Book Review - FictionThe 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-
