Sundress Reads: Review of Amerikaland

Amerikaland (Leftover Books, 2024), Danny Goodman’s stunning debut novel, is a story of hope and determination in an ever-darkening world. Set in an imagined present (or perhaps a possible future), Goodman follows Sabine Hellewege and Sandy Katzmann in their intertwined journeys to find hope in the face of surging right-authoritarianism globally. Sandy, a Jewish man from Brooklyn and star baseball player, and Sabine, a German tennis champion, are united by their love for each other as it is tested by a world that seeks to grind them down at every corner. Electrifying, beautiful, and at times heartbreaking, Goodman’s Amerikaland is at once an engrossing story and a uniquely prescient vision of what America is, and what it could be.

Amerikaland does not imagine a post-revolutionary Orwellian nightmare. Instead, the America Goodman imagines tacitly supports a growing white nationalist movement that mirrors the rise of the Nazi party in Weimar-era Germany. Against this backdrop, Sabine, a Tennis player, and Sandy, a shortstop for the Atlantics, strive to be the best at their respective sports. However, after a terrorist attack involving weapons of mass destruction at “World Day,” Sandy and Sabine find that they can no longer separate the world of sports from the world at-large. Antisemitic threats force Sandy to consider his presence in public life, and Sabine’s dark family history comes back to haunt her. For both of these characters, sport becomes a way to find the hope and strength necessary to keep living; however, this strength is tested as threats against them continue to escalate, and both characters must choose to overcome their fears to meet these threats head on.

Amerikaland is, quite simply, a beautifully written novel. Goodman’s use of the royal “we” to describe events as experienced by the public at large is the most striking display of his chops as a writer. I found this excerpt from “We Are World Day” in particular to be breathtaking:

“The lights suddenly all around us, the absence of sound, are everything. There are many; they are fast and blinding. We do not move. The concrete and earth beneath us give way. We are reduced. And when there is nothing left of our bodies, we become the air on this beautiful day. The very substance of World Day. We are together in this.” (Goodman 57)

This excerpt also hints at the political message of Amerikaland. While Goodman is primarily concerned with the rise of antisemitism globally, he emphasizes that it is intimately connected to other forms of bigotry. Specifically, Amerikaland’s Nazis, in their struggle to create an ethnostate, foster anti-immigrant sentiment across the world and terrorize people of color in America. With xenophobic political groups gaining power throughout our own world, it is refreshing to read an author who understands that these forms of bigotry are inherently connected. “We are together in this” is not merely an expression of oneness in the face of tragedy; our fates are, at every moment, intertwined, a fact Goodman understands well.

What really draws me into Amerikaland is the hope and love for humanity that shines through at every moment. To care and to love becomes an act of defiance in dark times, something Goodman understands well. Despite their flaws, the people of Amerikaland are fundamentally good. Towards the end of the book, absolute strangers defy embolden Nazi street gangs and help Sandy Katzmann wipe antisemitic graffiti off the walls of a subway car. Sabine has a rocky relationship with her father, Juergen, though he comes through for her in the end. And despite their past conflicts, Sabine and Sandy come together to support each other in their times of need no matter what. This novel that stares down the worst aspects of humanity and refuses to give in to despair. It is an astoundingly hopeful story.

On top of this, Amerikaland is an absolutely thrilling read. The short, punchy chapters, which alternate between the perspectives of Sandy and Sabine, make for nail-biting drama. This is especially true for the second half of the book, which had me on the edge of my seat at all times. This part of the book is a rollercoaster ride that leaves you wondering what the hell just happened at the end of it.

Amerikaland is a story like no other, and one I’m already recommending to my friends. Triumph, heartbreak, terror, beauty: Amerikaland has it all, and it is utterly intoxicating. My final recommendation is to have tissues on hand for when you finish it; if you’re like me, you’re going to need them. Danny Goodman is a writer to keep an eye on. Whatever he has in store for the next few years, it’s bound to be breathtaking.

Amerikaland is available from Leftover Books

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Natalie Gardner is a trans writer hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee. She is currently pursuing a BA in English with a minor in philosophy from the University of Tennessee. She loves transgressive fiction, hiking, and schlocky, B-tier horror movies. When she isn’t working, you can find her haunting the coffee shops of Fort Sanders and DIY shows across East Tennessee. Her work in the field of linguistics can be found in Feedback Review in Second Language.