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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
This book was devastating in the best possible way. The mystery unraveled at the right pace, the narrative structure grew so meaningful over time, and the audiobook narrator was so strong.
I knew nothing about Burkina Faso history before reading this (and still can’t say I know much.) And I’d never considered the fact that Black people have been drawn to intelligence work for its own merits and not just coerced into. This book really made me question a lot of assumptions. And besides being a great thriller/mystery, it was such a beautiful story about a person who knows their own limitations and the limits of the people they love, and who is motivated by a strong desire to give her children what she wanted and never found.
The ending was really the only option but it still absolutely gutted me.
Anyways, read this. You’ll feel moved and informed and pretty outraged, I’d guess.
I knew nothing about Burkina Faso history before reading this (and still can’t say I know much.) And I’d never considered the fact that Black people have been drawn to intelligence work for its own merits and not just coerced into. This book really made me question a lot of assumptions. And besides being a great thriller/mystery, it was such a beautiful story about a person who knows their own limitations and the limits of the people they love, and who is motivated by a strong desire to give her children what she wanted and never found.
The ending was really the only option but it still absolutely gutted me.
Anyways, read this. You’ll feel moved and informed and pretty outraged, I’d guess.
So I listened to this on Audible and then returned it haha. I may check out the Kindle version eventually.
This was an okay read. I realized early on that it was not a spy/espionage thriller; it's a piece of literary fiction that has spy themes. The main theme of the book is the personal challenges the main character faces as a black woman working for the CIA/FBI. The story is framed as a letter to her sons, which adds to the intimacy of the story.
It was pretty strong up until the end, when the story turned into a giant exposition dump. I go back and forth as to whether this hurt the book, since most of that exposition doesn't affect those main themes.
It was a bit weird at times to realize I was reading what is basically an African history fanfic, but I did appreciate the history I learned. Thomas Sankara sounds like an interesting historical figure: a man with true desires to help the poor as well as some despotic leanings. The protagonist's relationship with Sankara could have been a bit more fleshed out; at times it felt a bit like a one-sided crush. (I'm not actually sure it wasn't, tbh.)
This was an okay read. I realized early on that it was not a spy/espionage thriller; it's a piece of literary fiction that has spy themes. The main theme of the book is the personal challenges the main character faces as a black woman working for the CIA/FBI. The story is framed as a letter to her sons, which adds to the intimacy of the story.
It was pretty strong up until the end, when the story turned into a giant exposition dump. I go back and forth as to whether this hurt the book, since most of that exposition doesn't affect those main themes.
It was a bit weird at times to realize I was reading what is basically an African history fanfic, but I did appreciate the history I learned. Thomas Sankara sounds like an interesting historical figure: a man with true desires to help the poor as well as some despotic leanings. The protagonist's relationship with Sankara could have been a bit more fleshed out; at times it felt a bit like a one-sided crush. (I'm not actually sure it wasn't, tbh.)
It took me a while to get into this. I'd blame the past tense nature of the letter/journal format, but I think it just took a while to get exciting.
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautiful story about the cost and value of being a true revolutionary agent of change.
Good book, about an African American spy trying to find out what happened with her sister and trying to walk the line between duties being asked of her and the moral thing to do. Has a great opening chapter that draws you in to figure out who would attack them through the night.
2.5 stars/ Fiction
I thought it had potential, but it fell flat fast. No good narrative, became boring and a dud of an ending.
Cannot recommend.
I thought it had potential, but it fell flat fast. No good narrative, became boring and a dud of an ending.
Cannot recommend.
Interesting book that captures the roles of spies in the cold war era but also has the subtext of commentary on what it is to be a Black woman working for the goals of a country with a history of racism that is interfering in Africa, the place of her ancestry. By the end, the question of "who did I actually work for and what are the results?" is an important one. There are also questions about what is imperialism, what is democracy, and what is fascism as those lines can get blurred. But the most important question is "What is my personal power to do something about it?" The protagonist is courageous and mindful about, not only her future, but that of her family. I really liked this book and its uniqueness in its exploration of power, motives, loyalty, and the murky world of spycraft.
Listened to the audiobook on a solo road trip. Liked the characters a lot. The ending felt abrupt.
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes