During a recent trip to the hospital, this book was handed to me to read and pass the time. A good opening had the potential to grab you. Leon Uris doesn't disappoint here. The shoo-in for the presidency in november's election, an orphan raised roman-catholic, finds one week before the election that his birth-parents, both deceased, are Jewish.That could be a great premise but then what... The story falls apart. Uris tries to create tension in our two party system in the US with the histories of not only the RC/Jew protagonist, but his rival who is the president. If that had been handled better, perhaps this book would succeed, but Uris has chosen his battlegrounds poorly. Republicans do not do everything poorly in regards to the nation, but in God in Ruins Republicans always fail.Democrats always succeed, and where we have some true named places and people, and ambiance, too much fictionalized that you have to read (AMERIGUN-is the NRA, Charlton Heston is their president so an Actor leads AMERIGUN...) throws the book into that thinly disguised type of clap trap. The writing style of Uris also fails. People, all even the dumb ones, are too smart, for the use half sentences to talk to one another. Always full of depth of meaning. Our leaders maybe that smart, but I doubt it. Some of them are geniuses, some are charismatic dilettantes in reality, which Uris does not portray. All his politicians are brilliant.So the story fails. It could have been good. It wasn't.
Since I was in high school (quite some time ago!) I have enjoyed Leon Uris' novels. I discovered there were a couple I hadn't read and decided to get them.Mistake. This novel in no way gave me the same enjoyment I remember from reading his early works. It was a basic political novel (which is fine to read sometimes), but I can't say I really liked any of the characters that much. When the only reason you want one person to come out on top is because you dislike the opponent more, that's sad.I also had trouble with the choppiness of the dialogue and other narration in parts of the book.So, not altogether a total loss, but there are many better books to read out there![Spoiler below]PS... I also must be naive, but I also didn't get the whole thing about all the rioting after the candidate's announcement about his birthparents. Yes, it might change someone's vote, but this is before the election; if he'd been elected already I can picture more bigots being upset. I remember Kennedy's election as first Catholic president and Obama's as first "black" president and both didn't spark this type of outcome (in my memory).
What do You think about A God In Ruins (2000)?
I was surprised at how prophetic this book was, having been published in 1999. The main character, a Marine through and through, finds himself and his squad on a "find and snatch" mission in Iran that is eerily similar to the 2011 mission to get Bin Laden. Then, there is the struggle against AMERIGUN (read NRA) organization and the attempt to pass meaningful legislation on gun control in this country. Go figure!
—June
This book wasn't for me. Which given the author is more likely my problem than his. The premise is intersting enough - the lives of 2 candidates for the US presidency, one incumbant business genius and one newcomer idealist, are told through flashbacks. The personalies are developed nicely, if a bit obviously by this method. Subjects such as gun control and the impact of humans on the environment are touched on. But it was all a bit heavy handed for me. I didn't like either of the candidates and suspect their stubborness (or is it "strength") wouldn't serve them well if either actually held the post of President. Honestly, it is rather terrifying to me that this side of the book might be realistic - surely not. The glorification of military violence and the acceptance (while stating it shouldn't be so) that women must be held to a higher standard of sexual fidelity than men were both offputting subtexts.Uris gives us an uncompromising idealist with an adoring family and loyal friends versus a greedy business man willing to sacrifice anyone and everything to achieve his goals. If only people were so black and white, wouldn't voting be easier!
—Laura Rittenhouse
I also felt this way about Robert Heinlein and James Michener. I think all three have written some wonderful works, but some of the later ones just didn't have the magic.
—Steve
