Customer Reviews

Perfect American

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

After reading just the first few pages of this book, all I can say is sloppy! "Walt" compares himself to a Weeble toy, but they were not introduced until 1971, years after his death. The room next to his office, where he would spend time with Hazel George at the end of his work day is refered to as his "laughing room," when in fact, it was his "laughing place," a reference to the film "Song of the South." Whether these mistakes are the writer's or translater's fault is hard to clarify, but for a person whose life was as well-documented as Walt Disney's, these sort of errors are inexcusable, even in a work of ostensible fiction.

Several years ago I heard that Philip Glass was working on an opera based on "Perfect American" and I decided to get the book. Fascinating! Though I do not know Maestro Glass, the story does so seem to suit him and his music. I hope he completes the score;

THE PERFECT AMERICAN uses an oftentimes factual framework to create an image of Walt Disney full of untruths, half-truths, rumors, conjectures, and fantasies. I am aware that this is a novel--a work of fiction--but the use of real people and real events in which to spin a mean-spirited portrait of Walt Disney is unpleasant at best and hurtful at worst. As another reviewer has stated, I hope readers who are interested in Walt Disney will seek out the many biographies of Walt that present a balanced view of this most extraordinary man and the wonderful world he created.

The Perfect American is a well-researched, thoughtful, and inventive look at an imperfect American icon. It delves into the psychological construction of megalomania, as it follows Disney through his last few months, but it also takes a not-uncritical look at the narrator himself, and his own motivations and fascination with Disney's charisma and questionable politics. In my view, this book is much more balanced and subtly incisive than an earlier reviewer suggested, and the imagination of the author is to be admired. I for one certainly don't admire Disney's politics, as much as one might(?) respect the far-reaching impact his company has had on American culture. This book raises some interesting questions for any open-minded reader to take with them, and it is simply a good read as well.

Walt Disney was far from "The Perfect American," but he came as close as anyone in filling that daunting role. As fiction this book is well-crafted and well-written. As a source of definitive info on Uncle Walt and what made him tick, this is not the book to utilize. I must admit that "fictionalized"
biography is not my thing - - I think it's dangerous and only helps to blur reality and facts for those casual readers who will take everything - - even something clearly labeled "fiction" - - as fact. However, for those readers who enjoy this genre, the book might be to their liking, however, keep in mind, it's fiction.

There appears to be an insatiable need on behalf of certain journalists, film reviewers, social commentators, historians, authors, etc. to trot out the reputations of beloved American icons like Walt Disney (and soon, I'm sure Ronald Reagan) every few years and defame, ridicule and belittle their contributions to the American landscape and pop culture. As whimsy and fantasy Jungk's book is fine.

However, it saddens me to think that this book will be used as another platform for exposure-hungry media types to try and convince everyone that Walt Disney himself was some kind of hoax. I am not a Disney loyalist to be sure, but I have read enough about the man to know that as "Perfect Americans" go, he came pretty damn close to being one and that his personal philosophies and accomplishments should be admired, not ridiculed.

For further reading I would reccomend the following: "The Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney and the American Way of Life" by Steven Watts, "Remembering Walt" by Howard and Amy Green and "Inside The Dream: The Personal Story of Walt Disney" Bb Richard and Katherine Greene.