Checkpoint: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: I am a Bush supporter...
Review: ...fundamentalist Christian, red stater in the South, anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, the whole smear. And I enjoyed this book for what it is. If nothing else, it documents the time, which is all one can really ask of fiction. It reminded me of William Manchester's "The Death of a President," which always struck me as weird in that it goes into detail about the atmosphere in Dallas before JFK's death, as though the whole city was responsible for him being killed. I can now see why. You can even look at it as indicative of the humanity that exists at the bottom of all political arguments - "even someone I strongly disagree with is still a person." True, Bush won the election. True, the worldview represented by the would-be assassin illustrates what it feels like to be on the wrong side of history. But everybody feels this way at one time or another, presidential politics aside. That's good fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Fahrenheit 9/11 in book format
Review: For being such an upsetting book, Checkpoint is remarkably easy to read. It has only two characters, Jay and Ben. It is written like a one-act play, so there is only the dialogue. And the pages just fly right by. You can read this book in a matter of hours.

There can't be a novel written about a presidential assisignation that doesn't call in the ethics of "fictional" words falling into the wrong minds. It's shakily true that most of Checkpoint reads harrowingly like a suicide note from a militant politcal martyr that needs to explain himself.

But on a grander scale, Nicholson Baker is having an argument with himself. The militant and irrational side of his political persona is symbolized by Jay while the calmer, more rational side is represented by Ben. And while the two of them converse/argue, you can't tell which one to favor because both points strike upon a level of humanity not known within the Bush administration.

So Baker's feelings towards Bush, Cheney, and the others are not up for debate. But the conflict of feelings over should-we-take-matters-into-our-own-hands versus live-and-let-die goes down to the bone. And the unsettling thing is, even though by the end of the novel one of the sides trumps the other, Baker never comes to peace with his own angers and frustrations with George W. Bush.

As far as the ethics are concerned, I don't think Baker should be held accountable for anything somebody might try. During any given era, especially one filled with controversy, you don't need insignificant things such as a novel to put the notion of a political assisignation into somebody's head.

Rating:
Summary: A rare disappointment from a hugely talented writer
Review: I love Nicholson Baker, and I hate George W. Bush, so I figured this novel would be a "slam dunk" (with no apologies to the late George Tenet). Instead, it's a rather dull rehash of Sunday punditry. Worse the dialogue, especially early on in the book, rings artificial. I kept thinking, "no one talks like that." Baker's great talent, in my opinion, lies in his ability to take the mundane and render it fascinating. This book is quite different from others I have read by him, and it truly falls short of his immense abilities.

Rating:
Summary: And his point is . . . ?
Review: I've read all of Baker's fiction and many of his essays and (except for his screed against periodicals on microform) I've enjoyed them all. He's inventive, he has a real ear for dialogue, and he's just weird enough to always keep your attention. Having said all that, I don't quite know what to make of this novel. Actually, it ought to be classified as a "novella," since it's only 112 very small-sized pages, but let's not be picky. The whole thing consists of a dialogue between two old friends, Jay and Ben, in a Washington, DC, hotel room sometime in the summer of early fall of 2004. Ben is an academic, apparently (or occasionally) a college instructor, with an interest in 20th century political history. He's reasonably successful, judging by his comfortable lifestyle, and he has a wife and kids. Jay, who is divorced with kids, seems to be a drop-out of some sort from academe who has spent the past couple of years doing manual labor, including both the construction trades and commercial fishing. Ben is a pretty normal guy. Jay is a nutcase. Jay has decided George W. Bush needs assassinating, mostly because of the horrors he has inflicted on women, children, and other innocent civilians in Iraq, but also because of his general attitude toward the world. He has summoned Ben to hear and tape his explanation, so there will be a record of his motives. Ben, naturally, is fearful of being labeled an accomplice and hauled off to Guantanamo himself. The assassination is supposed to be accomplished with "special bullets" that Jay bought long-distance for $150 each. Along the way in their extended conversation, they discuss digital cameras vs. film, how to get what you really want from hotel room service, the sins of Wal-Mart vs. Target and Old Navy, and why all the U.S. presidents since Eisenhower (plus Lynne Cheney) have been no good. Well, okay. They both make a lot of good points. But what's the point of the book? When I got to the last page -- it doesn't actually "end," it just stops -- I actually turned back a bit to see if I'd missed something. Nope. Very strange and self-indulgent. On the other hand, I wonder how long it will be before Dubya has Baker declared a danger to the public good and locked up without a trial. . . .

Rating:
Summary: Rage - Justified or Not
Review: In a remarkably novel narrative style - pure conversation between the only two characters in this novella, Baker provides an interesting take on the issues surrounding US politics. The war in Iraq is used as a centerpiece, along with divergent topics such as impact of Walmart, abortion, army, Halliburton/Enron, and a multitude of other issues that have gotten more than their share of headlines and extremist talk-show pundits. While the conversation between the two characters tend to become artifical at times, it is mostly engaging. The viewpoints expressed by either characters provide no new pespectives on the issues, and hence the whole book does not score much on originality. The book certainly plays to the anti-Bush and anti-war crowd, and attempts to provide a modicum of rational thinking when the main protagonist is being "calmed" by the other character. Overall, an easy-read, fairly novel narrative technique, a simple enough plot, strong (albiet, unoriginal) arguments against war and Bush.

Rating:
Summary: A wasted effort for a good cause
Review: Nicholson Baker has long been considered one of North America's most original writers. An author obsessed with minutiae, he has penned some astounding novels on the most minor of events, cleverly examining and expanding the tiniest moments of life, coaxing them into revealing their deep significance. The plots are not important. At Baker's best, the enjoyment is taken from the text itself.

A man takes an escalator ride between floors in The Mezzanine. A man records the mundane and trivial elements of life in A Box of Matches. A father feeds his baby daughter in Room Temperature. These are wonderful novels, frustrating for some, but awash in pleasures for those who read books as a balm for the banality of life.

But there is another Baker, an intensely disappointing man who, every once in awhile, loses his bearings. His talent becomes meaningless, trapped in obvious clichés and silly wanderings. Vox is a prime example of this tendency, a lazy little novel about two people having phone sex. It's mundane, silly, and trivial for all the wrong reasons.

Add to this his latest novel, Checkpoint, a misguided attempt to fuel his rage at George W. Bush's policies, actions, and overall incoherent and contradictory policies as president of the United States.

It shouldn't have been this way. Bush, as a target for both satire and righteous polemic, is a writer's dream, a living, breathing president straight out of Stephen King's The Dead Zone, a president starting wars for personal gain, placing his actions under the nebulous umbrella of faith in God. Bush is a character straight out of the finest satire. You don't believe me? Check out past issues of the online fake-newsmagazine The Onion (the articles have been anthologized and can be purchased or found at your local library). When Bush was first elected, The Onion parodied his inaugural speech, quoting Bush as claiming, "Our long nightmare of peace and prosperity is finally over." The article then humorously outlines his plans for the next four years, promising crippling dept and unnecessary wars as his mandate.

It was hysterically funny. And it ALL HAS COME TRUE. Every joke. Every line. The White House could have issued the prescient article as a statement of fact. The Onion was eerily prophetic in its send-up, and the article has travelled from a silly humour piece to a terrifying summation of Bush's policies in the space of four short years.

So yes, there is much anger over Bush and his cronies. They've created quite the ruckus over anyone with the temerity to oppose them, and by so doing have ensured the bestseller status of those authors. Anyone remember the ridiculous response to Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them? Would the book have sold nearly as well if the Right-wingers hadn't responded the way they did? Franken should thank them every day for the furor they created.

And so, Nicholson Baker enters the fray, and the Right-wingers predictably start swinging torches and yelling, "Off with his head," before they actually read the darn thing. Granted, the novel is an unprecedented event, a fictional depiction of plans to assassinate a still-serving president. It should have been everything the Right is afraid of.

But it's just, well, silly, and well beneath the talents of its author. The novel, so short and slight, is presented in the same format as his Vox, a verbatim transcript of two people who meet in a hotel room to discuss plans to kill Bush. Over the course of a few hours, they discuss the most outlandish schemes imaginable, including guided saw blades and bullets with a voodoo-style hex on them to ensure accuracy (if anyone was scared Baker might present viable schemes to assassinate, they needn't have worried). In the end, nothing is decided.

What was Baker thinking? His writing is amateurish, bereft of the style and originality that have become his trademarks. From anyone else, this would never have merited publication.

So, Checkpoint is by no means a good novel. It won't make anyone's list of influential books, or even memorable ones. But it does stand as a signpost, the first real attempt to encapsulate the blazing rage and fury the surrounds the Bush presidency. There is a palpable incredulity that frames the man's entire life thus far, the rise of someone not visibly good at anything, yet succeeding beyond anyone's comprehension to a mix of nepotism, luck, powerful allies, and yes, outright lying to achieve results. It is a subject that must be addressed, in all forms. Baker has thrown himself on the grenade, and taken the brunt of the retaliation for first assault.

A shame his efforts are so poor.


Rating:
Summary: As a Democrat and an American, I am disgusted
Review: Nicholson Baker has lost a fan forever. I loved his earlier works, but this is a repugnant piece of propaganda.

I am a democrat (I did volunteer work for both Wesley Clark and Howard Dean's campaign)and even I am disgusted by this. Even if you hate the President, he is still the President and more importantly, a living human being with a family. To have a character explore ways to kill him (even in fiction) crosses the line. I read this in Barnes and Noble, and am so glad I didn't buy it.

Note to Mr. Baker- How do you think The President's children would feel reading this book? Live up to your moral responsibilities as an artist!

Rating:
Summary: Oh my God, Nicholson Baker. . . .why?. . . .why?
Review: Sounds like I'm crying in my subject line, well, I am ok?

Nicholson Baker is my favorite writer after a friend introduced me to him nine years ago. The book she gave me was "The Mezzanine." It was one of the most engrossing books I have ever read. As a writer, I had finally found another pen-jockey who thought about the same dribbling s*** that I thought of all the time. His writing style is excellent and it really is a style all his own.

Since then, I have read all of his work, including the essays. He is amazing.

Until I read this drivel. . . .

I don't even want to talk about it anymore. . .

I'll just say this:
While he makes some good points in this book, he has nonetheless succumbed to the Micheal Moore fanclub. After reading this, I just got the feeling that he wrote it only to get something out that is controversial so it will sell. That's it. This book is not like his others, which were written out of his love for his craft. This is "I need some money so I'll cash in on the times and throw in every meaninless "fact" I can think of to finally try and hit the top of the NYTBSL again." Well, I don't think it will sell that well, 'cause after the first five pages of this, you realize that this is not the NIcholson Baker that we all know. It is a Bad Baker who needs to be writing for the Weekly World News.

He will always be my favorite no matter what. Only a select few know how much it truly hurts to write this review. . .

I can't bring myself to give him only one star. . . .

*sigh*

I'm sad. . .

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Book, Interesting writing style
Review: This was the first book I have read from Nicholas Baker, and if you haven't noticed from the other reviews, he has a writing style all his own...

Very easy to read, very easy to understand, and makes you really think about some of the decisions that have been made over the past 4 years.

A recommended read for the curious -- i gave it 3 stars instead of 4 because i expected more substance from a writer who previously had been so acclaimed.

Rating:
Summary: Timely outlet for prevalent frustration
Review: Very provocative read. Articulates the anger, frustration, and desperation that many people have experienced the past few years.