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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An excellent, haunting debut novel by a war correspondent paints a believable picture of a second American Civil War motived by the South's refusal to eliminate the use of fossil fuel. El Akkad paints a believable picture of how the turbulence effects a family.
This book took me longer to read that it should have because I lost interested after the first part of the book. I was very engaged with the concept of a second civil war fought over fossil fuel, but I'm an action fan and I felt that less actually happened in the second half of the book. Great character development though, and if you love to analyse and fall in love with characters, this is a great read for you.
In the year 2075, The United States are no longer united. Instead they enter into the second civil war; this one is over the banning of fossil fuels. The Reds, which are smallish group of rebelling south eastern states, refuse to give up their use of fossil fuels while the Blues (the rest of the US) have become completely fossil fuel free.
The story follows the life of Sarat Chestnut, starting from age 6, as she grows up surrounded by war, living in a refugee camp called Camp Patience at the edge of the Red territory, with her mother and siblings. She is recruited, trains, fights, for the Reds.
Unfortunately, El Akkad poorly relates his vision of what the future of the world could look like. That said, he writes beautifully and I was captivated throughout. He has interesting characters living in a fascinating futuristic landscape, but he fell short in a number of ways.
There isn't really a storyline other than the telling of Sarat's life. She is portrayed as a bit of a silly caricature (6'5" black lesbian who is a remorseless killing machine) and she herself has no cause that she really believes in. She seems to follow orders blindly and others bait her into carrying out brutal deeds. The details of how the Blues can fight and dominate a war without using any fossil fuel is never explained (and boy, El Akkad could make millions if he ever revealed how it could be done!) One confusing part is that much of the southern states (Texas and westward) are now Mexican territory but it seems to be of no consequence - simply mentioned off-hand. El Akkad also alludes to the newest world power, the middle eastern super empire, but he doesn't give us details about how they came about or how they hold control. It almost feels like I missed the first novel in the series.
Perhaps there is a deeper meaning that I am missing but I doubt I will remember this one.
The story follows the life of Sarat Chestnut, starting from age 6, as she grows up surrounded by war, living in a refugee camp called Camp Patience at the edge of the Red territory, with her mother and siblings. She is recruited, trains, fights,
Spoiler
is held prisoner and is set freeUnfortunately, El Akkad poorly relates his vision of what the future of the world could look like. That said, he writes beautifully and I was captivated throughout. He has interesting characters living in a fascinating futuristic landscape, but he fell short in a number of ways.
There isn't really a storyline other than the telling of Sarat's life. She is portrayed as a bit of a silly caricature (6'5" black lesbian who is a remorseless killing machine) and she herself has no cause that she really believes in. She seems to follow orders blindly and others bait her into carrying out brutal deeds. The details of how the Blues can fight and dominate a war without using any fossil fuel is never explained (and boy, El Akkad could make millions if he ever revealed how it could be done!) One confusing part is that much of the southern states (Texas and westward) are now Mexican territory but it seems to be of no consequence - simply mentioned off-hand. El Akkad also alludes to the newest world power, the middle eastern super empire, but he doesn't give us details about how they came about or how they hold control. It almost feels like I missed the first novel in the series.
Perhaps there is a deeper meaning that I am missing but I doubt I will remember this one.
Admittedly, I read this book on the recommendation of my brother, whose reading tastes differ from my own, but I was so touched that he wanted to share one of his reads with me, that I read it. I did find the dystopian vision of a divided U.S. convincing though a little surprised at how many supplies seemed to come in to the south from a world I imagine being pretty tight on resources due to climate change. Anyway, if you're interested in how a vigilante/terrorist becomes one / gets recruited/activated, this is that story. I'm not sure it adds anything new to the ouevre, but if that's your jam, then you might like this one.
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Yes, I'm sure it's a metaphor. I'm sure the author feels very clever for having come up with the idea of using a book as a metaphor. What it really needed, though, was a plot. Some interest. Something to move it along. The writing is good, not outstanding, but it's really missing a plot. The "NYT bestseller" bar keeps getting lower.
Liked the beginning and end, but everything in between was a bit boring. Emotionally, I'm lost. It attempts to tell a fair story, even if that means hating the protagonist as the book goes on... Which I respect and loathe... I don't know.
American War is a story told through the lens of a historian presenting what he's learned through firsthand accounts and primary documents. We get a linear plot to ground the novel - a family is sent to a refugee camp after the second civil war over oil. A daughter is radicalized and the full extent of her involvement isn't realized until the very end. The historian isn't the narrator, adding information or his opinion along the way. His perspective bookends the novel and encapsulates how we all try to make sense of our world and our loved ones.