Tropic of Cancer - Henry Miller : anyone read it or reading?

[michael26]

I started this classic a few days ago and I think it's very unlike any other book I've read before. Anyone else out there read it?

[Cal Trask]

Its on my list Michael. What do you think of it? So far is it deserving of its 'classic' status?

[apeman]

I read it about 50 years ago as a young man. I found it exhilarating and immediately grabbed anything I could by Henry Miller. He's an extraordinary writer who engages the reader from the off. He's funny, irreverent and obscene without giving offence. I like his honesty, but whether he's a 'classic' I don't know and he would probably spurn that term anyway.

[Maud Fitch]

.....I like his honesty, but whether he's a 'classic' I don't know and he would probably spurn that term anyway.

I agree, Apeman, he was a very down-to-earth writer.

[ThrivingDad]

I read it in college when I was supposed to be studying for a physics exam. This is one of the most intense novels that I've ever read.

[Tralala]

Okay, I've gotta read this one now...

[Redlegs]

It's in my "to read" pile. I hope to get to it soon.

[WinstonSmith]

yes, and he is like Salvador Dali with words. tell me what you think when you read the part about the artist. If you like him you need to read Black Spring too.

[KirkB]

I read it and wasn't overly impressed - Miller / the protagonist just sounded like a jerk to me. Maybe I didn't get it, but I wasn't blown away by the writing style or the story at all.

[Redlegs]

I have just finished reading it and had mixed feelings. Some parts of it were brilliant, I thought, especially the descriptive parts. Miller was able to give the reader an almost tactile feel for place and space. Many of the bits involving people felt very disconnected to me - it was hard to warm to any of the characters. The attitude towards women was generally misogynistic, often referred to as a body part, and only valued for sex. Only the Russian princess was given any character development and she was a bit crazy. Some of the male characters were amusing, others just plain sad.

I'm not offended by coarse language, but I generally don't like books where those words are over-used. In this case, I think the f--- and c--- words were used to shock the audience of the day - Miller was successful in that, given the book was banned for so long in English speaking countries.

Overall, it's not a great book by modern standards, but it certainly has its place in history, as it was ahead of it's time in many respects.