11 member(s) found this review helpful.
This book has a brilliant premise. What if FDR was not elected to an unprecedented third term? What if the President – elect was Charles Lindbergh, an overwhelmingly popular figure, who was also an isolationist and admirer of Hitler?
The book has an overwhelming feeling of oppression and doom, which is undoubtedly the author’s intention. The story is not told from a broad prospective, but from the eyes of a nine year old ‘Philip Roth”, the authors potential other self. This device gives one a view of history not from a world wide story, but rather from the way history can impact a very small part of the world.
Many parallels can be drawn between this ‘alternate’ history, and much of what has happened with the past 2 Presidential elections, with the division between Red & Blue states. Clearly using the divisions of pre WW II and the divisions going on today was one of the authors’ intentions. A provocative view of what if, that is an eye opening parable for people who shake many things off, saying it could never happen here.
The ending of the book at times felt rushed, and an absolution of certain of the power players in the story, however I recommend this book very highly.
9 member(s) found this review helpful.
Read this book for class, but am sooo glad I did. Until the ending, the writing was fast-paced, breathtaking, frightening, and entangling. Living in a very Jewish area, the premise was intensely horrifying, and although the end was an epic disappointment, the middle more than makes up for it.

Jay C. (
jareylee) wrote on 10/24/2006...
8 member(s) found this review helpful.
Appeals to a wider audience than the traditional Roth readers. Interesting what-if historical fiction. It led to stimulating and interesting discussions --- about Philip Roth, Lindbergh, Winchell, the era, anti-Semitism, and more --- in my book discussion group.
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
Philip Roth is one of America's most reknowned writers. This imaginative novel describes the US Philip Roth grew up in, within a Jewish household. There is one major twist, Charles Lindbergh defeats Roosevelt in the 1940 presidential election by a landslide. Hilter is tolerated, and anti-semitic views grow in this fictional, yet believable scenario.
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Very interesting read, great easy style, kinda eerie.

Rachel G. (
rachelg) wrote on 7/22/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
i liked this 75% of this book, but the ending was too abrupt for me.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
What a wonderful thought. Those responsible for so much of our world's misery over many many centuries finally held accountable for their plunder, duplicity, and perversion.
Too bad it was only a novel.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time. The 'historical' fiction storytelling is truly engrossing and scary. It really feels like a plausible dark alternate universe. I could not put it down. I would highly recommend this book.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
The book was an interesting take on a very turbulent era in history. Though I liked the idea of the book, I think I liked the idea more than the actual story. The story was sort of predictable and slow moving at times. Though I must say that the author does a good job of creating and maintaining interesting and beleivable characters. For me, this book was okay but a bit like trudging through mud at times.

Liz B. (
LizinCA) wrote on 10/17/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
What would the US look like if we sided with Hitler? Insightful, and scary.