February 17th - Book Eleven: Checkpoint

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This is a book by Nicholson Baker. I bought it at Pulpfiction on Main Street at the corner of Broadway for $9. (It's a first edition.) He wrote some very good books like Vox, The Fermata, and The Mezzanine all which have a strong "cultish" following. Checkpoint may seem a lot different than the books that he's written in the past but I think that there is a very subtle similarity. When I read The Fermata, The Mezzanine, and Vox the first thing that came to mind was Mr. Baker was telling us a story about things that he wants to do. His personality comes through his characters. I think Checkpoint is doing the same thing. This book is based on a conversation between two friends on the possibility of assassinating George W. Bush. The character Jay feels a need to kill Bush to stop all the nonsensical murders that he's causing in the countries the United States at at war with. I think the book strongly suggests Baker's political leanings. An interesting read if you want a quick abridged history of what GWB has done to create the situation that he has put the US in. However, be warned that it is a politically charged, strongly left leaning book. I give it 2.5/5 and I recommend it to those that like Michael Moore. For those that would rather read David Hardy (He wrote the book "Michael Moore is a big fat stupid white man" this'll just raise your blood pressure. (128 pages. Total for the year: 2834 pages)