A short excerpt from the best book of Fall 2010:  NEMESIS by Philip Roth… because Philip Roth is always best when his characters are living through a defining moment in American history.  Now it’s wartime Newark, a stifling summer in 1944, and even the air seems threatening.

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It is Anna Quindlen’s husband’s fault that I haven’t written in public before.  I’ve never forgotten his line:  ”Honey, can you get me a beer from the fridge without writing about it?” It was made famous in one of Anna’s columns.

I’ve always known I can write, but I’ve always imagined the impact it would have on my very private husband if I follow the time-honored advice to write what you know. Whether presented as fiction or soul-baring, neighbors will see HIM as the man who was there when she awoke from her third abortion…who railed when she introduced  him to new colleagues as “my current husband”… who sneaks home at lunchtime for wonderful private moments with- spoiler alert - his wife(!). It’s human nature.  After all, to ourselves, in private, don’t we ALL consider Nathan Zuckerman Philip Roth? (Please note for the record: only one of the events portrayed above has actually happened in my life.)

Today I have begun working my way through this mental barrier…