Hello all,
I am sure there have been hundreds of online discussions about this book (and perhaps some really over-the-top conspiracy theorists may claim it as proof of, well, stuff). In this post I would like to underline an aspect that is maybe not very often pointed out.
This book contains among its fiction (and at some points it is difficult to discern which is which), information about every day life in the 50s -and not only then- that are completely unknown to a non-american like me. Well of course, even if you are not a history buff or just not living in a cave, one knows stuff. Of course we know about the Cuba Missile Crisis (maybe not in fine details, but still) and the big stuff. And we know about "american diners" (I happen to have an "American diner cookbook" right beside me in my bookcase right now) even if some of us have never been to one. And we know about jitterbug and lindyhop -which in case you dont know is a huge fashion right now in Europe. From swing(i mean the dance not the other stuff) clubs and contests to a bit ridiculous for my taste, people getting dressed as 50's housewives.- And I did know about Hoover and maccarthyism etc. But you know what shook me? The notion of "banned books". Or that a teacher could be fired for analysing "Catcher in the Rye". Or "Of mice and men"?????!!!!!?? You know very well that people tend to idolize the past and round up the sharp corners. Avoid the dark undercurrents. For me, these were prevalent in this book. Below the romanticised dances, this ambient 50's/60's innocence there lies a river of prejudice and bigotry and racism that is for lack of a better word ..mindboggling. You know why? Because as a kid that was a teenager in the 90's, Ι grew up to think of racists, bigots etc in white/black terms (whoops, unintended pun). A racist would never be a "good guy" on average. Not nowadays at least. I dont know if I am clear. Probably not very much. Back then, being a bona fide family man, hard working, honest etc etc, didnt mean that you didnt consider african americans as lesser people.
And that's not the beginning nor the end of late 50's/60's realia from that book. I was reading it with wikipedia open and constantly searching for new stuff I stumbled upon. You know what was the first thing I looked up? "Moxie".
Aside from the big things, like social interactions, the perceived role of woman, the romantic relationships and the ever-present in small societies "what will the people say if they see your car parked after 11 outside a woman's home" and such, the book contains a billion tiny bits of information that you americans would probably not notice, but people who have not lived and experienced life in the states, now or back then, find very interesting. I'm talking about minutiae not serious stuff. Still interesting.
P.S: The first thing I remember ever looking up while reading a King book was "Kool aid".
And Derry of course. And Salem's lot.
Well, I ll stop ranting. Have to begin "Mr. Mercedes".
Good morning.
I am sure there have been hundreds of online discussions about this book (and perhaps some really over-the-top conspiracy theorists may claim it as proof of, well, stuff). In this post I would like to underline an aspect that is maybe not very often pointed out.
This book contains among its fiction (and at some points it is difficult to discern which is which), information about every day life in the 50s -and not only then- that are completely unknown to a non-american like me. Well of course, even if you are not a history buff or just not living in a cave, one knows stuff. Of course we know about the Cuba Missile Crisis (maybe not in fine details, but still) and the big stuff. And we know about "american diners" (I happen to have an "American diner cookbook" right beside me in my bookcase right now) even if some of us have never been to one. And we know about jitterbug and lindyhop -which in case you dont know is a huge fashion right now in Europe. From swing(i mean the dance not the other stuff) clubs and contests to a bit ridiculous for my taste, people getting dressed as 50's housewives.- And I did know about Hoover and maccarthyism etc. But you know what shook me? The notion of "banned books". Or that a teacher could be fired for analysing "Catcher in the Rye". Or "Of mice and men"?????!!!!!?? You know very well that people tend to idolize the past and round up the sharp corners. Avoid the dark undercurrents. For me, these were prevalent in this book. Below the romanticised dances, this ambient 50's/60's innocence there lies a river of prejudice and bigotry and racism that is for lack of a better word ..mindboggling. You know why? Because as a kid that was a teenager in the 90's, Ι grew up to think of racists, bigots etc in white/black terms (whoops, unintended pun). A racist would never be a "good guy" on average. Not nowadays at least. I dont know if I am clear. Probably not very much. Back then, being a bona fide family man, hard working, honest etc etc, didnt mean that you didnt consider african americans as lesser people.
And that's not the beginning nor the end of late 50's/60's realia from that book. I was reading it with wikipedia open and constantly searching for new stuff I stumbled upon. You know what was the first thing I looked up? "Moxie".
Aside from the big things, like social interactions, the perceived role of woman, the romantic relationships and the ever-present in small societies "what will the people say if they see your car parked after 11 outside a woman's home" and such, the book contains a billion tiny bits of information that you americans would probably not notice, but people who have not lived and experienced life in the states, now or back then, find very interesting. I'm talking about minutiae not serious stuff. Still interesting.
P.S: The first thing I remember ever looking up while reading a King book was "Kool aid".
And Derry of course. And Salem's lot.
Well, I ll stop ranting. Have to begin "Mr. Mercedes".
Good morning.