Here We Are

flame turned up under experience for the smelting of novels. "Ours was not a neighborhood steeped in darkness," says Zuckerman in American Pastoral. "The place was bright with industriousness. There was a big belief in life and we were steered relentlessly in the direction of success: a better existence was going to be ours . . . Am I wrong to think we delighted in living there? No delusions are more familiar than those inspired in the elderly by nostalgia, but am I completely mistaken to think that living as well-born children in Renaissance Florence could not have held a candle to growing up within aromatic range of Tabachnik's pickle barrels? Am I mistaken to think that even back then, in the vivid present, the fullness of life stirred our emotions to an extraordinary extent? Has anywhere since so engrossed you in its ocean of details? The detail, the immensity of the detail, the force of the detail, the weight of the detail-the rich endlessness of detail surrounding you in your young life like the six feet of dirt that'll be packed on your grave when you're dead."

 

Philip spent his final three weeks in the cardiac intensive-care unit at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. A lot of women and a smattering of men surrounded him. We were friends, lovers, protŽgŽs, relatives, employees, representing every decade of his adult life. (This I know: When my time comes, the waiting room will not be crowded with ex-lovers.)

 

On the twenty-first day, the attending came out of Philip's room and said: "He is philosopher, no?"

 

"Yes," I said. And so it really was. Amid the general weeping, Philip was Socratic, as if instructing us, his loved ones, in how to die. He even remembered, like Socrates, a small debt owed-to Mrs. Solano, his housekeeper.

 

Near the end he asked for a moment alone with me and said something I wrote down as soon as I decently could: "I have been to see the great enemy, and walked around him, and talked to him, and he is not to be

Patricia Hampl, author of The Florist's Daughter

"Roth died in 2018, leaving 31 books behind; like other Roth lovers, I will always want more.  Benjamin Taylor s new memoir, Here We Are, temporarily eases the loss by giving us more of Roth s voice in conversation: brilliant, profane, and so very funny. . . There's an appealing quality of randomness to this slim memoir that makes it feel like we're tagging along with the two friends on their constant walks, talks and dinners in the dive restaurants Roth preferred on the Upper West Side, where anything could come up, sometimes even big revelations.   Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air

Here We Are is permeated with love. Taylor writes masterfully about his best friend (as they called each other) and readers get to witness a kinder, more generous and loving Roth than they might have imagined. It s a story of real life, or as Roth called it, 'the unwritten world.' Jewish Week

[A] gorgeous new memoir...Taylor s concise volume is a deeply loving, occasionally irreverent portrait of the artist. It s also something of a paean to friendship itself. At this time of disconnection and disorientation, Taylor, president of the Edward Albee Foundation and a trustee of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, reminds us of the anchoring power of human connection.   The Forward

Taylor s book is essential reading, an affectionate but never sentimental portrait of the furious, divisive, and comic personality who produced a handful of the past century s finest novels.   USA Today

Beautifully written...Like Roth, Taylor is a terrific raconteur, and readers are likely to be as entertained by his opinions as those of the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist. An eloquent and touching account that should appeal to all who appreciate the value of true friendship. Library Journal (starred review)

A brief but enjoyable journey through the life of a legendary author that seamlessly moves from discussing Roth s works to relationships with such fellow writers as Saul Bellow and John Updike. This is not ponderous literary analysis, but a light and thoughtful examination of a great writer and how he performs his craft. More than anything, Taylor has produced a book about conversations and companionship. Bookreporter

"Affection burgeons from these pages." -- Le Figaro (Paris)

This tender-hearted and eloquent paean to long-term friendships will hold special appeal among Roth fans.   Publisher's Weekly

Enchanting...Personal recollections and literary criticism animate this affecting homage to literary giant Philip Roth."  Shelf Awareness

[I]n this slim, affectionate memoir, Taylor perfectly captures the essence of Roth s charmingly enigmatic humor and complex behavior. He generously shares memories of their somewhat unexpected friendship, honing in on their quiet, often amusing moments together A touching and entertaining portrait of Roth that is sure to delight his many readers.   Kirkus Reviews