Zuckerman bound is a four-volume trilogy plus epilogue comprising The ghost writer, Zuckerman unbound, The anatomy lesson and epilogue The Prague Orgy. It is a series of novels describing the rise of a Jewish novelist who resembles Philip Roth. Identity, particularly Jewish identity is one of the main themes in Roth's work.

I did not care much for The ghost writer which I read in 1996, and then abandoned the trilogy, but picking it up last November and reading Zuckerman unbound, I was gripped again as with many of his great novels.

While The ghost writer describes the struggles of the young, beginning writer, both the struggles with identity and carving out a place as a writer, in Zuckerman unbound the main character Nathan Zuckerman achieves celebrity status. At this stage the theme of identity gains a new dimensions broadening into exploring private and public appearance, and shaping a new identity as a successful, rich author.

The anatomy lesson is the next book in the trilogy. It is quitessential Roth. This novel is absolutely hilarious. I will never again look in the same way at a play mat. This novels is a must-read for fans of Roth. ( )

Hell of a ride: stand-up comedian turned novelist, words words words, he never stops talking. Sometimes annoying, but also addictive and hilarious. Strong language all over the place as well as psychoanalytics. Sounds familiar? Yes, Woody Allen in script. ( )

Tiresome anti-women tirades. Self-pitying writer. Fails even if approached as a comic novel. At a forty year remove, this novel no longer lives.

Schrijver Zuckerman heeft een writer's block en is al anderhalf jaar aan de pijnstillers, marihuana en drank om de pijn in nek, armen, schouders te onderdrukken. De dokters kunnen geen oorzaak vinden. Zuckerman besluit een ander vak te kiezen en wil zich inschrijven aan de medicijnenfaculteit in Chicago. Een vroegere kamergenoot blijkt anesthesioloog te zijn in een ziekenhuis in Chicago. Zuckerman vraagt hem of hij hem wil helpen arts te worden. Die is al wat achterdochtig, en als Zuckerman door drugs en alcohol onderuit gaat en zijn kaak breekt, wordt meteen zijn verslaving aangepakt.
Het levert weer een ironisch en af en toe hilarisch verhaal op. Vooral als Zuckerman door wiet en alcohol en medicijnen aan het ratelen gaat.

Far and away the most rewarding of the first three Zuckerman books. Is that because Roth is just a less cliched character as he gets older? I find that hard to believe. But it makes me wonder- if you're writing what is essentially autobiography, and you're committed to not lying, how hard is it to attain any artistic unity? Not sure Roth did it in the Ghost Writer or in Z. Unbound; here he manages a bit better. Maybe that's just because the Portrait of the Young Artist thing of GW is mind bogglingly tired, and the Portrait of the Famous Artist thing wasn't done so well in ZU.
But here the really big topics are dealt with reasonably well: death, pain, guilt, escapism. You get some early Roth ranting, which is always fun; Roth feels emotional pain because of the ranting which is interesting; and Roth thinks a little ponderously about reflecting on his early ranting: "If you get out of yourself you can't be a writer because the personal ingredient is what gets you going, and if you hang on to the personal ingredient any longer you'll disappear right up your own asshole." Of course, this is in the third volume of an autobiography and in his thirteenth or so book, so maybe the thought is a little late; maybe it's meant to be clever clever ambiguity; I like to think he actually realized the problem he faced and tried to think seriously about it. I'm not sure he overcame it, here or elsewhere, but this book seems to treat the problem in a comparatively dignified manner.

Two catches: does Roth realize that the insane feminist-bashing he spews forth under the name of his nemesis is more or less replicated in The Human Stain? And how will the schematic psychologizing will look in fifty years? It's already a bit frayed. Some critics approve of it ('if Z has a failed relationship at age 40, we remember his failed relationship at age 23, and his guilt over his mother at age 12' and so on), but I find it irritating; obviously I hope history supports my own impeccable feelings. ( )