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kevin_shepherd 's review for:
The Plot Against America
by Philip Roth
I need more Philip Roth in my life. If Toni Morrison and James Baldwin are the quintessential purveyors of primo black American lit, then Roth is their Semitic doppelgänger.
“I pledged allegiance to the flag of our homeland every morning at school. I sang of its marvels with my classmates at assembly programs. I eagerly observed its national holidays, and without giving a second thought to my affinity for the Fourth of July fireworks or the Thanksgiving turkey or the Decoration Day double-header. Our homeland was America. Then the Republicans nominated Lindbergh and everything changed.”
fas·cism | \ ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm : a political philosophy, movement, or regime that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
What was entertaining historical fiction in 2004 now reads like astute post-2016 prophecy. I’m not sure I could have read this a year ago because it falls into that ‘disturbingly familiar dystopia’ category (see also: The Handmaid’s Tale) that stokes my anxiety to unbearable levels of gastro-intestinal distress.
“…he could have announced that the First Lady would be inviting Adolf Hitler and his girlfriend to spend the Fourth of July weekend as vacation guests in the Lincoln bedroom of the White House and still have been cheered by his countrymen as democracy’s savior.” ~Philip Roth, The Plot Against America, 2004
“I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.” ~Donald Trump, 2016
“I pledged allegiance to the flag of our homeland every morning at school. I sang of its marvels with my classmates at assembly programs. I eagerly observed its national holidays, and without giving a second thought to my affinity for the Fourth of July fireworks or the Thanksgiving turkey or the Decoration Day double-header. Our homeland was America. Then the Republicans nominated Lindbergh and everything changed.”
fas·cism | \ ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm : a political philosophy, movement, or regime that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
What was entertaining historical fiction in 2004 now reads like astute post-2016 prophecy. I’m not sure I could have read this a year ago because it falls into that ‘disturbingly familiar dystopia’ category (see also: The Handmaid’s Tale) that stokes my anxiety to unbearable levels of gastro-intestinal distress.
“…he could have announced that the First Lady would be inviting Adolf Hitler and his girlfriend to spend the Fourth of July weekend as vacation guests in the Lincoln bedroom of the White House and still have been cheered by his countrymen as democracy’s savior.” ~Philip Roth, The Plot Against America, 2004
“I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.” ~Donald Trump, 2016