The Collected Writings of Sardonicus

Book Review - Fiction
The Plot Against America (2004)
by Philip Roth

Ever since I made the decision to catch up on some recreational reading, one of the things I had most eagerly anticipated was reading a few of Philip Roth's novels. I had originally intended to begin with American Pastoral, but since my sister had already bought a copy of The Plot Against America, I decided that this would have to do, hoping that Roth's latest novel would be his finest.

I hope this isn't the best he has to offer.

My interest in Roth was raised earlier this year when the New York Times released a list of the 20 greatest American novels of the last 20 years. I wasn't particularly familiar with this author before then, but once I saw that a number of his books appeared on the list - 3 or 4 - I took this as a clear indication that his name was to be trusted on the cover of a book. Unfortunately, The Plot Against America was the least compelling novel I've read in a great long time. In fact, the only reason why I finished the book (unlike a number of books I've started over the past month) was simply because I had wished to be able to say that I had read a Roth novel in case the topic ever arose.

Not that the book wasn't written competently. It was. In fact, I would probably say that it was written very well. But it was difficult to take seriously. It actually read very similarly to a number of dystopian books i remember from my childhood, whether it be The Giver, Animal Farm, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, etc. Those I remember to be terrifying and disturbing. I considered Plot to be silly and forced. That is not to say, of course, that I found the premise of the story -- that the United States could have fallen to a fascist, anti-semetic party during the second World War -- to be completely absurd, but I could not imagine it happening in the way he describes. And the consequences of Charles A. Lindbergh becoming President in 1940... going to war with Canada?! Huh? A comprehensive program to relocate Jews throughout the American South and West?! The arrest and removal of FDR from the Presidency by force after he becomes re-elected years later? I understand that the events must be large enough to be chilling and scary... but it must also be plausible enough for the readership to not be dismissive of it. Which would not be a problem if the book did not try so hard to be relevant. B-

Book Review - Fiction
Motherless Brooklyn (1999)
by Jonathan Lethem
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award

Well... that was a disappointment. Mind you, it wasn't a particularly bad story, but it seemed to fall short of expectations. Lionel "Human Freakshow" Essrog. Orphans. Tourettes Syndrome. Mobsters. Murder. Mystery. How could this have gotten so boring?

First, I feel I must give credit where credit is due. Lethem's depiction of the Tourettic Lionel an awesome achievement. Of course, being relatively ignorant on the subject of Tourettes Syndrome, I am not qualified to confirm whether or not the depiction of a Tourettes sufferer was generally accurate, but Lethem definitely presented a complex and rich view of life with a disability... although at times I was a bit skeptical of the characterization. It almost seemed like he was so used to his disability that he was totally fine with it. No self-pity or frustration. It's like he's just accepted it. Is that realistic? Especially because he's so astute and observant. He notices when others start to feel disgusted by him or simply see him as a free source of pitiful entertainment. Yet he doesn't complain.

Anyway, a decent story, but I had to really work to get through this. Bored out of my mind most of the time... not recommended. Some points added for being well-researched though. B-/C+

Book Review - Fiction
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2004)
by Susanna Clarke

"Mr Norrell thought for a moment. 'I can prevent him arriving by sea,' he said.
'Excellent!' said Lascelles. Then something in the way Mr Norrell had phrased this last statement gave him pause. 'Well, he is scarcely likely to come any other way. He cannot fly!' He gave a light laugh at the idea. Then another thought struck him. 'Can he?'
Childermass shrugged.
'I do not know what Strange might be capable of now,' said Mr Norrell. 'But I was not thinking of that. I was thinking of the King's Roads.'
'I thought the King's Roads led to Faerie,' said Lascelles.
'Yes, they do. But not only Faerie. The King's Roads lead everywhere. Heaven. Hell. The Houses of Parliament... They were built by magic. Every mirror, every puddle, every shadow in England is a gate to those roads. I cannot set a lock upon all of them. No body could. It would be a monstrous task! If Strange comes by the King's Roads then I know nothing to prevent him.'
'But..." began Lascelles.
'I cannot prevent him!' cried Mr Norrell, wringing his hands. 'Do not ask me! But...' He made a great effort to calm himself. 'I can be ready to receive him. The Greatest Magician of the Age. Well, soon we shall see, shall we not?'" p.754

Although this book wasn't much of a page-turner, it was everything I had wanted in a story when it arrived at my door: Imaginative, whimsical, and romantic (in a sense, regarding the nature of magic and the history of England). I had wanted something to take my mind off of work (and other things) on my way to and fro work, and I was very pleased with how well this book read. Of course, this is partially due to the recent resurgence in my interest in magical stories, but in many ways, this wasn't even a story about magic. It was simply a story about people, some of which used magic. The magic was not explained, nor were the spells elaborated upon in much depth, but what Clarke was able to do was create such a large and interesting fictional world, along with a wonderful cast of characters. The basic premise of the story is that the two title characters, Norrell and Strange, seek to reestablish magic to England amidst its war with France. Soon, the two gain fame as their magic quickly turns them into celebrities; heroes in the war against Napoleon. But the two begin to drift apart, mainly due to their radically different natures and their contradictory ideas about what the next step for English magic is. Meanwhile, unfortunately, a magical threat continues to grow more and more powerful, and only the combined efforts of Norrell and Strange could ever hope to save the world from it. See what happens. Recommended. B