Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Donald Drains the Swamp

Book: Donald Drains the Swamp
Basic Information : Synopsis : Characters : Expectations : Thoughts : Evaluation : Book Group : Good QuotesReferences

Basic Information:
Author: Eric Metaxas
Edition: Web via Overdrive from Fresno County Public Library
Publisher: Regnery Publishing
ISBN: 1621579387 (ISBN13: 9781621579380)
Start Date: November 13, 2018
Read Date: November 13, 2018
64 pages
Genre: Short Story, Political
Language Warning: None
Rated Overall: 2 out of 5


Fiction-Tells a good story: 3 out of 5
Fiction-Character development: 3 out of 5


Synopsis (Caution: Spoiler Alert-Jump to Thoughts):
Comic political parable concerning a caveman who drains a swamp to gain access to uncaring and aloof king who cares only about money. The king lives in a swamp guarded by lobbyists. In order to get by the guards, a caveman by the name of Donald drains the swamp, which Donald discovers is money not water. The king chases the money and the other cave people declare Donald president, not king.


Cast of Characters:
Donald
Various monsters


Expectations:
Recommendation: none, just saw it on author list and was curious
When: September 2018
Date Became Aware of Book: September 2018
How come do I want to read this book: We read his Seven Women book and when doing some research about it, so Metaxas was coming out with this book.
What do I think I will get out of it? A defense of Trump but more with actual figures. More non-fiction.


Thoughts:
My first thought is that this is a story told before the 2016 election. But it was published in October 2018. Which raises the question, what does Metaxas see that President Trump is doing to put the federal government in touch with its citizens? Do I feel more or less in touch with the Presidency now that Trump is President than when Obama was President?

I personally do not see the swamp being drained I see it widening. But I do see that more people are trying to take back the government because Trump is President. But not in support of Trump.

So I am puzzled why did Metaxas write this book?

But there are some questions which I think Metaxas brings up which I think is interesting:
  • Does the governmental system seem remote to the ordinary citizen? Does is seem more remote as you go up the system from local to federal levels?
  • Can we get responses from our government?
  • Is Donald Trump the answer to the issue above? Is he the caveman in shining leopard skin?
  • Does everyone want to live in a Trump building? I do not.
  • Metaxas feels that the citizens came to Trump. But is it all the citizenary? Even the majority?
  • Does Trump really inspire a mob?

Evaluation:
 First of all, it is a cute story told as a comic political parable. Your level of enjoyment will depend on if you are a supporter of our current US President or if you think he is enlarging the swamp around Washington. I thought this book was written going into the 2016 elections, but it was just published in October of 2018. Which leads me to wonder, what does Metaxas see being drained of the moat around Washington DC that I do not as I am one of those which think that the moat is widening and deepening with Trump as President. So I think it is a cute story, but not accurate.

 
Notes from my book group:

  • Is this really what is happening now that the Donald is President?
  • How good of a parable is this?
  • Is there a swamp in Washington?
  • Do you feel in touch with the federal government? State? Local?
  • What would make you feel more in touch?

Good Quotes:
  • First Line: A long long time ago, there was a kingdom where everyone lived in caves.
  • Last Line: Bigly

References:

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