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duparker's review against another edition
3.0
This is a complex and complicated book, that is written in such a way that it feels like three books crammed together, none of which tell a complete story. Taken in parts, there is a wonderful use of language and creativity in how the writing is presented. Similar to a Jack Kerouac book there are multiple layers and they are presented as stream of consciousness. The characters exists, but they don't have a clear purpose. In other words there was no start middle and end of the story. It is more or less snap shots of the time and days of these people, in their lives. The newsreel sections help to layout a sense of time, but there is no real connectivity for those times, and the camera lens sections are even more out of place, but fun to read.
I loved the experiment, and loved the complexity, but didn't like the lack of connection and didn't appreciate the brand new character being presented in the last chapter, which left the book with an uncomfortable cliff hanger.
I loved the experiment, and loved the complexity, but didn't like the lack of connection and didn't appreciate the brand new character being presented in the last chapter, which left the book with an uncomfortable cliff hanger.
cseibs's review against another edition
4.0
If anything this book gave a "feel" for the time. Without a linear storyline, the book took shape through the episodes and interludes. The Newsreels and Camera Eyes were odd and, in lesser hands, could have been distracting, but ultimately they heightened the "mood" of the book. Overall, the vignettes gave an emotional, colorful view of the country leading up to WWI. I am nervous about how the style will carry over into the following books, but am pleasantly surprised by how well it was pulled off in this volume.
wsmythe19's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A crazy thrillride of Modernist mayhem. Sometimes its hard to decipher but thats more the contemporary reader’s fault than the writer’s. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy a love letter to socialism?
adeslibrary's review against another edition
I don't know what to think of this book but I am so glad I finished it. hopefully with the classes I will have about this book I will understand everything that happened and why.
jdintr's review against another edition
5.0
To understand America in 2014, one must understand what it was 100 years ago. That was when the momentous decisions were made--on war, on labor, on women's rights, on civil rights--decisions that defined the country in which we live today.
Now understand this: America had a chronicler at work in John Dos Passos who captured what was "really" going on in the country, layers below the Carnegies, the Roosevelts and others in whom history puts its trust. In creating The 42nd Parallel, Dos Passos uses myriad conventions to capture the U.S.A. of the age: "newsreels" that put the reader in the spirit of the age through an abstract collage of headlines and story excerpts, "the camera eye" which uses song lyrics and longer excerpts (they reminded me of the front sections of People Magazine today), a series of biographical sketches of significant men of the age, and a cleverly aligned series of character sketches.
Individually, the scenes would have been illustrative, good writing. Combined, however, they create a five-star classic which is a must-read for Americans interested in this crucial era in their nation's culture and history.
Because he starts from the bottom, Dos Passos's characters are workers--most of them socialists to some degree. But there are strivers among them, best described by Mac's partner, Concha, when she says, "Every poor man socialist...a como no? But when you get rich, quick you all very much capitalista" (243). The best example of this is J. Ward Moorehouse, who rises from a small-time player in a real estate scam to a big-time marketing executive--tying together several threads of the story in his rise to the top.
Mac's socialism is the most adventurous of this group, leading him first to Mexico to lend a hand to the Zapatistas, then abandoning him when he suddenly tries to evacuate as Mexico City is taken. Another socialist, Charley Anderson, seems to own nothing more than his IWW card as he roams in search of a better life.
The search for this better life is the American strain of this book. It really made me think of the choices that I make--that I hope to make in the future--and how love, ownership and other realities affect them. I can't wait to complete the trilogy!
Now understand this: America had a chronicler at work in John Dos Passos who captured what was "really" going on in the country, layers below the Carnegies, the Roosevelts and others in whom history puts its trust. In creating The 42nd Parallel, Dos Passos uses myriad conventions to capture the U.S.A. of the age: "newsreels" that put the reader in the spirit of the age through an abstract collage of headlines and story excerpts, "the camera eye" which uses song lyrics and longer excerpts (they reminded me of the front sections of People Magazine today), a series of biographical sketches of significant men of the age, and a cleverly aligned series of character sketches.
Individually, the scenes would have been illustrative, good writing. Combined, however, they create a five-star classic which is a must-read for Americans interested in this crucial era in their nation's culture and history.
Because he starts from the bottom, Dos Passos's characters are workers--most of them socialists to some degree. But there are strivers among them, best described by Mac's partner, Concha, when she says, "Every poor man socialist...a como no? But when you get rich, quick you all very much capitalista" (243). The best example of this is J. Ward Moorehouse, who rises from a small-time player in a real estate scam to a big-time marketing executive--tying together several threads of the story in his rise to the top.
Mac's socialism is the most adventurous of this group, leading him first to Mexico to lend a hand to the Zapatistas, then abandoning him when he suddenly tries to evacuate as Mexico City is taken. Another socialist, Charley Anderson, seems to own nothing more than his IWW card as he roams in search of a better life.
The search for this better life is the American strain of this book. It really made me think of the choices that I make--that I hope to make in the future--and how love, ownership and other realities affect them. I can't wait to complete the trilogy!
brdgtc's review against another edition
3.0
The Modern Library committee cheated by making this trilogy count as only one book, so I'm at least making it count as three books for my Goodreads challenge! That being said, I'm still warming to this series as I move into the next volume - I don't find the "Camera's Eye" sections to add anything but I am enjoying the use of the newspaper headlines and the character sketches are finally starting to result in something that seems like commentary.
revengeofthepencil's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing. A classic novel that lives up to its reputation. Sprawling, ambitious, and totally engrossing. Bonus points for a healthy dose of lefty politics. I will read the other two books in the trilogy, although I may need to come up for air before I move on to the next one.
libbymon's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jblmk's review against another edition
5.0
An enjoyable first bite into a slice of Americans lives during the turn of the great war.