Customer Reviews

Camelot

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To many people, the years when President Kennedy was in the White
House and Martin Luther King, Jr. preached a message of equality and
freedom were "Golden Years" whose like will never come
again. That this era was a magical time for Americans can be summmed
up in the name that was given to it, and in the title of Caryl Rivers'
book: "Camelot."

I wasn't alive yet at the time, so I
found Rivers' book invaluable in bringing the era alive for me. The
Civil Rights movement that coincided with Kennedy's tenure had a
lasting impact on our society. Many people still carry on the
struggle to keep these hard-won rights in the hands of everyone,
regardless of skin pigmentation or gender.

Rivers' book brings this
explosive time alive through the experiences of Mary, Jay and
Don. These three young people witness some of history's most pivotal
events firsthand. Rivers presents their reactions and experiences with
honesty and power, triumph and tragedy.

Rivers creates distinct
individuals masterfully through Mary's youth and freshness, Jay's more
worldly cynicism and bizarre sexual fetishes -- one could almost call
them hangups -- and Don's eloquent ruminations (Don's experiences are
told entirely from the first person). His weakness for truly horrific
bodice rippers is a stroke of genius on Rivers' part.

I laughed out
loud when the liberated and educated girlfriend of this likewise very
idealistic and principled young man begins mouthing dialogue from his
favorite author. That I also laughed at Mary and Jay's "Pat and
Dick" routines almost goes without saying.

Whether you wish to
revisit this treasured era of American history, or if, like me, you
are experiencing it for the first time, you can possibly do it in no
better company than Rivers' masterful and wonderful creations.

"Camelot" was a wonderful book; one of those that I accidentally found in a small corner book store. Having a fixation with the Kennedys and their legend, I picked it up-- admittedly, it was the cover which drew me to it. I read it in a day and couldn't put it down. Ms. Rivers does an amazing job in creating wonderful characters and wrapping you up within their lives, their trials, their tribulations, laughter, and their tears.

It did not have as much to do with JFK as I had originally thought; though there were conversations, and every few chapters Rivers expertly directs you into the mind of one of the most romantic figures in American History. She manages to capture the charisma and charm, the LIFE that JFK is famous for, which is no small accomplishment. Clearly researched for this role.

Mary is a great character, filled with charm and personality, as is the young president she chats to so he can learn the truth of what goes on outside the white house walls. Jay is amazing- egocentric to some degree, perverted in others, and has his own sick sense of humour. And Don is wonderful, both perfect and flawed, innocent and sinful with his amazing views of the world from a black man raised Catholic in a white neighbourhood, who struggles with his inner self during the Civil Rights Movement which inevitably climaxes to give the reader an experience of MLK Jr's "I have a Dream Speech", and a sit-down protest. "Camelot" succeeds in presenting the reader a portrait of the 1960's, one which is more than just a history book rendering.

This book is worth reading, if just for the "Pat and Dick" (Nixon) segments that I thoroughly enjoyed- Bravo Ms. Rivers! It had me laughing for hours, and then crying afterwards. However, if you're not a fan of 'sick' humour, or the blatent truth as to how things really are/were, don't even bother.

The great thing about Caryl River's writing is that she can impart real wisdom and still make you laugh out loud. I loved the characters in this book, each one completely human, each one trying to play they hand they've been dealt (including JFK), each one struggling to find a place for herself or himself in a rapidly changing world. The story has the sense of reality that can only be achieved by someone who was there.

I did not like the book at all. As far as Im concerned it is just a bunch of run on thoughts that have nothing to back up what she was thinking.