A Fractured American Dream

America, America by Ethan Canin is narrated by Corey Sifter and intertwines 3 stories into one. Though he is the son of a working class family, Corey is “adopted” into the rich Metarey’s family as a worker.

We then follow the story of a local politician’s journey to almost capture the 1972 Democratic Party’s nomination for President. We get the story from the present tense as Corey is a teen and being exposed to the big political machine at work, and then in the past tense when Corey is the editor of the local newspaper many years later.

The third story line runs through the entire book as we know “something” has gone wrong. The reader follows the rise and fall of the local candidate described against actual historical events of the 1970s.

If you enjoy historical fiction, pick up this book for a good read.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Denise