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Portnoy is obsessed, and I mean really all-consumingly (is that a word?) obsessed with sex. Most of the book is about how much he's thinking about sex, in an introspective and slightly depressing way. I think - I read it when young and was all a bit .
American Pastoral - I think it won the pulitzer prize. I can't confess to have read it but my DH loves him and this book. I think the other one you mean is the Plot Against America - now that one I've read. It's is about what america would of been like had the Americans allied with Germany in WW2. Interesting indeed.
Portnoy's Complaint is very ranty - in a good way. Made me laugh anyway.
The one about the United States you mentioned hamster is called The Plot Against America. It's based on the premise that the Nazis were successful in WW2. Thought it sounded like a great idea for a novel but actually I didn't think it was one of Roth's strongest unfortunately.
Personally I loved I Married a Communist, the Human Stain & Portnoy's Complaint.
Dh is a big Philip Roth fan and has a whole shelf of his books. I've less of a fan but enjoyed The Plot Against America, The Human Stain and American Pastoral.
You'll have shopped by now, but for the benefit of anyone else that finds they have the same question - I'm told by a massive Roth fan that American Pastoral is the best starting place.
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