The Plot Against America Audiobook By Philip Roth cover art

The Plot Against America

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The Plot Against America

By: Philip Roth
Narrated by: Ron Silver
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In an astonishing feat of empathy and narrative invention, our most ambitious novelist imagines an alternate version of American history.

In 1940 Charles A. Lindbergh, heroic aviator and rabid isolationist, is elected president. Shortly thereafter, he negotiates a cordial "understanding" with Adolf Hitler while the new government embarks on a program of folksy anti-Semitism. For one boy growing up in Newark, Lindbergh's election is the first in a series of ruptures that threaten to destroy his small, safe corner of America - and with it his mother, his father, and his older brother.

©2004 Philip Roth (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Alternate History Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Funny Witty Middle East Imperial Japan
Compelling Alternate History • Prescient Political Commentary • Masterful Narration • Immersive Jewish Perspective
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Philip Roth is one of my favorite authors. Interested in the human condition, the Jewish-American condition, and the male condition, his books each offer a unique exploration into a compelling topic with universal themes.

The genius about this book in particular is how Roth examines the issue of America "selling out" to Hitler from many plausible yet conflicting viewpoints. From the indignant father to the quietly prideful mother, to the damaged orphan nephew to the lonely aunt to the ever curious boy, anti-semitic events are presented, described, experienced and analyzed with clearly developed voices that reach out from the 1940's to touch our hearts today, in the age of Internet-based news and every changing political grounds.

I found this book to be very rewarding, both from a literary and a plot standpoint. The story arc progresses steadily until the last 15% of the book, where the pace increases to frenetic, confrontation leaps out on every page, and conflicting viewpoints are resolved.

I highly recommend! And the narrator is pitch perfect with his accent. Bravo!!

What if FDR hadn't been re-elected?

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Great choice in narrator really set the scene in this WWII historical fiction about what would have happened if an anti-Semitic, nationalist president had been in office before and during the war. The book was mostly told from the perspective of a young pre-teen middle class jewish boy witnessing an ever increasingly anti-Semitic America. The author well characterizes his both rational and irrational fears, worries, concerns and understanding of the world. Well done.

I loved the scene where his mother comforts and assists a young boy who is scared and alone, and how her motherly love shines through so caringly and touchingly in the writing.

Near the end there were frequently more moments in the writing where the story moved from young Phillip's voice to perhaps and older version of Phillip who tells more historical information and occurrences that wrapped up the story rather quickly. This felt a bit odd, if not somewhat rushed. I wish we could have seen more of that ending through Phillip's eyes.

Great read. Interesting parallels between the election in the book to our recent 2016 election, especially the America First rhetoric employed by both the fictional president and our new president.

Very intriguing Alternate Historical Fiction

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Maybe I’ve been spoiled by the condensed nature of TV and movie story telling as the reason I struggled to stay interested. I found the underlying plot to be very interesting and I enjoyed the “history” so that I found it necessary to search the actual historical facts and therefore learned as a result of listening. The narration was excellent but the depth of detail dragged for me. I’m glad I listened to the story versus reading the book as I’d never have made it through this book.

Great performance of a tedious story

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I did a combo audio/print book. I thought it was good, but there were many slow parts. I am not sure the style of writing is for me, but it was interesting enough to hold my attention. It was also a bit chilling at times to think of this being written in 2004, yet there are some loose similarities to what is going on in this country today.

Decent read, slow in spots

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felt like this was two books, the first a look at how one family was affected by the political climate, which I enjoyed very much, but still feel like I didn't really understand everything that happened . the second is a description of the political situation. interesting but felt more like a boring history book, and since it is fiction (thank goodness) wasn't sure why I was spending my time listen to it.

didn't get the point

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this is a fantastic story and great narration... I've been a member of audible since it's beginning and this story has to be the best I've heard... as far as alternative history goes this provides us great lessons for today the idea that a president makes 'the others' the enemy and foreign dictator the good guys is a lesson we should all remember

best story and performance ever

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As usual, Phillip Roth writes about himself and the hometown he knows best. By taking a boy's magical perspective he ensorcles a magical suspension of disbelief. The cautionary tale strikes close to Trumpian America, ready to forget the lessons of wisdom and history in a fog of fear and blame. The reader is pitch perfect.

Alternate history felt very real.

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Great plot told from the point of view of a Jewish boy caught up in a confused ant demerit USA. President Lindbergh comes to office as a Nazi sympathizer and his world is turned upside down in parallel to even worse things
Going on in Europe. Well done and well researched with some scary analogIes to 2017-2019 administration of President Trump who may be considered a white supreme cost sympathizer.

Alternative history ww2

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The plots in this book are inviting and precious. Story told by a young boy as he sees things, it can be hilarious. Mostly it’s a great well written book.

The Plot Against America

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Alternative history (only my second book on this, the first being Stephen King's 11/22/63, which also has a great narrator) the story is compelling and well put together with a great look into Roth's Jewish-American world. Ron Silver's narration takes the cake though, who knew that someone who was the main villain in The Arrival (1996) can give such a depth of emotions as he did in this read.

Great book, incredible narration.

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