What do You think about Gentleman's Agreement (2011)?
Just finished reading the book after seeing the movie a few weeks ago. Written in 1946, right after World War II, this book is still an effective and appropriate commentary on today's world. I only found a couple passages that seemed dated. The rest of the writing is wonderful: really captures the feel of the Park Avenue crowd of the 1940s, the trend-setters who style themselves liberals, but countenance discrimination regularly in their every day lives. Subtle. This book does not make a bully club of an argument and then hit you over the head with it. It spoke to me over the decades and made me re-think how my thoughts and actions follow or don't follow directly from my stated beliefs. We are all human, and we are all in this together. This book reminds us of that. I highly recommend both the film directed by Elia Kazan and starring Gregory Peck as well as the book. The book is able to be more subtle, however, and explains the actions of the male and female lead and other characters more clearly, as you might expect.
—Ellen
A very interesting and well-done period piece that places us into the shoes of a 1940's (Gentile) national magazine writer who is given the task of writing a series of articles about Antisemitism in the late 1940's in America. Through his thoughts and struggles about how to approach the topic, through his personal life as a single father (widower) in Manhattan, and through the various characters around him, we see how a simple issue of unfairness becomes complicated. The author never tries to justify or explain Antisemitism, but instead takes us on a slow journey of understanding and lets the frustration and, at times, rage build within the narrator and us. We experience both subtle flicks and outright discrimination, see the pain of name-calling and hear how the ones who do feel justified in their assumptions.The tone of the book was refreshing in a throw-back way, much like "Mad Men" on TV must feel (I haven't seen it) and although it was clearly set in the late 40's, it felt almost modern. The book also explores the role of women at the time, and touches upon discrimination of other ethnic groups. It satisfyingly puts to bed the myth of a Jewish "race" and although it rarely comes out and discusses the horror of Third Reich, it doesn't have to - the fact that anti-Jewish sentiments exist at all after WWII says it all.
—Sue
I'd loved this movie with Gregory Peck long ago, so I thought I'd read the book that inspired it. Written in 1946 right after WWII, "Gentleman's Agreement" tackles the subject of antisemitism. It's a powerful and insightful book. Even written nearly 60 years ago, there are still lessons and important observations made in this very readable, enjoyable story. I believe society has gotten better and non-discrimination laws have forced the issue for those not willing to do what's right on their own. One thing about the book I thought was kind of funny, if not also a bit irksome, is it's sexist attitude. Written in '46, the feminist movement wasn't up for another decade or two. Well, each in its own time. Another thing that shows how times have changed is that everyone smoked - a lot, even in movie theaters. I did enjoy this book quite a bit - I recommend it, but you must cut it some slack for the time it was written in. It was quite eye-opening at the time regarding antisemitism, but women's equality and the dangers of smoking were not yet issues of the day.
—Cathy
