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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
A good book that left me wanting more and wondering what would happen next. Strong female protagonist who, even when she did something 'silly', never left me feeling she was silly herself.
This book starts off with a bang. So strong! But it quickly fades. It took me a long time to get used to the journal narrative and how Marie calls her kids “you.” Something about it becomes boring instead of suspenseful.
This was spectacular -- introspective and tense and critical.
I was looking forward to this read. Alas... I found it quite difficult to pick it up again and again. It is truly a spy novel, but a slow moving one at that. And I generally dislike epistolary novels because I cannot suspend my disbelief enough to imagine that someone would write a letter that long.
I kept waiting for an unexpected twist at some point, but there was no twist... all in all, it is one of the few books that I’m disappointed at spending my time reading it.
I kept waiting for an unexpected twist at some point, but there was no twist... all in all, it is one of the few books that I’m disappointed at spending my time reading it.
I liked that this wasn't your typical "spy novel," but found myself struggling to get into it.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Book club book. Felt confused by what was going on, too many characters… not my favorite.
I my head I thought I'm "not a spy book person". But this book is on so many recommended reading lists I trust that I thought ... let's see!
Lauren Wilkinson's American Spy is a fascinating tale of the experience of a young Black female FBI officer in the 1980's. Our protagonist Marie's, story is one of complicated family bonds, an increasingly unsatisfying job with the FBI and then evolves into one of love and ethics and even more complicated family bonds.
Others have noted in their reviews that the author's way of telling the story - Marie is writing down her story for her sons to have in the future - is a bit slow and too reflective - and I don't think they are wrong. But it didn't ruin the book for me.
It's compelling and I appreciate how the spy elements are woven into a story of self discovery and finding ones truths. I now see I might be a "spy book person" after all.
Lauren Wilkinson's American Spy is a fascinating tale of the experience of a young Black female FBI officer in the 1980's. Our protagonist Marie's, story is one of complicated family bonds, an increasingly unsatisfying job with the FBI and then evolves into one of love and ethics and even more complicated family bonds.
Others have noted in their reviews that the author's way of telling the story - Marie is writing down her story for her sons to have in the future - is a bit slow and too reflective - and I don't think they are wrong. But it didn't ruin the book for me.
It's compelling and I appreciate how the spy elements are woven into a story of self discovery and finding ones truths. I now see I might be a "spy book person" after all.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I could give this 2.5 stars, I would. I felt like there wasn’t much of a plot.