Mr. Ibis: "This country has been Grand Central for 10,000 years or more." It's much more diverse than I think America is portrayed in popular culture.
I like how Gaiman overall used those historical "Coming to America" interludes to give the same perspective of a less whitewashed American history.
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I liked that too.
Maybe this should be its own post, and I'm sure it's a question asked often in regard to this book, but do you think it took a foreigner to bring that kind of perspective to it?
That's an excellent point. I think it did. My impression is that Americans have a highly sanitized perception of their history and folklore. Not that an American couldn't write the book, but it helped to have someone with a little emotional distance.
More related to history, have either of you heard of or read "A People's History of the United States"? There are numerous books by Howard Zinn I'd like to read.
I started an audio book, "History of the United States," Charles and Mary Beard, that covers American history in a topical approach instead of chronological. It reminded me a lot of the Essie Richardson segment and the realities of coming to the country as an indentured servant, a condition I also remember being portrayed in a highly sanitized way in my own schooling.
I think it might have been a different book if written by an American. I feel like Americans, even cynical, non-Tea Party types, might be a little too self-congratulatory, as if the history of the USA happened with a good end in mind, that it was all leading up to this wonderful melting pot that we now enjoy. The emotional distance, yes: I think that makes all the difference.
I've heard of "A People's History" but haven't read it. I bet it's worth a read.
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