7th Round -- First Pick -- Humour Category
Portnoy's Complaint by Phillip Roth, 1969
Quote:
Portnoy's Complaint: A disorder in which strongly-felt ethical and altruistic impulses are perpetually warring with extreme sexual longings, often of a perverse nature...
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This is the funniest book I've ever read. Tears in the eyes and the whole bit. It was pretty filthy for its time apparently, even banned in Australia for a stretch, but very tame for our time. It wouldn't raise many eyebrows these days.
It's about a fella named Alexander Portnoy and the entire thing (IIRC) is him narrating his life story on his shrink's couch. There is a scene in the book when mom threatens him with a knife if he won't finish his meal. That's the best part.
They made a terribly watered-down movie in 1972. Don't watch it.