Glenn Beck’s new novel, the one where he had three ghostwriters produce “his” story, is out and “The Overton Window: a Thriller” gets panned by the LA Times. Bill O’Reilly’s “Those Who Trepass” was made fun of regularly, especially with liberal radio airing excerpts of the author reading the audio book version steamy (if you can call it that) sex scenes for pure comedy value. One has to wonder if Beck cries on the audio book for “The Overton Window.” But surely, the lower lip quivers during some passages.
Tim Rutten has the review here.
Some review excerpts: “…there is nothing even remotely thrilling about this didactic, discursive — sporadically incoherent — novel. The image of a train wreck comes quickly to mind, though this book actually has more the character — and all of the excitement — of a lurching, low-speed derailment halfway out of the station.
If you’ve ever watched one of Beck’s Fox News performances, you’ll feel that “The Overton Window” opens on familiar territory. In his author’s note, Beck refers to this book as “faction” and explains: “As you immerse in the story, certain scenes and characters will likely feel familiar to you. That is intentional, as this story takes place during a time in American history very much like the one we find ourselves living in now. But while many of the facts embedded in the plot are true … the scenarios I create as a result of those facts … are entirely fictional. Let’s hope they stay that way.”
And the plot, described by Rutten:
“The protagonist of “The Overton Window” is Noah Gardner, a dashing young bachelor about town — New York — working as an executive in the high-powered public relations firm founded by his ruthlessly villainous father. Dad, it quickly emerges, is the living prime mover in a plot stretching back nearly 100 years to subvert American constitutionalism and supplant it with the tyranny of an economic and political elite, while throwing everyone — including right-to-lifers, “tea party” activists, Libertarians and NRA members — into concentration camps. (Hint: Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt are bad guys in this imagined history.) Noah, however, falls for the daring, beautiful Molly Ross, who is working as a temp at the agency and is part of an insurgent group dedicated to resisting the conspiracy.”
If you bought this book, let the weeping begin.