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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
American Fire is about a string of many incidents of arson over several months in rural Virginia. We eventually discover who, but the why is not revealed to any satisfaction. Was it due to impotence or because he's completely PW-ed? Was it caused by abuse she suffered as a child or because she's a piece of work? The book wraps up rather quickly. I listened to the audio book, the narration was fine, although a bit fast.
Though this story is a little slow moving, it is due to all the facts and small details which give this story a certain depth that puts you in touch with that far away place.
TFW your audiobook is so fascinating that instead of pausing it to read a different book in the bath you keep listening and watching the timer tick down on the Libby app.
A very compelling book about the perfect storm of personality, situation, family history, relationship troubles, and geographic location to produce an unprecedented arson spree. But also a reminder that for many communities their fire services are staffed by volunteers and their numbers are shrinking - those were the most harrowing sections of the book, when the narrative was with the firefighters at the scene and you worried that this fire might be one where someone was injured (spoiler: they were all fine, but 70+ fires really took a toll).
Second book started, first book finished for 24in28 Readathon January 2018.
A very compelling book about the perfect storm of personality, situation, family history, relationship troubles, and geographic location to produce an unprecedented arson spree. But also a reminder that for many communities their fire services are staffed by volunteers and their numbers are shrinking - those were the most harrowing sections of the book, when the narrative was with the firefighters at the scene and you worried that this fire might be one where someone was injured (spoiler: they were all fine, but 70+ fires really took a toll).
Second book started, first book finished for 24in28 Readathon January 2018.
This is everything I love about popular non-fiction. A truth is stranger than fiction story, interesting characters brought to life, and a clue into a specific time and place.
3.5 stars, like most of the Book of the Month Club books!
Unlike most true crime novels, you know who the culprit is the whole time, but that didn’t take away from the story for me.. I really liked Monica’s telling of the events. Ive seen some reviews that say this should have stayed an article instead of a book, but I disagree; if this would have been an article I would have looked up secondary sources to find out more. The book provided it (and then some).
“Fire is a living breathing thing. It pushes. It pulses.”
This story was a fascinating look into the serial arson which occurred in Accomack County. The book is a combination of history lesson, love story, and snapshot of life in this town, with a hint of ‘Law & Order’.
I enjoyed getting a glimpse how the whole county was affected by this string of crimes - from the residents to the volunteer firefighters to the police officers investigating. I also appreciated getting the history of the county which gave you a feeling of being invested in what was happening to the area.
There is also the love story between those convicted of the crimes, Charlie Smith and Tonya Bundick. We may never know exactly how their progress of their relationship lead to the string of crimes.
Finally, the ‘Law and Order’ aspect is what really intrigued me. How the two accused responded questioning - with one confessing outright and the other clinging to innocence. The real way justice was carried out in this area was fascinating, because to the layperson, the thought of a trial is what is shown on tv.
I would definitely recommend this book. Especially if you’re interested in true crime.
This story was a fascinating look into the serial arson which occurred in Accomack County. The book is a combination of history lesson, love story, and snapshot of life in this town, with a hint of ‘Law & Order’.
I enjoyed getting a glimpse how the whole county was affected by this string of crimes - from the residents to the volunteer firefighters to the police officers investigating. I also appreciated getting the history of the county which gave you a feeling of being invested in what was happening to the area.
There is also the love story between those convicted of the crimes, Charlie Smith and Tonya Bundick. We may never know exactly how their progress of their relationship lead to the string of crimes.
Finally, the ‘Law and Order’ aspect is what really intrigued me. How the two accused responded questioning - with one confessing outright and the other clinging to innocence. The real way justice was carried out in this area was fascinating, because to the layperson, the thought of a trial is what is shown on tv.
I would definitely recommend this book. Especially if you’re interested in true crime.
Well-written narrative non-fiction mixed with true crime and a tragic love story. What's not to like?
A fascinating story of a community on the edge, both literally and figuratively. Accomack County on Virginia's Eastern Shore is rural, with a dwindling population and a high poverty rate. Dozens of mostly-abandoned structures in the county were set on fire in 2012 and 2013. Hesse explores the work of firefighters and investigators, who put in countless exhausting hours trying to stop the fires and catch the perpetrators. When they were finally found, a complex and ultimately perplexing puzzle emerged about their motivations.
People say that the crazy stories are the ones you can't make up - this is one of them. I really had no what to expect from this book and was pleasantly surprised. It was a sweet and innocent story about love and a mystery - and all of it was real.
People do crazy things to make people happy & it should come as no shock that people commit crimes to make one another happy - and yet... it's not our first instinct to expect it.
The end of the book was such a good finish - really felt like a piece of fiction.
People do crazy things to make people happy & it should come as no shock that people commit crimes to make one another happy - and yet... it's not our first instinct to expect it.
Spoiler
Love that we are looking at a female arsonist. I had no idea who was responsible going into it - I do wish they had dove into Tonya's background a little more but I understand how hard it would be to investigate her considering how little Charlie knew about her.The end of the book was such a good finish - really felt like a piece of fiction.