From Publishers Weekly
During his long career, Roth has shown himself a master at creating fictional doppelgängers. In this stunning novel, he creates a mesmerizing alternate world as well, in which Charles A. Lindbergh defeats FDR in the 1940 presidential election, and Philip, his parents and his brother weather the storm in Newark, N.J. Incorporating Lindbergh's actual radio address in which he accused the British and the Jews of trying to force America into a foreign war, Roth builds an eerily logical narrative that shows how isolationists in and out of government, emboldened by Lindbergh's blatant anti-Semitism (he invites von Ribbentrop to the White House, etc.), enact new laws and create an atmosphere of religious hatred that culminates in nationwide pogroms.Historical figures such as Walter Winchell, Fiorello La Guardia and Henry Ford inhabit this chillingly plausible fiction, which is as suspenseful as the best thrillers and illustrates how easily people can be persuaded by self-interest to abandon morality. The novel is, in addition, a moving family drama, in which Philip's fiercely ethical father, Herman, finds himself unable to protect his loved ones, and a family schism develops between those who understand the eventual outcome of Lindbergh's policies and those who are co-opted into abetting their own potential destruction. Many episodes are touching and hilarious: young Philip experiences the usual fears and misapprehensions of a pre-adolescent; locks himself into a neighbor's bathroom; gets into dangerous mischief with a friend; watches his cousin masturbating with no comprehension of the act. In the balance of personal, domestic and national events, the novel is one of Roth's most deft creations, and if the lollapalooza of an ending is bizarre with its revisionist theory about the motives behind Lindbergh's anti-Semitism, it's the subtext about what can happen when government limits religious liberties in the name of the national interest that gives the novel moral authority. Roth's writing has never been so direct and accessible while retaining its stylistic precision and acute insights into human foibles and follies.

This book is going out as a ring!

The usual bookring "rules" apply. Please make a journal entry when you receive the book and then again before you send it on. Please PM me if you run into any problems (such as finishing the book in a timely manner, which means 4-6 weeks). Check back here before sending the book on, as the shipping order may have changed since this ring will remain open. Enjoy!

catsalive (Australia)(done)
quico (Portugal)(done)
martin1960 (UK)(done)
merimag (UK)(done)
Brendalc57 (US)(done)
BarterHordes (US)(done)
LisaGriffith (US)(done)
...and back to me
lolamarie

Posted to catsalive. Enjoy!

Wow! This book arrived quickly. Thanks, lolamarie. Cool mandelbröt.

Intriguing. I'd not heard of Philip Roth's writing before but this novel is quite amazing, and, as the Publishers Weekly states, 'chillingly plausible'.

History does show that it was touch and go whether USA joined the Allied Forces or not. Without the Japanese incursion on Pearl Harbour it seems unlikely that the Allies would have received the much-needed injection of men, women & armaments, not to mention food & clothing, provided by USA.

This was quite a strenuous read so I'll be picking up something lighter next.

Thanks again, lolamarie. I have quico's address & will send this off shortly.

No time like the present, eh? I've just posted this to quico in Portugal via surface mail.

Here it is, fresh from the mailbox! Thanks for sending this, catsalive (and also for the fractal)!

This was a great read!
I felt very close to the Roth family and feared for them until the end. The caracters are masterly drawn, especially the parents, two ordinary decent people who fight everyday against a growing menace and who are the real heroes of the book, unlike Lindbergh, who looks like an hero but is no more than a puppet. A beautiful tribute to the author's parents.
The way the author made the history "go back to normal" can look a little artificial, but since when "real" history is plausible or predictable?
This book reminds us that things we take for granted are fragile and can be easily destroyed and that "real" history is made every single day by ordinary people.

Thanks for the ring, lolamarie. The book is already travelling to England.

Recieved today from Quico, thank you. I will put this one at the top of my TBR list.

Try as I might for some reason I just couldn't get on with this one and gave up about half way through.

On it's way to merimag, I hope you enjoy it.

This arrived at the weekend and I will read it ASAP. At least I have hit the final 200 pages of War and Peace as part of the readalong.

I thought this was extremely well written and very inventive. It has made me want to read more Philip Roth- this was my first.

It will be on its way as soon as I can get to a post office!

I could just not get into this one...sorry. I am now going to get the next person's addy so I can send it off.

Sorry for the very long delay it is now on it's way to BarterHordes in Riverside.

The book arrived safe and sound and while I have a couple of titles ahead of it, school is almost over for the year, so I hope I can get to it relatively soon.

Received in the mail from BarterHordes a few days ago. It's in the reading cue now and I'm really looking forward to reading it. Thanks for sharing, lolamarie.

Frighteningly relevant today.

Book is on it's way back to lolamarie as of yesterday. Thank you for sharing!

The book has returned home. Thanks everyone for participating in the ring!

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent out as a request from bookmooch.com...