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A review by jhbandcats
The Boys from Brazil by Ira Levin
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a horrifying book to read right now with the rise of white nationalism and neo-Nazis in the United States. The story centers around a plot to create the Fourth Reich that will eliminate all non-Aryans from the earth, and the beleaguered old man who is practically the only one trying to stop it.
The book was interesting and engaging, a well-written thriller fairly dated as it’s from the mid-1970s. I just wanted to stay home and finish it; I was annoyed that I had to go do something else instead of reading to see what happened. The main character, the Nazi hunter, is sympathetic; he’s tired, he’s dejected. It’s hard to feel good about his successes because there are still so many more evil people out there whom he needs to catch.
The part I found so disturbing is after the denouement when the book is drawing to a close. There is talk about how it would be difficult for another populist demagogue to rise because people are just too smart now. Besides, there’s television now, so people can’t be fooled. You would need three things for it to happen: (1) economic problems for the working class, (2) the rise of a populist, and (3) people gullible enough to go along with his hatred.
And now, in the US and around the world (Brazil, ironically, Italy, the Philippines), those conditions have been met and the world is sliding toward the rise of many Hitlers.
The book was interesting and engaging, a well-written thriller fairly dated as it’s from the mid-1970s. I just wanted to stay home and finish it; I was annoyed that I had to go do something else instead of reading to see what happened. The main character, the Nazi hunter, is sympathetic; he’s tired, he’s dejected. It’s hard to feel good about his successes because there are still so many more evil people out there whom he needs to catch.
The part I found so disturbing is after the denouement when the book is drawing to a close. There is talk about how it would be difficult for another populist demagogue to rise because people are just too smart now. Besides, there’s television now, so people can’t be fooled. You would need three things for it to happen: (1) economic problems for the working class, (2) the rise of a populist, and (3) people gullible enough to go along with his hatred.
And now, in the US and around the world (Brazil, ironically, Italy, the Philippines), those conditions have been met and the world is sliding toward the rise of many Hitlers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism