An epic is a long narrative poem that uses heightened, dignified language to tell the story of a heroic figure. The Iliad, Paradise Lost, things like that. It's a good definition, but after reading [a:Philip Roth|463|Philip Roth|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1399886959p2/463.jpg]'s Pulitzer Prize winning 1997 [b:American Pastoral|11650|American Pastoral|Philip Roth|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504801263l/11650.SY75.jpg|598119], I felt I had read an epic, though maybe it would be more accurate to call it a family saga. (Yes, I know I'm being dumb because the title states its literary genre and that pastorals portray life in the countryside, particularly that of shepherds, in a simple and idealized way, but the title is meant to be ironic.)
 I have way too many unread books lying around, and I could have chosen easily from a dozen that I'd enjoy reading as much as this one, but I chose this because it the horrible terror attacks had recently been carried out in Israel, and Roth wrote so brilliantly about American Jews. I'm not Jewish and other than having a few friends who are, I have no stake in Jewish affairs in America or elsewhere, but Roth's writing is so good that it doesn't matter.
 You will learn a lot by reading this book, which takes place during the turbulent times of the 60s and 70s. We seem to think that current times are the most divided, violent, and dangerous ever. American Pastoral reminded me that they are not.
 You'll also learn about American manufacturing and Jainism.
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