Books - The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fascinating and enjoying book to read.

Roth presents a book that may best be described as alternative-historical fiction. The book focuses on a Jewish family in New Jersey around 1940. However, the alternative history is that Charles Lindbergh, the famed aviator who also happened to be a somewhat well-known anti-semite and Nazi sympathizer, became the Republican candidate for President in 1940 against FDR, and won based on his promise to keep the country out of war.

What follows is primarily the story of this family and their community, and the loss of a particular vision of America. There is some dystopian fiction elements here, and it certainly reminds me of Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here." There is also, perhaps both unfortunately and remarkably, some interesting parallels to today's current political climate in the United States (remarkable, for the book was written in 2004).

As I stated at the beginning, I found the book to be fascinating to read. There is interesting dynamics in the family, and growth among their characters. The plot or narrative of the book is interesting and well-paced. And it provides much for its readers to think about when considering the psychological impact of politics on people - their lives, their philosophies, their families.

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