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mvindc 's review for:
American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land
by Monica Hesse
4 stars because I was actually surprised that about halfway through the book there was still enough mystery and nuance for me to want to keep reading. Even though you could tell that this was her first longform work (and some of the writing was a little gimmicky at times), you could also tell she put in a lot of time and research to understand the history of Accomack County and its people.
This follows the format of several nonfiction books I've read lately, where you switch people the "culprit" (or the victim?)'s story and the story of the impact of their crimes on the broader community. In this case, it was the story of Charlie and Tonya and what their arson spree did to the community. Even though you learn right away who committed the arsons, the ultimate "why" still keeps you reading--and even at the end, you're not fully sure you have the entire story.
An interesting quick read, especially if you're familiar with the VA Eastern Shore area.
This follows the format of several nonfiction books I've read lately, where you switch people the "culprit" (or the victim?)'s story and the story of the impact of their crimes on the broader community. In this case, it was the story of Charlie and Tonya and what their arson spree did to the community. Even though you learn right away who committed the arsons, the ultimate "why" still keeps you reading--and even at the end, you're not fully sure you have the entire story.
An interesting quick read, especially if you're familiar with the VA Eastern Shore area.