Dubin's Lives (Paperback)

by Bernard Malamud (Author), Thomas Mallon (Author) "They sometimes met on country roads when there were flowers or snow..." (more)
Key Phrases: red wool hat, New York, Center Campobello, William Dubin (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Malamud here introduces us to William Dubin, a popular biographer in his late 50s whose life and work are in a serious slump. LJ's reviewer described this as a "moving, compelling, and deeply personal novel" (LJ 1/15/79).
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"Dubin's Lives, for my money, is certainly Malamud's best novel since The Assistant. Possibly, it is the best he has written of all."
--Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, The New York Times
-- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (September 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374528829
• ISBN-13: 978-0374528829
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #443,914 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dubin's Lives, November 15, 2000

By	baby bell (liverpool uk) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dubin's Lives (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) (Paperback)

A strong book that engages the reader in its story as though s/he is a character. Taking you on a rather poignant journey through the seasons, not only of the year but of William Dubin's life, his stayed yet tender relationship with his wife and his fun, youth replenishing affair with the 23yr old Fanny Bick. All the time we are reminded that life is for living and the moment for siezing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Subtle novel, August 21, 2008

By	bookman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dubin's Lives (Paperback)

I don't write a lot of reviews, but I thought I would chime in on this one because it seems that hardly anybody reads Malamud anymore. This is a nice, subtle, introspective novel that offers thoughtful insights into aging, marriage, writing, and nature.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dubin's lives, January 2, 2007

By	An admirer of Saul "Mr Wobble" (uk) - See all my reviews

The story of William Dubin,the biographer, who believes all lives are ordered or at least make consistent sense,though comes to realize that it is only the biographer in him that can deliver this scenario to the lives of others but focusing in on certain chance moments in a subjects life.During a hectic year attempting to write the life of DH Lawrence,Dubin sees events and emotions slipping out of control and his idealistic view of human exsistence fall apart.
This was Malamuds great theme;how little control we actually have over our lives.Nature,chance meetings,the times we grew up in and the new ones we live in (with new sensibilities and morals) all shape us like water shapes rock,and human exsistence isn't based on permanence.
Malamud paints such vivid scenes with so few words that I will be able to picture in my mind forever William Dubins long walk route,his trip to Sweden,to Venice and his confusion in the snow. A lovely book. I enjoyed being in its company.