Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery : An American Mystery

Rating:
Summary: Poorly written but well-documented account of Lee and Marina
Review: We have to give old Mailer credit for changing his mind about JFK conspiracies as he learned more about Lee Oswald through Russian documents and acquaintances. It is clear that Mailer began this book thinking that Oswald was not a lone assassin. In fact, one could swear that others helped Mailer write this because of the obvious change in styles and conclusions. But after all his unfolding of Oswald's history, he came to the conclusion that Oswald did it, in a similar mood as when he tried to assassinate General Walker six months early. Only Mailer could help the public recognize how sexual and career frustration and jealousy of the President accounted for his murder. This review is submitted by a psychologist who helped assess General Edwin Walker in Dallas some months before the assassination.

Rating:
Summary: Informative, but sub-par
Review: While the book is certainly informative in respects to Oswald's personal life, many points are left on the surface, especially many regarding Oswald's role in the assassination. While Mailer's style is as excellent as ever, readers would do better to turn to Anthony Summers' 'Conspiracy', which is a comprhensive view not only of Oswald but of the entire affair. Also written from a journalistic perspective, it examines many of the areas that Mailer leaves to superficiality in much more depth.

Rating:
Summary: Okay
Review: You get to read more detail about Oswald because of Mailer's access to material heretofore shut off from researchers. But Mailer's obsessions get in the way. He likes to dramatize things, and he is obsessed with sex. So Maria wasn't a virgin when she married Oswald, but gave the impression she was: gee, I bet that's a lie a woman has never told before! And Oswald was still a virgin at age 17. Well, in the 1950's that was probably true of most 17 year olds! If not over 50% of them, then close to it. And Mailer makes Oswald sound freakish because he was still a virgin at 17. That's what I mean about Mailer's obsession with sex (...). So here's a violent man writing about a violent man, which I find questionable. Mailer got access to files in Russia, because a go-between told the Russians Mailer "was America's Tolstoy." Tolstoy probably turned over in his grave when those words were said! But if you want to learn more about Oswald, this book is right up your alley.