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A review by the_reading_rabbithole
American War by Omar El Akkad
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this because of the authors other recent nonfiction book and wanted to see how his fiction compared - was it the same high standard?
It’s a solid novel. A very interesting thought experiment on how the US in the future (2075-2095) remains stuck in an endless civil war.
It’s like the inverse of the world now, whereby the rich, powerful continent far away is actually pulling strings and keeping the US in perpetual combat because it benefits them financially and politically. The US are the ones in need of Aid, they’re the ones who have CIA-style spies infiltrating their country recruiting future soldiers for terrorism. The Guantanamo-style prison complex is also a clear commentary on the harm these places cause when there is no evidence or logic behind detainment except to inflict torture.
I hadn’t seen the ending coming and thought it was pretty clever way to close. Revenge was had but on a colossal scale. I’m glad it wasn’t a sappy ending.
I read this in a couple of days and was invested in finding out what would happen to the characters.
I enjoyed the chapter interjections from various ‘reports’ that give you some plot points and outcomes from a different context.
All in all - would recommend!
It’s a solid novel. A very interesting thought experiment on how the US in the future (2075-2095) remains stuck in an endless civil war.
It’s like the inverse of the world now, whereby the rich, powerful continent far away is actually pulling strings and keeping the US in perpetual combat because it benefits them financially and politically. The US are the ones in need of Aid, they’re the ones who have CIA-style spies infiltrating their country recruiting future soldiers for terrorism. The Guantanamo-style prison complex is also a clear commentary on the harm these places cause when there is no evidence or logic behind detainment except to inflict torture.
I hadn’t seen the ending coming and thought it was pretty clever way to close. Revenge was had but on a colossal scale. I’m glad it wasn’t a sappy ending.
I read this in a couple of days and was invested in finding out what would happen to the characters.
I enjoyed the chapter interjections from various ‘reports’ that give you some plot points and outcomes from a different context.
All in all - would recommend!