The Race
by Richard North Patterson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Richard North PattersonEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-10-30
ISBN: 0805079483
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Book Reviews of The Race
Book Review: "You deserve a president who tells the truth."
Summary: 4 Stars
In his author's note, Richard North Patterson states that he wrote "The Race" because "contemporary politics as practiced are accelerating America's decline." Patterson wants his readers to think about an important question: Where are the authentic leaders who "care more about the country than themselves"?
The protagonist, Corey Grace, is an attractive and charismatic former fighter pilot who served in the Gulf War. Although he appears to have it all--brains, talent, good looks, and personal magnetism--he is a troubled individual who rarely shares his secrets with anyone. Grace is determined to compensate for sins he has committed in the past by trying to make a difference in the political arena. At the age of forty-three, Senator Grace of Ohio decides to battle Majority Leader Rob Marotta of Pennsylvania and fiery evangelist Bob Christy for the Republican presidential nomination.
Although it would seem that the moderate Grace would be more comfortable as a Democrat, he has chosen to be a Republican because of his tough stand on national defense and dedication to private enterprise. He embraces diversity, refuses to kowtow to the religious right, cares deeply about the environment, and believes that society has an obligation to care for its underprivileged. Although he is divorced with a child whom he rarely sees, Grace starts a serious relationship with a black actress, Lexie Hart. His advisors warn Grace that his opponents will gleefully use his relationship with Hart against him in the inevitable attack ads. Sure enough, as the campaign heats up, the candidates increasingly impugn one another's integrity, religious beliefs, and fitness to inhabit the highest office in the land.
"The Race" is a thoughtful look at a flawed political process that rewards people for the wrong reasons. Too often, candidates succeed because of how much money they are able to raise, the special interest groups that they court, and their skill in sidestepping controversy by refusing to take unpopular positions on hot-button issues. Mudslinging and dirty tricks are so common that they barely raise an eyebrow from the jaded and cynical electorate. By the time a presidential election finally rolls around, everyone is exhausted and battle-weary.
Although it is engrossing and timely, "The Race" is, at times, calculated and heavy-handed, and in his effort to cover all of the bases, Patterson stuffs too much into his plot: religious, racial, and sexual bigotry, the friction between a candidate's public and private life, and the incessant wheeling and dealing that is business as usual in politics. The characters are thinly drawn: Grace is the epitome of integrity and finesse, a man who is rarely at a loss even when speaking extemporaneously; Marotta is a slimy individual who is so hungry for power that he looks the other way while his handlers engage in ever more underhanded tactics; Lexie Hart is gorgeous, courageous, brilliant, and incredibly understanding; Christy is a hard-nosed fundamentalist who is determined to stop "the self-selected liberal elite" from having abortions, burning flags, teaching evolution, and promoting gay rights. Although much of the plot is boilerplate, Patterson does throw in a few refreshing twists and turns towards the end that keep the story from becoming too predictable. In spite of its imperfections, "The Race" is undeniably entertaining and it will find an appreciative audience, especially during this volatile campaign season. The author deserves credit for tackling a serious subject that is rarely addressed intelligently in a work of fiction.
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