The Plot Against America

I like Phillip Roth. But the more of his books I read, the more I think they are all the same. I say things like "oh here comes the awkward, disturbing masturbation scene!" or "hey, more jewish se;f-hatred!" So, why might I read this book, which is all about Jew hate? :)

Well I liked the concept. First it's 1930s-40s historical. And about Hitler. I like that. And it's a speculative history book. I love that. And it's based on how Roth's own family would have reacted to these situations in the fake history. That's such a great idea.

And all of these things in the book are great. The ascension of fascist Lindbergh becoming president and turning the US into a Nazi ally is a great theme.

But you have to stuggle through a lot of boring stuff along the way. A lot of it is day to day family stuff that is sort of irrelevant to the historical setting. Basically I liked the book, but I wish more would have been made of the great setting Roth made for himself. And it was waaaaay long. There were very long, descriptive passages/internal monologues that were sort of like a non-funny more neurotic Woody Allen monologue. Too much.