all the kings men... rocks!

All the King's Men is one of my favorite books ever. The themes are timeless and can accomodate any thought process. It has the timeless love story between Anne and Jack, politics with Willie, murder, death, secret fathers, sex, crazy children, divorce, marriage, and everything else. When I heard it was a political novel I was dreading it but turns out, I enjoy them! I like to read about people trying to change and shape American government. It also created the idea of following your dreams and breaking out of social rights and wrongs. Willie is the person we all want to be, a smooth talker who seems to control everything around him with perfect precision. It also discusses how sometimes being on top, or "the boss" can lead to your demise. The dialogue was also a great part of the novel. I felt like I knew all the characters and talked to them all of the time because of the constant dialogue between the characters and the narrator to the reader. I also am just in love with the Anne Stanton and Jack Burden love story. I'm a real sucker for long-term love that takes time to truly establish itself. It reminds of the Pearl Jam song "Black". It talks about how "he" can't live his life the same because she "tattooed all I am, all I ever was, black..." I feel like Jack's entire life is not only effected by Willie but also by Anne Stanton. She plays a HUGE part. She is part of the intertwining of Willie and Jack's life! She loved both of them and they both loved her. Poor Jack can't catch a break and Willie doesn't help a home boy out! I hope my life is far less complicated than Jack Burden's. He truly carried a "burden" all his life.