yurugu's review against another edition
4.0
Spoiler
In the early 2000s (90s) Asari (Ogoni) activist leader Bobby Okoye (Ken Saro-wiwa) is arrested in Luandia (Nigeria) by the brutally corrupt Karama (Abacha) regime for protesting the environmental devastation abetted by Petro Global Luandia (Royal Dutch Shell). At some point, a non-fiction approach would have been better and more honest, but it seems Patterson had an itch to write about as many atrocities as he could research. Captivating, but ultimately something that deserved to be more transparent.ph1lb's review against another edition
4.0
The title is misleading. I was expecting a story about an eclipse whereas it was only a sideline. However the book was good and painted a bleak picture of life in third world oil producing countries where corruption is rife. It is a story about a layer and his defence of a person who speaks out against corruption.
An interesting story an one which opened my eyes to a snapshot of life in such a country.
An interesting story an one which opened my eyes to a snapshot of life in such a country.
lisagray68's review against another edition
4.0
I almost gave up on this book in the first 50 pages, I just wasn't sure I had the cognitive capacity for such a complex book right now. But I'm glad I stayed with it. This book is based in a fictional African country, Luandia, where a non-violent village leader is trying to get better living conditions for his people -- seeing as how all the leaders of this country are filthy rich on oil. A complex plot ensues, where this leader Bobby is framed for the lynching of three village men and tried by a farce of a court. An American attorney tries to free him, setting up a complicated explanation of why America can't - or won't - always step in on civil rights violations around the world. It's complicated, because, well, we need that oil. Based loosely on a situation in the Nigerian Delta, this story is a fascinating look at America's allegiances and why we sometimes back the world's worst human rights offenders.
westywest220's review against another edition
2.0
Had to read this for a class. I have a lot of feelings and not many of them are good
atticusmammy's review against another edition
1.0
I tried and could never get interested in this book. I finally just gave up : (
2000ace's review against another edition
4.0
Richard North Patterson ventures into John LeCarre territory in this wildly complicated book. The story he is telling is so big and so complex that it takes someone of Patterson's considerable skill to keep the plot from collapsing under the weight of the politics and economy of Luandia, a fictional African nation. What Patterson conveys, though, is a sense of the total insanity of life in a kleptocracy, where life and death hang on the merest whim of the nearest man with a gun. Patterson writes smart books for smart readers, and this one is no exception. The vastness of the African - particularly Nigerian - experience hangs over the story, with total collapse pending every second.
canadianbookworm's review
1.0
Patterson was inspired by the real-life story of Ken Saro-Wiwa in Nigeria, a country made up of many tribes speaking many languages.
Rather then try to write of Nigeria Patterson invented a country Luandia that shares the problems of Nigeria. Bobby Okari is inspired by Saro-Wiwa and the other characters are invented from scratch. The story was somewhat interesting to me and that is why I chose to read it.
I didn't find it that gripping for a thriller, and had to force myself to keep reading at points in the novel. It was somewhat interesting to see his take on the politics and corruption involved in the situation, but I didn't find the characters engaging and the pace seemed slow.
Rather then try to write of Nigeria Patterson invented a country Luandia that shares the problems of Nigeria. Bobby Okari is inspired by Saro-Wiwa and the other characters are invented from scratch. The story was somewhat interesting to me and that is why I chose to read it.
I didn't find it that gripping for a thriller, and had to force myself to keep reading at points in the novel. It was somewhat interesting to see his take on the politics and corruption involved in the situation, but I didn't find the characters engaging and the pace seemed slow.
lisagray68's review
4.0
I almost gave up on this book in the first 50 pages, I just wasn't sure I had the cognitive capacity for such a complex book right now. But I'm glad I stayed with it. This book is based in a fictional African country, Luandia, where a non-violent village leader is trying to get better living conditions for his people -- seeing as how all the leaders of this country are filthy rich on oil. A complex plot ensues, where this leader Bobby is framed for the lynching of three village men and tried by a farce of a court. An American attorney tries to free him, setting up a complicated explanation of why America can't - or won't - always step in on civil rights violations around the world. It's complicated, because, well, we need that oil. Based loosely on a situation in the Nigerian Delta, this story is a fascinating look at America's allegiances and why we sometimes back the world's worst human rights offenders.
margaretpinard's review
2.0
I was quarter of the way through the book before the interviews in Luandia finally caught my attention; before that, there was too much exposition about the resource curse of oil in Africa for someone who's studied International Development, as well as too much backstory in the form of flashback, to ease the reader into the MC's complicated feelings for Marissa. After that, the story went pretty well, but I flagged a lot of unclear allusions and unclear dialogue development, which took me out of the story to be critical.
I might read him again to get a better feel for his style, but it's not a priority.
I might read him again to get a better feel for his style, but it's not a priority.
ibeforem's review
4.0
What Patterson has done here is create a really great story in an interesting landscape with a few really interesting characters. The story is set in Luandia, which is loosely based on the country of Nigeria. Bobby Okari fashions himself a modern-day Nelson Mandela, fighting for the good of his people, the Asari. When he is accused (perhaps wrongly, perhaps not) of orchestrating the lynching of three oil workers, his wife, the American Marissa, calls up an old friend for legal help. Damon Pierce is a lawyer who specializes in international war crimes cases. He has struggled his whole life to feel like he is contributing something to society and the greater good, and by helping Marissa and representing Bobby Okari, he hopes to reclaim that feeling. Tied up with these three are a whole host of nefarious Luandian government officials and oil barons, none of them anyone you can believe or trust.
The story here is very captivating, because you can’t ever by sure whether Pierce will succeed in saving Okari’s life, or if they will all lose. Unfortunately, it does fall flat in a few places. The situation in Luandia is explained over and over and over again in the first third of the book, until you just want to shout, “Okay, I get it! It’s a hellhole!” How many times do we have to be shown the same situations? I feel like Patterson is shoving his own personal politics down our throats a bit. Also, Pierce is a very underdeveloped character. You know about his career and his feelings for Marissa, but I never felt like I really knew him. But when it was all said and done, I felt it was a compelling, solid read and I was very glad I had read it.
The story here is very captivating, because you can’t ever by sure whether Pierce will succeed in saving Okari’s life, or if they will all lose. Unfortunately, it does fall flat in a few places. The situation in Luandia is explained over and over and over again in the first third of the book, until you just want to shout, “Okay, I get it! It’s a hellhole!” How many times do we have to be shown the same situations? I feel like Patterson is shoving his own personal politics down our throats a bit. Also, Pierce is a very underdeveloped character. You know about his career and his feelings for Marissa, but I never felt like I really knew him. But when it was all said and done, I felt it was a compelling, solid read and I was very glad I had read it.
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