The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer

In October, I finished reading The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer. My brother-in-law, Tom, gave me the book to read several years ago. It languished in my large pile of books to read. Talking about books early in the year, Tom harangued me about whether I had read it so I finally picked it up.

I am usually very protective of what I read. I read for pleasure. I decide whether or not I am going to read something. I had picked up Castle in the Forest a couple of times in the last several years, read the jacket and a few pages and then put it back in the pile because it didn't interest me. I only finally started reading it because Tom had recommended it so many times. I regret finally relenting...

The Castle in the Forest is the last book that Norman Mailer wrote before he died. It received a good deal of praise and was a New York Times Bestseller for 2007.

The book tells the story of the young life of Adolf Hitler, including his origins and his immediate family tree. Although there is an extensive bibliography, it is a fictional account. The story is told from the perspective of a demon.

I didn't enjoy the book. I don't recommend the book. After slogging through 462 pages, I felt like I didn't have any greater insights into who Adolf Hitler was.