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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
I don't usually make it a practice to review books I did not finish but here I am!
For full transparency, I got through a third of the book. I'm writing this review for political reasons.
When I first picked up this book I was struck immediately by the mention of Thomas Sankara. Sankara was a Pan-Africanist Marxist revolutionary who ushered in a period of growth for his recently liberated Burkina Faso in the 1980s. Under his leadership, the literacy rate in Burkina Faso skyrocketed, vaccinations were normalized, female mutilation was outlawed and other practices negatively affecting the lives of his people while the French ruled were overturned. His leadership was overturned when his "best friend" staged a coup (with the help of Western Powers) and assassinated him. He was 37.
Now, I only learned of Thomas Sankara a few years ago. Besides, a few documentaries on him, it is relatively hard to see his name (in the USA anyway). So when I saw his name I was very intrigued. I did know that this book was about a spy. But having recently read "The Spook Who Sat by the Door" I was like, maybe it's in that vein. So I bought this book and started to read it and here's where the problem began...
The synopsis: the story follows a Black woman who works for the FBI. She is frustrated that she can't move up the way she wants to, seeing as how she is Black and a woman. Her family has been involved as spies and her late sister who mysteriously died, wanted to be a spy all her life. Now Marie, wants to make her family proud. So she takes a position where she will basically gather intel on the "regime" of Thomas Sankara by seducing him. In other words, the FBI is threatened by Communism, and asks Marie, an attractive Black woman, to help them take him down by sleeping with him. As is made clear from the beginning of the story, she ends up getting pregnant with his children...and ostensibly went rogue when she "realized" what was happening.
I tried my best.
First off, there is no public record of Thomas Sankara, who was married, having a romantic affair with a Black woman from America. And I'm pretty sure his wife is still alive. So there's that.
I know this is a Cold War novel and I know that anti-Communism was rampant and remains rampant. It is unclear to me at times if the author is merely expressing her own views on the topic or whether she is sharing what a good ole proud American like Marie would think about Communism and revolution in general during this time. I also know that the book attempted to normalize COINTELPRO. Marie only has a few qualms about her "uncle" knowing someone/being involved with the murder of Fred Hampton and infiltrating the Nation of Islam. But she's mostly talking about it as if it's a necessary evil, an unfortunate thing that happened and will happen if you work for the FBI. It's very difficult to read, not merely because Marie has this very strange outlook on what "must be" and what "could be" but also makes you see how Black people in positions of power can rationalize things being for the greater good when it's really simply for their personal greater good. Very disturbing, and not in a good way.
The problem I have with this novel is that Marie is a shitty protagonist. She is not redeemable. I don't care if she realized it or how. Working for the FBI to bring down a fellow Black person is irredeemable. I know we are supposed to sympathize with her because she is treated poorly at her job blah blah. We are supposed to be happy for her if she ascends the ranks of the FBI. She is not redeemable. And honestly, I could not stand to finish this book if her "realization" was about her romantic/sexual love of Sanakra rather than her "realization" that she is a traitor to her people. Even if she'd had the latter realization, it really wouldn't have mattered. It's too late.
I have extremely negative views towards American Spy. To know what will happen to Sankara, while reading all of this makes me feel physically sick. I also do not appreciate that this book is sold as an "adventure" or "romance". This is a tragedy on multiple levels.
For full transparency, I got through a third of the book. I'm writing this review for political reasons.
When I first picked up this book I was struck immediately by the mention of Thomas Sankara. Sankara was a Pan-Africanist Marxist revolutionary who ushered in a period of growth for his recently liberated Burkina Faso in the 1980s. Under his leadership, the literacy rate in Burkina Faso skyrocketed, vaccinations were normalized, female mutilation was outlawed and other practices negatively affecting the lives of his people while the French ruled were overturned. His leadership was overturned when his "best friend" staged a coup (with the help of Western Powers) and assassinated him. He was 37.
Now, I only learned of Thomas Sankara a few years ago. Besides, a few documentaries on him, it is relatively hard to see his name (in the USA anyway). So when I saw his name I was very intrigued. I did know that this book was about a spy. But having recently read "The Spook Who Sat by the Door" I was like, maybe it's in that vein. So I bought this book and started to read it and here's where the problem began...
The synopsis: the story follows a Black woman who works for the FBI. She is frustrated that she can't move up the way she wants to, seeing as how she is Black and a woman. Her family has been involved as spies and her late sister who mysteriously died, wanted to be a spy all her life. Now Marie, wants to make her family proud. So she takes a position where she will basically gather intel on the "regime" of Thomas Sankara by seducing him. In other words, the FBI is threatened by Communism, and asks Marie, an attractive Black woman, to help them take him down by sleeping with him. As is made clear from the beginning of the story, she ends up getting pregnant with his children...and ostensibly went rogue when she "realized" what was happening.
I tried my best.
First off, there is no public record of Thomas Sankara, who was married, having a romantic affair with a Black woman from America. And I'm pretty sure his wife is still alive. So there's that.
I know this is a Cold War novel and I know that anti-Communism was rampant and remains rampant. It is unclear to me at times if the author is merely expressing her own views on the topic or whether she is sharing what a good ole proud American like Marie would think about Communism and revolution in general during this time. I also know that the book attempted to normalize COINTELPRO. Marie only has a few qualms about her "uncle" knowing someone/being involved with the murder of Fred Hampton and infiltrating the Nation of Islam. But she's mostly talking about it as if it's a necessary evil, an unfortunate thing that happened and will happen if you work for the FBI. It's very difficult to read, not merely because Marie has this very strange outlook on what "must be" and what "could be" but also makes you see how Black people in positions of power can rationalize things being for the greater good when it's really simply for their personal greater good. Very disturbing, and not in a good way.
The problem I have with this novel is that Marie is a shitty protagonist. She is not redeemable. I don't care if she realized it or how. Working for the FBI to bring down a fellow Black person is irredeemable. I know we are supposed to sympathize with her because she is treated poorly at her job blah blah. We are supposed to be happy for her if she ascends the ranks of the FBI. She is not redeemable. And honestly, I could not stand to finish this book if her "realization" was about her romantic/sexual love of Sanakra rather than her "realization" that she is a traitor to her people. Even if she'd had the latter realization, it really wouldn't have mattered. It's too late.
I have extremely negative views towards American Spy. To know what will happen to Sankara, while reading all of this makes me feel physically sick. I also do not appreciate that this book is sold as an "adventure" or "romance". This is a tragedy on multiple levels.
slow-paced
adventurous
hopeful
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:
Complicated
💠"We are ready to fight imperialism. Imperialism is the cause of your misery. The fight against it is our common fight."
Marie's mother was a spy (?) Her father is a cop. Her play uncle is in the FBI. Her sister wanted to coordinate officers in the CIA. To honor their legacies and especially her sister's early death, she enters "intelligence."
A big professional boost arrives as a request to
This is a Cold War story that isn't exactly interested in Communism or democracy but the lies told in the name of governments. By centering intergenerational Black perspectives and acknowledging a multiplicity of political convictions and motivations, Wilkinson adds psychological tension to her slow-burning historical fiction.
I struggled to believe some of the journal entries Marie left for the boys as the best or primary 'vehicle' for the narrative. I wonder what would have happened if she opened up to her mother? If the dialogue with her father was more inclusive of their grief and suspicions about Daniel? If Marie had tried to reconnect with her former supervisor or other colleagues in the fight against Ross' greed? If her Black Panther-wannabe bestie had been granted well-placed (or at least skilled) friends from his carceral stints?
Wilkinson has me intrigued!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
DNF at 53%. This was just not engaging enough for me and I kept getting distracted. Life is too short to read books that don’t keep your attention.
Initially I liked the story and its pace, but then it just ended. My last thought...wth was that?
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No