along500's review against another edition
1.0
Nooooope. I don't read dystopian on account of anxiety. So I'm going to quit now :)
Sorry bookclub!
Sorry bookclub!
kcourts's review against another edition
3.75
Really liked this at the start but felt it started to lag in the middle. Something kept me from returning it to the library, though, and I'm ultimately glad I finished.
sillypunk's review against another edition
5.0
My poor heart: https://blogendorff.com/2017/04/22/book-review-american-war/
an_library_stan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
3.0
American War is one of those strange books where the setting is actually more interesting than the plot and the characters. The year is 2075. America is "engaged in a great civil war" . . . again. After several environmental disasters (including the state of Florida and much of the coasts of the other southern states being covered in rising sea levels), the federal government (in Columbus, Ohio) bans fossil fuels. When protestors protest outside of Fort Jackson in SC, a massacre occurs. In retaliation, a southern patriot assassinates the president.
The South is known as "The MAG" (Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia). Most of Texas has been lost. The remainder of South Carolina is blighted with a plague.
Much of the west now belongs to Mexico. China seems to be a benevolent superpower. The countries of the Middle East have now had 5 Arab Springs and have formed the democratic Bouazizi Empire.
Into this world Omar El Akkad throws Sarat Chesnut. Growing up in the MAG, she is quickly hardened and becomes a warrior.
For a debut novel, this was fantastic. As I said, the setting in premise were very exciting. However, the pace was a bit slow and not much happened.
3.5 stars
The South is known as "The MAG" (Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia). Most of Texas has been lost. The remainder of South Carolina is blighted with a plague.
Much of the west now belongs to Mexico. China seems to be a benevolent superpower. The countries of the Middle East have now had 5 Arab Springs and have formed the democratic Bouazizi Empire.
Into this world Omar El Akkad throws Sarat Chesnut. Growing up in the MAG, she is quickly hardened and becomes a warrior.
For a debut novel, this was fantastic. As I said, the setting in premise were very exciting. However, the pace was a bit slow and not much happened.
3.5 stars
myqz's review against another edition
2.0
It’s hard to see a future incarnation of the Confederacy that has very little to do with race, and in a way, this book seemed to unintentionally carry some seeds of the Lost Cause fallacy with it in that absence. It was nice to read speculative fiction that was grounded in a few characters, and the plot didn’t get to sprawling for what it was trying to accomplish. Quick read, just didn’t do enough for me to make me suspend belief, even as I read it near the end (good lord, hopefully) of a pandemic.
jkteut's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the most well-written and compelling stories I have ever read. So thoughtful and detail oriented that it could be true, eventually, couldn't it?
wordwound's review against another edition
3.0
A good book and a great concept. However, the timeline feels incredibly unrealistic and I found the lack of palpable racial tension (with the exception of a couple of offhand comments) extremely disappointing because it seemed to imply that even with the ecological disaster, the US was some kind of post-racial society and that the only reason for tension/the split was renewable energy.
It was interesting to read about a supervirus/quarantine zone during an ongoing pandemic, however.
It was interesting to read about a supervirus/quarantine zone during an ongoing pandemic, however.
logantea's review
4.0
The overarching setup of this book is essentially a thin reworking of the American Civil War, where instead of the south defending their ability to own slaves they defend their ability to burn fossil fuels. It's fine, but it's a bit on the nose.
However, despite the weakness of the setup I loved this book. I found the world and story of southern rebel Sarat incredibly engrossing and I had a hard time putting this down. Your enjoyment of this book will largely depend on how much you're able to set aside the premise in favor of simply enjoying the beautifully told story of a child caught up in a civil war.
And for audiobook listeners, Dion Graham's narration is an absolute treat for the ears and really brings all these characters to life in a wonderful way.
However, despite the weakness of the setup I loved this book. I found the world and story of southern rebel Sarat incredibly engrossing and I had a hard time putting this down. Your enjoyment of this book will largely depend on how much you're able to set aside the premise in favor of simply enjoying the beautifully told story of a child caught up in a civil war.
And for audiobook listeners, Dion Graham's narration is an absolute treat for the ears and really brings all these characters to life in a wonderful way.