Not Black and White: From the Very Windy City to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Not Black and White: From the Very Windy City to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by G. A. Beller is a fictionalized political book based on some true events in Illinois politics. The book tells the story of corruption and the overall importance of political connections and money in our political system. While the story is fiction, Beller intertwines elements of truth by changing some details, names, and events. The story opens with a traffic accident that takes the lives of six children after an unqualified truck driver loses control of his 18-wheeler. From the moment the driver explains how he “bought” his license, the reader is taken on an emotionally charged journey of scandal and bribery in politics. The book confirms the shady underworld of politics in what most Americans don’t want to believe or think possible. Although I am not naive in believing that there is no corruption in politics, it was interesting and difficult to understand how deep those roots go and how many people the corruption ends up affecting on so many levels. The characters are well developed, and the story parallels the reality of Illinois events from the first chapter. I found myself searching Google for the actual historical events and names that related to this fictionalized account in order to compare the details.
The book does not seem to favor Democrats or Republicans but rather focuses on the “good ole’ boys” system and how things get done within our political system. Mr. Beller is capable of playing on the emotions of the reader. There were times when I felt sad or angry, and even times when I laughed out loud. Although the book is rather long, Beller’s writing style makes it impossible to put down once you begin reading. The book makes you question how much of it is true, which is a scary thought, and how much is fiction, which also makes for an interesting read.
Any reader who is interested in politics will find this both fascinating and thought-provoking and a quick read full of depth and detail.
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Star Count | 5/5 |
Format | Hard |
Page Count | 400 pages |
Publisher | G. Anton Publishing |
Publish Date | 2018-Feb-15 |
ISBN | 0970996679909 |
Bookshop.org | Buy this Book |
Issue | February 2018 |
Category | Historical Fiction |
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