”
Roth is not misogynst. So you’re off the hook there. Happy go lucky however….REALLY IS.
My favorite Philip Roth novel is The Human Stain. There’s a plot twist (which is more than a twist – it’s the whole basis of the story) that you should not know about going into the book, so try not to spoil it for yourself.
recommendations appreciated, mr kasher. you might like george battailes, if you don’t already. “venus in furs”, though not overtly misogynistic, is quite perverse; a simply amazing book. great letterman performance, btw, loved the house horn section jumping in at the end.