Open Line

by Ellen Hawley

Fiction. In Ellen Hawley's OPEN LINE, a late-night Minneapolis talk show host finds herself caught in a storm of publicity and paranoia when she suggests the Vietnam War may have been a hoax. With the help of some strange bedfellows-a major right-wing fundraiser, a fringe-group activist, a governor, and countless disillusioned veterans-her outlandish theories begin to capture the public's imagination. But has she really unmasked the greatest conspiracy in American history, or is she being played for a fool by the powers-that-be? "Even the most outraged and cynical will find much to (ruefully) laugh at in Ellen Hawley's depiction of the American media's post-ethical age and the bizarro world of contemporary talk radio" -Stewart O'Nan.

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jill Upton(ogood)]

So I decided to come up with a new method after reading a few disappointing books in a row. I have a little over 200 book on my tbr shelves. I decided to read the lowest rated book and then after that the highest rated book according to good reads and go back and forth between them. This book was the lowest rated book on my TBR. I have to say I'm a little surprised by the outcome. It really wasn't that bad. The past few I've read were rated higher on here but really drug on for me. This book had a really innovative concept. It wasn't the usual overplayed book with just different character names. It still had it's flaws and isn't something I would normally pick up. It was a hand me down book. I definitely don't feel like it was a waste of my time though. It did actually give you something to think about along the lines of government and mind control. Also, about how much we really don't know about what goes on behind the scenes and how money really does make the world go around.

[Beth]

As I expected, the writing was of very high quality. Pacing, word choice, structure, imagery: all were handled deftly and effectively. The story moved along and generally kept me interested, despite the fact that there wasn't a single character in the book that I liked, and only about one I had much sympathy for (not the main character). But it was clear that the characters aren't supposed to be particularly sympathetic--the main character is a self-centered, ladder-climbing, semi-naive, materialistic person who only gets jolted out of her navel-gazing by extreme events... and even then, she doesn't change much, it seems. I wanted the main character to get pushed a little further at the personal level; I wanted the story to say more and do more with the material it was playing with--the power of the media, American's ignorance of their own history, the meaning of war, extremist politics. If I'm going to read a story about an annoying person who doesn't really suffer the consequences of the terrible things she's involved in, I at least want to gain some insights into the issues the book is exploring. To sum up: despite the good writing, a bit of a disappointment.

[Lynn]

Most of my disappointment in this book I think, came from my high expectations. The plot is relatively simple, but the story is told in a chaotic, multi-view point, slightly over dramatized fashion that made me dizzy... and not in a good way. It's completely about Vietnam conspiracy theory - not so much about the personal ambitions of the radio talk show host the novel is supposed to center around. The intricacies of right wing politics are touched on - only enough to confuse the plot even more with no real conclusion. The novel seemed more like a way for the author to air her personal beliefs. Wouldn't recommend as a light, quick read, and definitely wouldn't recommend it unless you enjoy reading about the Vietnam war.

[Patrick]

This is a fairly amusing novel about an ambitious radio talk show host in Minneapolis who decides to jazz up her moribund late-night program by suggesting the Vietnam War never happened, it was all a huge mind-control experiment.

Out of the woodwork come: self-styled citizen's groups, assorted loonies, manipulative media types, a rich behind-the-scenes player, a governor, and national hoopla.

The books is a little uneven. I thought it was going to be a broadly comic novel but midway it got serious.

Hawley does a good job poking fun at popular media and politics. Check it out.

[Anesa]

Despite slow pacing, I quite enjoyed this original story of a radio talk show hostess who creates more of a sensation than she anticipates by embracing an allegation that the Viet Nam War never really took place. Everything our heroine does is calculated to gain attention and boost her career. Even her romantic interests keep advantage in mind. Not surprisingly, she stirs up considerable controversy. For me, this was a fun and interesting look at aspects of contemporary society with people trying to outwit one another at their own risk.

[Karyn]

Interesting idea for a plot - a radio talk show host, on a slow night, suggests that the vietnam war never happened; it was all an experiment in mind-control by the U.S. government. It then spirals out of control and rules her life. The execution was not ideal, I didn't really enjoy the writing; I bascially made myself finish it to see what happened in the end and the end was not very satisfactory.

[Springbound]

Honestly, I put this down and then returned it to the library. I gave up around 50 pages in. The characters were not as engaging as I'd hoped.

[Stephanie]

Bought this book at a used book store for $3 and glad I did not spend more. ok read in that it made me think about the media in general, not just radio personalities.

[Tiff]

I got through the first 100 pages and gave up. Not my type of book.