American Pastoral
By Philip Roth
Houghton Mifflin, 1997

This is a sweeping story of American Jewish life from the

1950's through the 1990's. It is the story of Swede Levov, an
American Jewish boy who is big, blond, a great athlete and a
good son. He feels he is living the American dream coming
from a middle class background, inheriting his father's glove
factory, doing well in school, and attaining a place in the
community. He is accepted by Jews and non-Jews alike,
even marrying a blonde Christian girl, who was once Miss
New Jersey. He is successful in business and he and his
wife Dawn have a daughter, Merry. His daughter is
wonderful until she chooses to become involved in the anti-
Vietnam war movement, sets a bomb up in a grocery store
and ends up running away from home and living
underground. This act changes the parents' forever. It is this
incident that sets the story into one of Philip Roth's greatest
narratives. The story juxtaposes Swede's love for his
daughter and wanting to set everything right again with the
life he and Dawn must lead while daughter Merry lives on
the lam. It brings Swede to question everything he has
accomplished in his life and tests him with the emotional
burden of it all.

Why You Should Read This Book: The story will teach you
humility and understanding for what it means to be a parent
and have all your beliefs and accomplishments put in
jeopardy over the unexpected behavior of your child. It is
sweeping history of mid-twentieth century America and a
look at what the American dream means, how easily it can
be lost and whether one is willing to give it all up for the sake
of family.