"What if" scenarios are often suspect. They are sometimes thinly veiled tales of the gospel according to the author, taking on the claustrophobic air of a personal fantasia that can't be shared. Such is not the case with Philip Roth's tour de force, The Plot Against America. It is a credible, fully-realized picture of what could happen anywhere, at any time, if the right people and circumstances come together.

The Plot Against America explores a wholly imagined thesis and sees it through to the end: Charles A. Lindbergh defeats FDR for the Presidency in 1940. Lindbergh, the "Lone Eagle," captured the country's imagination by his solo Atlantic crossing in 1927 in the monoplane, Spirit of St. Louis, then had the country's sympathy upon the kidnapping and murder of his young son. He was a true American hero: brave, modest, handsome, a patriot. According to some reliable sources, he was also a rabid isolationist, Nazi sympathizer, and a crypto-fascist. It is these latter attributes of Lindbergh that inform the novel.

The story is framed in Roth's own family history: the family flat in Weequahic, the neighbors, his parents, Bess and Herman, his brother, Sandy and seven-year-old Philip. Jewishness is always the scrim through which Roth examines American contemporary culture. His detractors say that he sees persecution everywhere, that he is vigilant in "Keeping faith with the certainty of Jewish travail"; his less severe critics might cavil about his portrayal of Jewish mothers and his sexual obsession, but generally give him good marks, and his fans read every word he writes and heap honors upon him. This novel will engage and satisfy every camp.

"Fear presides over these memories, a perpetual fear. Of course, no childhood is without its terrors, yet I wonder if I would have been a less frightened boy if Lindbergh hadn't been president or if I hadn't been the offspring of Jews." This is the opening paragraph of the book, which sets the stage and tone for all that follows. Fear is palpable throughout; fear of things both real and imagined. A central event of the novel is the relocation effort made through the Office of American Absorption, a government program whereby Jews would be placed, family by family, across the nation, thereby breaking up their neighborhoods--ghettos--and removing them from each other and from any kind of ethnic solidarity. The impact this edict has on Philip and all around him is horrific and life-changing. Throughout the novel, Roth interweaves historical names such as Walter Winchell, who tries to run against Lindbergh. The twist at the end is more than surprising--it is positively ingenious.

Interesting conception

I subscribe to an alternate history list and I thought the idea contained in "The Plot against America" was interesting and I thought why not give it a go.

The scenario in the book about an alternative America which is grasping at fascism was a good starting point. Then it descended into a good story but his penmanship was hard to read.

I found that Roth had pushed to much detail in between sections and the story did not seem to flow. I really enjoyed parts of the book but felt myself putting the book down in frustration and passing over large parts as it seemed to miss the point.

It gave an interesting overiew of what it would have been like in an America tempted with fascism but the war ending at the same time when Linderbgh was gone seemed to be a bit over the top. In the book the Germans had over run most places and Japan too but suddenly America enters the war after an isolationist phase and everything is good again. It seemed to be the premis that America won the war all over again.

I am not sure if I would read a Roth book again because his writing style is very hard to overcome. I hated the massive long sentences which ramble on for ever and his jumping about phase from topic to topic which made the book hard to read. It was enjoyable and I read it all but I think next time I would give his books a miss.

Could reach out to you.

This is usually not the type of book I would take up, but I did purchase it because the premise really stuck out at me. Though it is not as fast paced as many of the more popular novels I have read lately. I truly made a connection to this book.
As a 25 year old Jewish man who's family is all from Newark, NJ and the area, I truly felt this book reached out to me beyond the interesting "what if?" historical fiction aspect of the novel. I am removed by quite a bit of generations at his point from when my family would have experienced this, but the story surrounding this family was incredibly poignant to me. Also, not to ruffle any political feathers, I also found it interesting to be part of the gay community having similar almost unfounded fears of our current president's re-election. There are many parallels which can be drawn. This book focuses much more on the relationships of the family than it's 'what if' history to be warned, but that is what was the surprising and enjoyable aspect to this novel for me. I have, of course, recommended this novel to my father, who would have more memory of our family which lived in the North Jersey cities dealing with the anti-semitism at the time. Hope you enjoy!

Offensive

If I could rate this book less than one star, I would. This "book" was heavily biased & just a vehicle for the writer's private agendas, which weren't elequently presented. I just can't believe that the writer is considered one of the best in current day. I wouldn't use this trash to wrap yesterday's garbage.
At least I didn't have to buy the book; that would have offended me more.