Big Government
Another day: another bad review. In my defense, i only read this book because i recognized the authors name as someone that my organization had worked with in the past. Though why that is a defense i cannot fathom.
Big Government
Another turkey. This one a book written by former Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs Ev Erlich, which merely reinforces my thought that political types should not dabble in literature. Well, this is a lofty statement that only really holds true for very contemporary writers (witness Jeffrey Archer, Lewis Libby – on the other hand Newt Gingrich wrote some good history books, but still....).
Either way, this book is an attempt by Mr. Erlich to capture the cut-and-thrust of Washington politics. I could go into the story, but I cannot be bothered. Suffice to say that we all learn that politics and Congress are corrupt and environmentalists are weirdoes. Big surprise.
The book is not helped by the fact that it appears to have been written by an infant, with repeated use of words like “nice” and “sturdy” and characters named: Wade Hoak (the President), or a 114 year old Congressman called Senior Younger, jr., or Congressman Ezra Wheezle (I wonder what kind of a person he is? You get the point). As if to emphasize the vacuity of the novel, it is written in a giant font with endless empty pages in between chapters.
The tenuous story lurches from one improbable scene to the next as an assortment of unrealistic characters flummox their way through their insignificant lives (well, the President continually appears, so not entirely insignificant). Occasionally, Erlich likes to try to give his characters depth by letting us hear their interior monologue, but if all we are going to hear is that “he thought he was a nice guy,” well, thanks, but I think I’ll survive without it. The characters he has decided are worth salvaging he makes into heroes, which immediately renders them meaningless, as all they are is a counterpoint to the “broad chested” and “bulbous nosed” evil Senator/Congressmen.
Well, enough of this. Survey says: dead loss. Help the environment and recycle your copy (as I will as soon as I am able to find a recycling bin near me).
Big Government
Another turkey. This one a book written by former Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs Ev Erlich, which merely reinforces my thought that political types should not dabble in literature. Well, this is a lofty statement that only really holds true for very contemporary writers (witness Jeffrey Archer, Lewis Libby – on the other hand Newt Gingrich wrote some good history books, but still....).
Either way, this book is an attempt by Mr. Erlich to capture the cut-and-thrust of Washington politics. I could go into the story, but I cannot be bothered. Suffice to say that we all learn that politics and Congress are corrupt and environmentalists are weirdoes. Big surprise.
The book is not helped by the fact that it appears to have been written by an infant, with repeated use of words like “nice” and “sturdy” and characters named: Wade Hoak (the President), or a 114 year old Congressman called Senior Younger, jr., or Congressman Ezra Wheezle (I wonder what kind of a person he is? You get the point). As if to emphasize the vacuity of the novel, it is written in a giant font with endless empty pages in between chapters.
The tenuous story lurches from one improbable scene to the next as an assortment of unrealistic characters flummox their way through their insignificant lives (well, the President continually appears, so not entirely insignificant). Occasionally, Erlich likes to try to give his characters depth by letting us hear their interior monologue, but if all we are going to hear is that “he thought he was a nice guy,” well, thanks, but I think I’ll survive without it. The characters he has decided are worth salvaging he makes into heroes, which immediately renders them meaningless, as all they are is a counterpoint to the “broad chested” and “bulbous nosed” evil Senator/Congressmen.
Well, enough of this. Survey says: dead loss. Help the environment and recycle your copy (as I will as soon as I am able to find a recycling bin near me).
posted by Raff @ 12:08 PM
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