Take a photo of a barcode or cover
savavava 's review for:
I Am Pilgrim
by Terry Hayes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
Very enjoyable read. For such a large book in which not many crazy events happen (for a spy novel), the story races past, and the book is very hard to put down.
Fantastic plot, thoroughly engaging and inventive, with two enthralling mysteries at the centre which blend together very well (though the conclusion was a little more understated than I had hoped). Dialogue is a little corny at times, but never overwhelmingly so.
Great cast of characters, who do lean a little on the stereotypes of the day, but never too much that it becomes off-putting. Particularly the two central characters, Pilgrim and the Saracen, who at first seem like your typical American spy and Arab terrorist combo, but both turn out to have far more complexity and humanity than would be expected from a book of this nature.
I am pilgrim is also such a time capsule of a novel, capturing that strange post 9/11 Obama era America where patriotism wasn't reserved for the extreme right, and the average American actually had faith in their country. This is best seen in it's depiction of the president as a hard-working, honest, intelligent man who actually has his nations interests at heart. I could figure out why he was so off-putting when he was first introduced, until I realized that (for very good reason) I hadn't seen a president depicted positively in a non- blatant US propaganda setting in probably a decade. Made me realize how much more polarized and pessimistic spy media has gotten, and how much has changed politically since 2012 to lead to this.
Overall very fun read, which has aged and matured in fascinating, but oddly good way.
Fantastic plot, thoroughly engaging and inventive, with two enthralling mysteries at the centre which blend together very well (though the conclusion was a little more understated than I had hoped). Dialogue is a little corny at times, but never overwhelmingly so.
Great cast of characters, who do lean a little on the stereotypes of the day, but never too much that it becomes off-putting. Particularly the two central characters, Pilgrim and the Saracen, who at first seem like your typical American spy and Arab terrorist combo, but both turn out to have far more complexity and humanity than would be expected from a book of this nature.
I am pilgrim is also such a time capsule of a novel, capturing that strange post 9/11 Obama era America where patriotism wasn't reserved for the extreme right, and the average American actually had faith in their country. This is best seen in it's depiction of the president as a hard-working, honest, intelligent man who actually has his nations interests at heart. I could figure out why he was so off-putting when he was first introduced, until I realized that (for very good reason) I hadn't seen a president depicted positively in a non- blatant US propaganda setting in probably a decade. Made me realize how much more polarized and pessimistic spy media has gotten, and how much has changed politically since 2012 to lead to this.
Overall very fun read, which has aged and matured in fascinating, but oddly good way.