The Power of the Dog

Power of the Dog can sit next to other books that portray the American Dream as dark bruise, such as Libra, American Tabloid, and Dog Soldiers, but it may feel uncomfortable as it lacks their power of prose, depth of character (none of the characters are cartoons though), and stylistic heights: but it does have their ambition and authenticity in its vision of history as double-crosses, compromises, and bloody spectacle. But this unfair as this is really a thriller at heart (especially its finale) more inspired by Coppola and Scorsese movies than any literary forebears. It’s odd that a genre entertainment like this tackles more of what is rotten in the world than a lot of capitol “L” literature. This book is also a historical novel and almost everything in it is based on some historical fact. So you get to see the grotesque tapestry of the D.E.A., C.I.A in Latin America, Narcocartels, Farc rebels, wild Irish of Hell’s Kitchen, Mafia, the Catholic Church(and Opus Dei), Heidi Flyss(Sp?) styled prostitution ring, Chinese arms dealings, and genocide in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Columbia in one book, and under the umbrella of America’s war on drugs.