reillybr 's review for:

American War by Omar El Akkad
3.0

As another reviewer put it - this book is not about what you think it is. I went in expecting more of a dystopian worldview, or more groundwork for how we got to the North-South point of conflict. Instead, it's about indoctrination, and one example of what it might take to radicalize someone. I do think that the author painted this picture effectively... but it just wasn't for me. This book is also so, so dark. I wasn't a huge fan of the protagonist, her decision-marking and narrow, stubborn worldview, although I did understand how she got to where she was.