Reviews tagging 'Torture'

American War by Omar El Akkad

26 reviews

drsarahgrace's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture

athnyx230's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, War, and Death

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Death of parent

clareash's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Torture

tnociti's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"You fight the war with guns. You fight the peace with stories."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture

blake245's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Deportation, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pandemic/Epidemic, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, and War

mbejjani's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A hard book to read given some really dark passages and the fact that the future described doesn’t seem that far off from potential reality.. But worth it, a powerfully written story that wraps you up in it and makes you wonder who’s “side” you would land on in Sarat’s position. I especially loved the weaving in of “primary sources” with the narrative to relay additional context and history. One of the most fascinating explorations of a future in the climate crisis that I’ve ever read!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, Blood, War, and Gun violence

frogggirl2's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What a stunning, impactful, important, well-characterized book!   There are a lot of complex things discussed here with a lot of depth and grace.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Murder, Death, and Torture

ellacramer's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, and Torture

Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, and Pandemic/Epidemic

wafflepolly's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I think this is one of those books that is going to stay in my head for a long time. I strongly recommend listening to the NPR Throughline podcast episode "Extremist Futures" which features some really insightful input from the author about his thoughts, metaphors, and own experiences behind the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, War, and Death

Moderate: Genocide, Death of parent, Confinement, and Grief

scenic92's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, War, Murder, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence