Not for Non-Jews?

[woodlawn]

I've just read Philip Roth's latest novel 'The Plot Against America,' and I highly recommend it for those who, like me, enjoy historical novels and novels that imagine an alternate history. This novel is both.

 

I'm giving nothing away (nothing that you won't read in any published review of the book) by explaining that Roth considers what might have occurred had aviation hero Charles Lindbergh run for president as a Republican in 1940 and defeated FDR's attempt to win an unprecedented third term in office. Most people who have heard of Lindbergh probably don't know that in addition to being a pioneer in aviation he was also a famous isolationist and anti-Semite, who accepted a medal from the Nazi government of Germany and made speeches on behalf of the isolationist organization America First prior to America's entry into World War II.

 

America in 1940 was a place where isolationist and nativist feelings were widespread and powerful, to a degree that is difficult for us to believe today. Roth shows the effect of an isolationist, nativist administration in Washington on the life of an ordinary Jewish family in Newark -- his own family, in fact. Roth, at age 9, his parents, his beloved older brother Sandy, his aunt and his cousin are the central characters in the novel.

 

It may be that readers who are not Jewish will have a hard time understanding the fear and humiliation experienced by the Roths at finding themselves "no longer wanted" in what they had thought was their own country. Or it may be that anyone who has been a member of a minority group disliked by society as a whole, or who has seen the triumph of a political movement at odds with his own moral beliefs, will understand the feelings of these characters. Read it yourself and find out.

[+ Lucky]

Just don't buy it. Go to the library to get it. Or aat least Costco. Why? Because Roth only delivers half of a novel here. At a certain point, he has painted himself into a corner that he can't get out of. His solution is mind-bogglingly irritating. The remainder of the book after that is just filler material to pad out the book. I was highly disappointed here. Sorry Woodlawn.

[woodlawn]

>Just don't buy it. Go to the library to get it. Or aat least

>Costco. Why? Because Roth only delivers half of a novel here.

>At a certain point, he has painted himself into a corner that

>he can't get out of. His solution is mind-bogglingly

>irritating. The remainder of the book after that is just

>filler material to pad out the book. I was highly disappointed

>here. Sorry Woodlawn.

 

 

I think that is lot of nonsense. You are complaining about a minuscule part of the novel, the bulk of which is a brilliant recreation of a world that doesn't exist any longer, the world of Roth's (and America's) childhood. It is as if you had a five-course gourmet meal, each course a masterpiece, and then complained because there wasn't enough cream for the coffee you had after dessert.

 

A few other critics have said that the ending is too abrupt, or too farfetched. Perhaps it is -- although I think as a whole the book compares favorably with 'It Can't Happen Here,' the famous novel about a fascist America by Nobel Prize winner Sinclair Lewis. Whatever you may think of Roth's ending, it doesn't change the fact that all but the last few pages of the novel are an impressive feat by an impressive man. Not many artists have retained all the powers of their youth into their 70s, but Roth obviously has.

[Rick Munroe]

>It may be that readers who are not Jewish will have a hard

>time understanding

 

Yeah, it's kind of like the old SNL commercial for Jewess Jeans.

 

Announcer: You don't have to be Jewish.

 

Rhonda Weiss: But it wouldn't hurt.

 

http://www.cardmagnets.com/SNL/147.jpg

[+ Lucky]

RE: Not Kosher?

 

No, it is more like midway during the third course the waiter whisked my plate away and the next two courses were gooey concoctions that were inedible.

[Funseeker 22]

Mr.Munroe,

Where the Hell do you find this old trivia stuff.

Fricken Hilarious :)

[BuckyXTC]

Woody:

 

Thanks for the review. I've been a long time fan of Philip Roth, and just hadn't gotten around to picking up this book. You've given me the motivation to do so now.

[Flower]

>It may be that readers who are not Jewish will have a hard

>time understanding the fear and humiliation experienced by the

>Roths at finding themselves "no longer wanted" in what they

>had thought was their own country. Or it may be that anyone

>who has been a member of a minority group disliked by society

>as a whole, or who has seen the triumph of a political

>movement at odds with his own moral beliefs, will understand

>the feelings of these characters.

 

Hmmm...anything like being gay and seeing 11 states pass anti-gay marriage bills heralded by the victorious and triumphant christian right who are now, along with our president, claiming a "mandate" (not to be confused with a man dating a man) for their righteous agenda.

:+

[Rick Munroe]

>Mr.Munroe,

>Where the Hell do you find this old trivia stuff.

 

I am not a size queen or a theater queen or a queen of any type...however, if I had to choose, I would have to answer to the title Google Queen. I lives to google.

[woodlawn]

>Woody:

>

>Thanks for the review. I've been a long time fan of Philip

>Roth, and just hadn't gotten around to picking up this book.

>You've given me the motivation to do so now.

 

You're perfectly welcome. I think it's the best thing Roth has done in years. I was delighted by the astuteness of Roth's description of history as 'the relentless unforeseen,' a series of improbable events which only seems inevitable to those who read about it many years later. I think many people feel that way about the election that just occurred, no?

[bigguyinpasadena]

I have read the reviews and look forward to reading the book.

I had difficulty getting through The Human Stain(did not finish it in fact)Is this more engaging?

[bigguyinpasadena]

I have read the reviews and look forward to reading the book.

I had difficulty getting through The Human Stain(did not finish it in fact)Is this more engaging?

[Guest Merlin]

But remember, the Christians feel that they are under attack as they see a hostile agenda imposed upon the country by liberal activist judges. I personally believe that "moral values" is short hand for backlash against the loss of democracy involved when big legal changes are imposed by authoritarian means. The country is much more friendly to gays than just a few years ago. But as the courts continue to order states to allow gay marriages, as they will, the backlash will probably result in the amendment of the Constitution.

[woodlawn]

This thread is about a novel. Opinions on the current political situation (especially the opinions of Republicans) are not welcome here. They belong in another section of this message board, as every poster here knows quite well.

 

In Roth's alternate America, just as in Hitler's actual Germany, measures taken against Jews were justified by claims that the people were "under attack" by Jews who were conspiring to take away their freedoms and traditions. Any resemblance between this situation and the situation in 2004 America is purely coincidental.

[trilingual]

>But remember, the Christians feel that they are under attack

 

And is it possible the poor "Christians" (and I use the term very loosely, indeed) feel under attack because of lying manipulative scum like you, who spend hundreds of millions of dollars to scare the bejeezus out of them in order to get them to vote for your hidden agenda to further enrich the obscenely rich? Just like ignorant small-town and rural Germans were manipulated by Hitler and the Nazis into into voting for them by making them afraid of their neighbors and relatives? x(