Khoi Nguyen’s Reviews > American Pastoral > Status Update

Two affairs. Sheila says she shelters Merry because of special privilege. Dawn has facelift because Orcutt affair. Swede decides to call FBI after consternation. Merry reappears, Lou heart attack

Lou upset at changes in Newark, Deep throat movie and decline of glove industry

Orcutt became an architect and painter. Swede compares life to Johnny Appleseed. Daughter Jessie drunk. speech therapist Salzman sheltered Merry and Swede had affair with her

Swede chooses Old Rimrock over democrat jewish area. Dad says it’s republican and antisemitic. Jewish struggles recalled

family feud over Jerry’s combativeness and divorce. Lou doesn’t like Reagan. Dinner with Orcutts - successful and look down on Levovs and Dawn especially. Dawn had facelift

Swede unwilling to get daughter and unwilling to let nether Jerry do so

daughter denies sending Rita Cohen. Escapes to various states, raped twice, also bombs Oregon. Swede can’t take her back and goes to brother Jerry, who says he is not assertive and ignorant about the US and life

Enlisted in Marines but was sent to drill instructing. Riots hurt Newark factory so outsource to Czechoslovakia. Daughter returns as Jain in austere bad part of NJ. Admits to bombing, says she did it herself

Rita sends message that Merry works at hospital. Dawn depressed. Backstory - competes in Miss beauty contests on a whim and goes up to Miss NJ. Resentful of not being taken seriously. Facelift. Cows

Meets Rita at factory who attacks his business and capitalism. Escapes him and FBI at hotel sex. 5 years, no Merry. Merry started with self immolation in TV and Angela Davis?