Justin

Well told story of a forgotten movement

Revisado: 02-19-25

A compelling tale of a forgotten movement that shaped American politics then and now. I picked this up after reading Grispan's Age of Acrimony and liked this one better. It dispells the surface level truths we're told of the Civil War to tell of a more granular uprising. It also brings understanding to what made the MAGA movement work and its potential influence today.
Fantastic narration. The narrator captures the tones and emotions that colored the quotes and sentiments of people at the time. Providing story to historical accounts.
The book contributed greatly to my knowledge of American history, political violence, and the forces that shaped the Civil War. Definitely recommend.

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Fascinating story but spoken too quickly

Revisado: 01-15-25

In trying to comprehend the current polarized, tribal, and violent political climate of America today, looking back at the nation's post-war past offers insight to what brought us here a d how we might make it out. And for anyone like me who wants to believe in politicians being moral and just, it's either incredibly foolish or an issue solved by cultural ties rather than any political party.

The book sometimes read like a biography of Will "Pig Iron" Kelley and his daughter Florence. Prehaps a deliberate choice to anchor the reader on a couple key individuals as to not get lost in all the dirty, rotten characters that plagued the Gilded Age era. I would have liked more focus on the tools that political parties leveraged to influence the public, corporations, and ultimately elections. Additionally, I hoped that Part 3 would have spent more time describing the mechanisms that pulled power out of politics and how those lessons might be applied today.

The narrator spoke too quickly for me. I had to slow it down and make frequent backtracks to hear what was happening in places. It took a few chapter for me to grasp all that was going on and then I was fully in by Part 2. His speaking style and tone was just enough of that "mid-atlantic" sound that felt fitting for the piece.

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How to Read This Book

Revisado: 03-14-24

-Open book, skip intro.
-Scan for criticized theorists/intellects (Spivak, Deleuze).
-Return book, read the others.

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Eerie but only OK

Revisado: 04-02-18

I picked this up after hearing an interview with the author on NPR. I liked the idea of a dark, eerie, and strange suspense story and this book does explore that realm. The times I felt strong intensity and emotional response to the book were short and only towards the last few chapters. The narrator spends way too much time in her head, which I understand to be part of the character, but at times it feels like the story drones on and I start skipping forward. The ending was a bit cumbersome to wrap my head around. As an audiobook, the short chapters of the side story were hard to follow at first without much to distinguish them from the main plotline. I got through the story but likely wouldn't pick it up again.

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Seems relevant to today

Revisado: 04-20-17

Good narration. So many themes apply to today's world in America. I had read it once before and made the joke about Obama's presidency then decided reread following the sudden hike after the phrase "alternative facts." The story creates a heightened awareness and skepticism about big government and how individuals seek power and control over a people. A dreary recommendation to all.

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Questioning all.

Revisado: 07-18-16

Insight to how minds work; the importance of critical investigation of our (and others) memories/biases.

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