Current Read: Erik Larson's "In the Garden of Beasts"

 Perhaps hundreds of books have been written about the terror associated with the reign of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Is it because we continue to be fascinated by proof that no matter how nightmarish the dream, the dream becomes reality if enough people willingly follow the tune? Given the United States' unwillingness to halt the genocide inflicted by the State called Israel on the Palestinian population, the book serves as an excellent reminder.

In Larson's tale, William Dodd was employed as the United States Ambassador to Germany when Hitler and company began to cast their magic on a receptive population. The US did not want Germany to default on money the European country owed to the States; it was easier not to make a fuss about what Germany did to its citizens. The followers did not limit their violence to Germans, though. Dodd learned Americans tasted Nazi fandom, and German officials did not seem overly interested in ending the violence. After all, that happened to those who did not want to conform to the cause. Eventually Dodd caught the attention of Party members and believed he and his family fell under the State's surveillance machinery. Acquaintances met a nasty end. Perhaps fortunately for Dodd, the governments of the United States and Germany thought it best if Dodd left Hitler Country.

In "In the Garden of Beast," Larson paints a tale worthy of the creepiest of horror movies. A land known for its musical and artistical talents morphs into realm where the wrong friendship might land a man or woman in prison known for its torture. The neighbor that you invited for the morning breakfast might be the neighbor that revealed your poor choice of conversation by evening to the State police. Colorful with the occasional  not-quite-polite humor, the book shows that infamous Party members have been painted larger than life by Hollywood movies, but the ring leaders were frightfully human.