On first reading Sabbath's Theatre I was shocked at how licentious and explicit it was. Mickey Sabbath is definitely someone you would not want in your life, but the writing is excellent and despite the subject matter I really enjoyed it. 

Mickey Sabbath is a sad old lecher who defines himself by the women he sleeps with and when his long time lover dies he is lost.  Sabbath tries to make sense of death and dying and the fact that he has left nothing of value to show for his sixty odd years on earth. 

There are several significant events with affect Mickey's life, the main one being the death of his older and much loved brother during the war, and the disappearance of his first wife.  When his brother dies it is like his immediate family dies along with him, and life as he knows it will never be the same again.  

As a young man Mickey was a successful, if not indecent, puppeteer and it is his deviant sexual exploits that dominate the theme of the novel but, for me, the most poignant and beautiful written scene in the book is when Sabbath visits an elderly uncle.  Sabbath seems caring and considerate of the man's well being, but he considers killing the man when he recognises some family items in the house, which include a box of his dead brother's belongings.  Sabbath must have this box at all costs.

I think the older you are the more you will appreciate this novel, and whilst I read a few other Roth novels for this month's author theme, Sabbath's Theatre is the one I think about the most.

Maxine