The National Memorial by John Barth Jr is a compelling read that weaves together corruption, politicians, teachers, judges, humanitarians and much more. Henry Beaugard forgets himself and his life while he tries to establish a school in the vacant college campus he buys in the Maine woods. Though he fears the threats that he is going to face while running this school that will sponsor orphans in poor nations, he is not prepared for what is actually going to happen. Susan, who was a school teacher in a public school, is introduced to Henry by her son after she is feeling down about her husband’s death. She is enthusiastic about working with Henry, but she finds herself and her whole family getting entangled in a dispute with the local leaders who try to tarnish their international project with their corruption and crime.

The book will leave readers fascinated and intrigued with its twists and turns in the plot that blend effortlessly with the characters. The characters are sketched well and they lend the much required depth and thoughtfulness as the story progresses. The sub plots are interwoven into the main plot seamlessly, making the story unique. The author manages to capture the fragility of a family and community trying to defend themselves from intrigue and to rebuild their lives. The plot has many dimensions to it, taking readers through myriad emotions of joy, love, rejuvenation, and rediscovery. The story makes readers ponder about the importance of education in the world, and whether the world can be changed with the help of education.

The National Memorial by John Barth Jr is a story full of challenging life, love, family and action, set in the picturesque state of Maine in a mill town that finds itself being rocked by a scandal. The fate of thousands of orphans is left hanging in the balance while a family struggles against what local leaders want. Things only get worse as crime rises and corruption hits an all new high. With everything swirling around, the biggest question is can the democracy which this country was built on actually save the children whose lives are in danger?

This is a very interesting book and one that had me turning the pages eagerly to see what would happen next. There are so many different subplots going on within the main plot that you are not going to get bored at any point. I found myself really enjoying the questions that it made me ask myself, and the humanitarian plot with the children. What happens when the world is so focused on who has the most power and who can give the most money that we forget what democracy is supposed to be? This book is good for everyone from young adults who want to be challenged in their thinking to adults who want a new way to look at things. If you want a book that makes you question the usual order of things, keeps you entertained while you do it, and offers a small splash of romance, this book is the one for you.

The National Memorial by John Barth Jr is a gripping tale of courage. Lives are at stake as local leaders face a backlash when families go against their wishes and turn away. Their orphans project becomes involved in scandal and corruption as everybody is pitted against each other. The orphans may well be the true losers as the fight for democracy rages between the politicians and the people, the teachers and the judges. Add a scoundrel or two, an assassin here and a humanitarian there, stir it all up with a helping of optimists and pessimists and you have a tale of wit, love and courage. Follow Henry Beaugard on his journey to gain justice for those who need it.

The National Memorial by John Barth Jr has a very well constructed plot. It starts out in a way that grips the reader and keeps them reading. The characters are drawn out, bit by bit, adding to the intrigue as their stories unravel and weave in with each other seamlessly to provide a compelling read. There are no loose ends, no odd bits that didn’t fit in, and no twists that didn’t have the proper ending to them. I found this to be both evocative and humorous, just the right mix to make it an interesting and gripping read. I like the way the story is drawn out in bits and pieces rather than all at the start because it actually makes it worth continuing to read, knowing that all will become clear later on in the story. Good book, I enjoyed it.

I found The National Memorial by John Barth Jr very interesting. This book may be long but it packs a really good story. This book is also a good reminder for people not to believe everything the media says. The story is about Henry Beaugard who is trying to build a school for orphans. The town, as well as the media, does not want him to succeed and tries to prevent him from finishing his project at all costs. This story contains a little bit of everything; action, humor and some romance.

A good book makes the reader feel a range of emotions, and that is exactly what The National Memorial did for me. I felt anger and protectiveness over the way Henry and his friends were treated. I felt hope for Henry to succeed in making his dream come true. I also felt disgust upon seeing how big a role the media played in causing so much drama. This alone has made me rethink everything that I am seeing in the news these days. Barth has a gift for making sure the reader knows exactly what his characters are thinking. I liked his main character, Henry, and was rooting for him throughout the whole book. This is a powerful story.

The National Memorial is not the type of book you will finish in a day. It is also not the type of book you will forget. People need to be aware that not everything they see in the news is 100% true; after all it was a human with their own opinions who wrote it. This book may be a work of fiction but this type of thing happens more than you know. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story that makes you rethink the way you see things.