Customer Reviews

A Fictional History of the United States (with Huge Chunks Missing)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A FICTIONAL HISTORY OF THE US WITH HUGE CHUNKS MISSING is a story collection and could've been featured in our literary section, but is reviewed here because any history buff will find it appealing and fun. Authors and cartoonists work together to provide a patchwork medley of original history, from the moon landing to McCarthyism and beyond. Insights on history, irony and truths make for important reflections and insights.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

According to the introduction, the stated goal of this anthology of short fiction is: "to move beyond the obvious and the canonical: to challenge, tease, and expand upon the hegemonic single-narrative of mainstream American history." The editors go on to invoke Howard Zinn's classic "People's History of the United States", and wind things up by describing the seventeen stories as "riveting, inventive, timeless, funny, and... politically vital." Indeed, the blurb on the back cover advises the reader to "be prepared to experience American history in an entirely new way." With this kind of of buildup, it's not surprising that while there are some nice highlights, the overall anthology is somewhat of a letdown. I definitely believe that fiction can be used to explore history, and I'm all for hearing the unheard voice, but the seventeen stories are often only tangentially related to compelling themes of U.S. history, and are so clustered within the last hundred years that the vital broader perspective is lacking.

As with all anthologies, different readers will have different favorites. Stories I liked a lot: Paul La Farge's riffs on who really "discovered" America, David "Get Your War On" Rees' 2-page visual contribution on the poll tax, Felica Luna Lemus' take on the 1937 Woolworth's strike in Detroit, Ron "Born on the 4th of July" Kovic's brief satire of military recruiting at high schools, Valerie Miner's flashback look at the McCarthy era in suburban Seattle. Stories I liked bits of: Alexander Chee's riff on Gavin Menzies' controversial book "1421: The Year the Chinese Discovered America", Kate Bornstein's pastiche about how Huckleberry Finn became a transvestite prostitute, Neal Pollack's satire of contemporary media mores at the time of the Lewinisky affair. Stories I didn't care for: everything else. I like the premise of this collection, but few of the contributors really deliver the goods.

This is not only a terrific read but also a groundbreaking fiction anthology.

Each story in the collection gives us new insights into U.S. history that facts alone cannot convey. Interestingly, by fictionalizing certain historical events, the stories arrive at unspoken truths about these events.

Among the stories you will find new, humorous, and interesting insights on what really happened to Lindbergh's son, what was life like for a 1920's immigrant woman, and a view of what the U.S. political landscape might look like in the not-so-distant future if things continue going the way they are.

This anthology proposes a new, fresh look at U.S. history not taught in classrooms or history books. It is what makes it a great and uncompromising work. Don't miss.

When I saw that historian Howard Zinn gave his wholehearted approval to this book, I jumped right in. I should have been more cautious, and read some of the other reviews. The title of the book is absolutely delightful; the concept behind it is a gem; and some of the essays are brilliant. But that last part is the problem - SOME of the essays are brilliant. Others put me to sleep - and I read history books not only as part of my job, but for fun. (Yes, I am probably insane.)

Save your money, and wait for this to show up at the discount bin at your local used book store. I've found Kindle's pricing to be generally quite fair, and I love being able to "carry" hundreds of books at once... but in this case, you'll actually be happier with that tattered paperback.