AP Worthy?

This blog entry is dedicated answering the question of "Is American Pastoral an AP level book?"

So, is it worthy? I think so. Here are a few reasons why.

1. Multiple, complex themes

Throughout the course of the novel so far, I have noticed many themes. Some I have already discussed include time, community, aging and nostalgia. One huge theme that should have been more apparent (as it is alluded to in the title of the book) is traditionalism / the pursuit of the American dream VS. anarchy / rejection of the American Dream. Swede's family was once immigrants, and he takes great pride in the fact that he is running a business built from scratch by his relatives and making enough money to give his children all the opportunities the world has to offer. What good does this do, however, when his daughter rejects the hand that feeds her?

 In the eyes of his ancestors, he has done everything right; he works hard, married well and is highly valued in society. He has finally overcome his "outsider" status as a Jewish man and become completely integrated in American society. Yet Merry sees this not as a hard-earned accomplishment but as a submission to "the man."

The generational gap between Merry and Swede is most obvious in their views of America. Swede views being a typical American as a goal, something to strive for. Clearly, he still carries a bit of the mindset of an immigrant, struggling to assimilate in a society that promises equal opportunity yet so rarely delivers on it. 

Merry believes that America is an unjust and amoral corporate nightmare sucking the lifeblood out of its citizens and turning them into slaves to the dollar. Clearly, her privileged upbringing allows her to see America as a get-rich-quick, war-mongering hellhole in all its cynical glory while never having to resort to the hope of the immigrant. 

This fundamental clash in ideals is why, as much as Swede loves his daughter, they will never truly understand and accept each other. 

2. Unusual structure

It's not exactly uncommon to see books broken into sections. Usually, however, there is a fairly apparent reason as to why the author chose to break up the book in that way. I cannot fully analyze the structure because I am only finished with two out of three sections of the book. It was difficult, however, for me to comprehend the transition between the first and second section because both were talking about the same scenario in third-person perspective. This leads into my third point,

3. Ambiguous narration

To sum up an idea I previously had in an entry: Is this still Zuckerman's (a first person narrator for the first section of the book) retelling of Swede's past? Or is this a different, third person narrator? I would assume the switch in sections and prompt dismissal of Zuckerman's character would mean that this is another narrator speaking. It is difficult to say, however, because Zuckerman's imagining of Swede's relationship with his daughter captured some very private moments that I assumed to be speculation but are further developed in the third person narrative. 

Either Zuckerman, who was barely friends with Swede when they went to school together, is omniscient or he is super good at guessing. Or he's just telling a story (Because he is a writer) and none of this is what actually happened.

I like reading the book alone, but I think having further analysis and more people to bounce ideas off of would be very helpful in understanding deeper meaning in this book. The complexity of this novel makes it more than appropriate for an AP class.