Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here"

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been reading It Can't Happen Here, Sinclair Lewis's 1936 novel about a Fascist takeover of the US. The subject matter had obvious appeal given the current Bushization process taking place. Amy picked it up for 50c -- it's a yellowing, cracking 1960s paperback -- at the soon-to-close Brandeis Bookstall in Coolidge Corner just before we left.

Unfortunately, the book is crap. Utter crap. Lewis hasn't aged well at all; every page reeks of Lewis trying to show off his erudition, the story is over the top, and almost all of the characters have such preposterous names (Doremus Jessup, Berzelius "Buzz" Windrip, Shad Ledue, Buck Titus) that I am tempted to write a parody of the book.

Still, I'm halfway through the damned thing, and I might as well finish it.