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In this hilarious and wildly inventive novel, Chris Bachelder brings Upton Sinclair back from the dead to see what he might make of our modern world.
U.S.! is a playful, darkly comic novel that imagines the serial resurrection and assassination of tireless muckraker Upton Sinclair. In Chris Bachelder's bizarre world, Sinclair is repeatedly brought back by beleaguered but optimistic leftists (whose refrain is "Hope and Shovels Forever"), and then gunned down (and once harpooned!) by those seeking fame, fortune, and American business as usual. As he grows more and more politically and culturally insignificant, Sinclair keeps writing his embarrassingly bad muckraking novels and keeps risking his life for the Socialist revolution, which is perpetually just around the corner.
In documenting the demise (but dogged faith) of the American Left, as well as the violence and hysteria of the Right, Bachelder uses a wide range of forms: stories, songs, letters, journal entries, book reviews, memos, a syllabus, newspaper and magazine articles, Internet auctions, and transcripts of talk shows, interviews, and toll-free hotlines. The second part of the novel is a fast-paced narrative that brings the myriad characters together in an explosive encounter. A dazzling mix of laughs and revelations, U.S.! is not only an exploration of American politics and culture, but an investigation into the possibilities and problems of political art. Its publication will coincide with the hundredth anniversary of the publication of The Jungle, Sinclair's internationally renowned novel about the meat industry.
Anonymous
Posted November 8, 2006
Bachelder gives the literary world something fresh with U.S.! Finally, not another boring serial novel. The characters live in this seperate reality that defies logic (the repeated exhumation of legendary muckraker Upton Sinclair). His plot bounces through a mass of discombulated documents and poems and lyrics. Yet somewhere deep down, and particularly in Section II, there is an underlying humanity to Bachelder's work that is deeply moving both from an emotional and aesthetic point of view. Loved it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Ever since I discovered this book, I have made it tradition each year to purchase a copy of this book, re-read it, then pass it on to another person. Some people have enjoyed the humor and pop-culture mocking. Some have enjoyed the political commentary. Some didn't get the book at all, and returned their copy to me (which made it easier to pass along to the next person). No matter the reaction, I have found this book to be one of the most brilliant allegories of modern literature. Mr. Bachelder has basically written (in allegory) a primer for left leaning politicians in the new century; Hold fast to your views like Mr. Sinclair, but just don't be as boring and high-handed as Mr. Sinclair. Or, if you prefer, it's simply a fun and weird read. Hope and Shovels Forever!!
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Posted June 6, 2011
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Overview
In this hilarious and wildly inventive novel, Chris Bachelder brings Upton Sinclair back from the dead to see what he might make of our modern world.
U.S.! is a playful, darkly comic novel that imagines the serial resurrection and assassination of tireless muckraker Upton Sinclair. In Chris Bachelder's bizarre world, Sinclair is repeatedly brought back by beleaguered but optimistic leftists (whose refrain is "Hope and Shovels Forever"), and then gunned down (and once harpooned!)...