SOURCE: Freely, Maureen. “D Cups to Die For.” New Statesman 130, no. 4543 (25 June 2001): 52-3.

In the following review, Freely commends the humor and candor she finds within The Dying Animal, but deems the novel “in execrable taste.”

No one has ever accused Philip Roth of pandering to the female reader. His heroes and alter egos make no apologies for the male gaze. They are frank, shamelessly frank, about their preferences and proclivities. These are eclectic: they have lots of time for women who are cerebral and gutsy and witty and accomplished. But the ones they rate the highest are never just cerebral, gutsy, witty and accomplished. They are also young and beautiful, with size D cups.

That is why you don't see many women packing Roth into their beach bags. Last summer, however, there were hints of a sea change, thanks to his brilliant trilogy—American Pastoral, I Married...