American Views Abroad

 
Some books have to be read at just the right time. James Carroll's The City Below which was published in 1994 and purchased on Cape Cod in the late 90s has been sitting on a bookshelf unread all these years. Though Carroll is an admired author, in particular An American Requiem: God, My Father, and the War Between Us as well as his columns in the Boston Globe on Mondays, this novel about Boston, two brothers, and four time spans in recent political history fell flat on the first page, until now. In these weeks before the new president takes over, it vividly brings into focus the 1960 campaign of JFK, and the horrible racist fury that took over Boston in the 70s, not to mention the very long political career of Senator Ted Kennedy. It's an odd combination of taking a good look at how we once were and where we are today. At this moment it's probably the only thing we can do. Take a long look at our past and then figure out how to account for it all.
- posted by Gloria @ 5:34 PM