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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The answer to “What radicalized you?” With easy to follow Americanized examples.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The venal fomentation of hate and divisiveness which has long been the strategy of the Republican party, has now careened out of control into the surreal ascendance of a sociopathic, narcissistic moron to the presidency; a man who will stoop to any level to aggrandize himself and gain more power, riches, and worship, who lies with the ease others of us breathe, and who encourages civil disobedience and violence, encouraging a class war --- a conflict built mostly on myth, fictions, and unfounded bigotries and fear of "other" --- using the tactics of fascist authoritarians throughout time to distract the people from his pillaging of the country, from his complete ineptitude at and disinterest in bringing prosperity and union to the people he is meant to serve and lead.
Interpret and project from these signs and omens and realities what a future might be like if we continue along this path of rupture, acrimony, and animosity, and you will arrive at the place where Omar El Akkad's sadly prescient novel, American War, begins and ends.
Which might be why it took me almost a week to finish it. There is no other reason: the writing was very, very good; the plotting and pace excellent; the protagonist, Sarat Chestnut, drawn with complicated, fascinating detail. But, the fact that less than a year ago the goings on, atrocities, and unhappy endings of this novel would have seemed an outrageous, impossible dystopian take-off, but now, since November of 2016, seem not only possible, but likely, made this --- for me --- a very difficult read despite all it has to recommend it. So, be warned.
Interpret and project from these signs and omens and realities what a future might be like if we continue along this path of rupture, acrimony, and animosity, and you will arrive at the place where Omar El Akkad's sadly prescient novel, American War, begins and ends.
Which might be why it took me almost a week to finish it. There is no other reason: the writing was very, very good; the plotting and pace excellent; the protagonist, Sarat Chestnut, drawn with complicated, fascinating detail. But, the fact that less than a year ago the goings on, atrocities, and unhappy endings of this novel would have seemed an outrageous, impossible dystopian take-off, but now, since November of 2016, seem not only possible, but likely, made this --- for me --- a very difficult read despite all it has to recommend it. So, be warned.
reflective
tense
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
Reads like a YA novel on how violence begets violence. The story would've been more effective with stronger worldbuilding, especially since Sarat’s actions are directly a result of the war coming (quite literally) to her doorstep.
An interesting interpretation of what a second civil war would look like for this country. The plot of this book was pretty good; my only complaint was that it started wandering a bit towards the middle with not much happening. The ending was pretty well done with a good, yet not quite satisfying, finale. Akkad is a good storyteller, though, because while the story wandered a bit, I never stopped reading it!
DNF ~40% just couldn’t get into this. not sure if it’s not right for me or just not right now
An interesting, horrific tale of America after another Civil War. Mexico has annexed the southwest, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi have seceded, and South Carolina is quarantined due to biological warfare.
While most of the individual story was quite compelling, the motivations and cause of the civil war seem absurd and too simplistic. The issue is gasoline. It's not nuanced or the last straw, or even about economics. The United States bans anything gas powered, and the south secedes.
Then the ending. The whole story leads up to a big, heaping, pile of nothing. Like something is trying to be said but really missing its mark.
I did love a quote in the book. Someone dealing with a horrible past is told, "I don't have to live with what happened to you. I have to live with you are now." It made me think hard about how we can feel sorry and love someone who have had horrific things happen to them, but still set boundaries and not allow destructive behavior.
While most of the individual story was quite compelling, the motivations and cause of the civil war seem absurd and too simplistic. The issue is gasoline. It's not nuanced or the last straw, or even about economics. The United States bans anything gas powered, and the south secedes.
Then the ending. The whole story leads up to a big, heaping, pile of nothing. Like something is trying to be said but really missing its mark.
I did love a quote in the book. Someone dealing with a horrible past is told, "I don't have to live with what happened to you. I have to live with you are now." It made me think hard about how we can feel sorry and love someone who have had horrific things happen to them, but still set boundaries and not allow destructive behavior.
A novel about the infectious, incurable, imprecise, illogical nature of hate.
Set in a future where America has broken into a second civil war, we see the conflict through the life of a girl, Sarat Chestnut, who comes of age during the war. Through unsubtle parallels to contemporary Middle Eastern conflicts, the novel provides an interesting perspective on why sectarian wars continue, irrespective of why they began.
Set in a future where America has broken into a second civil war, we see the conflict through the life of a girl, Sarat Chestnut, who comes of age during the war. Through unsubtle parallels to contemporary Middle Eastern conflicts, the novel provides an interesting perspective on why sectarian wars continue, irrespective of why they began.