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theag7's review against another edition
I can't give it 4 stars because that corresponds with really *liked* it, and I didn't. That said, this book is...out of this world. It's prophetic; it stirs up abundant thoughts; it revolts with its prophecies and makes its readers pray that the events chronicled never occur. I am forever changed.
_jchinasa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
3.0
It’s almost creepy how much this book parallels the last 6-8 years of our nation politically. It’d be impossible to point out all the prescient occurrences that mirror things that just occurred in the last few years. Moreover, Lewis demonstrates that the political atmosphere and the enmity within the party system has existed for quite some time. An alternate history narrative about what happens when a dictator seizes power in the US. Much like Hamilton and Madison discussed in The Federalist Papers, the political party system destroys democracy and the nation; and Lewis gets it exactly right, in demonstrating how these factions destroy the relationships of friends and family.
heidipolkissa82's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
kdawn999's review against another edition
2.0
This, my last book of 2022, was a bit of a depressing read. Lewis’ message about U.S. democracy being susceptible to fascism does have echoes in the 2016 and 2020 elections—especially in how a grifter-extraordinaire *he who shall not be named* made baldly racist appeals to white, American, working class men. It hurts to feel how fragile U.S. democracy actually is. What’s pretty amazing is that Lewis wrote this before European fascists made their conquering advances and ignited WWII. For the prescient situating of this book, it might be worth a read, but I found it pretty poorly written from a literary standpoint. It feels like a book raced to production—like a propaganda pamphlet. The characters lack depth and the insights are surface-level and slap-dash. I can’t recommend this read for any literary merit, and I highly recommend reading Main Street instead if what you’re looking for is art and insight.
ttodd86's review against another edition
4.0
A book that is getting a lot of buzz right now and definitely worth reading, although it was not an easy, comfortable or even what I might call an enjoying read. I would highly recommend the Signet Classics edition with the afterword by Gary Scharnhorst, which provides some important perspective and detail about the environment Lewis was responding to, Lewis' own political views and some other insight that might be of interest to 2017 readers.
angelsrgorgeous's review against another edition
3.0
While I wasn't a fan of the style this book took, it was erie how similar some of the political arguments, justifications, and assumptions are among the characters in the book when compared to our current situation under an unnamed president. At times I found myself truly wondering if he or his handlers have read portions of this.
meminger's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes