sweet_ness's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jimmypat's review
5.0
Christopher Priest always writes novels that are puzzle boxes, leaving you to wonder what actually happened. This novel is unique in that Priest is dealing with actual historic events and leaves the reader questioning his own reality. Superbly written and absolutely enthralling, this tale seems even more on point for 2021 and makes me want to hide out from society and technology even more than I do now.
ijustkindalikebooks's review against another edition
3.0
The story of Ben Matson and his exploration into how he lost his girlfriend during 9/11, An American Story explores themes such as love and conspiracy theories.
The way book is written as almost a stream of consciousness, can be a little offputting at first as it feels almost tangential, however I think it adds to the personality of the book as it continues, giving us what Ben is going through, what he is thinking and what is going on throughout the book.
The plot unravels well, but the whole conspiracy thing feels like a book trying to say something and not really working it out well. This book is certainly well researched when it comes to the subject at hand but sometimes it can feel like it goes down an internet rabbit hole.
The story of Ben and Lil is nice, but overall, I just liked it.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for a honest review).
The way book is written as almost a stream of consciousness, can be a little offputting at first as it feels almost tangential, however I think it adds to the personality of the book as it continues, giving us what Ben is going through, what he is thinking and what is going on throughout the book.
The plot unravels well, but the whole conspiracy thing feels like a book trying to say something and not really working it out well. This book is certainly well researched when it comes to the subject at hand but sometimes it can feel like it goes down an internet rabbit hole.
The story of Ben and Lil is nice, but overall, I just liked it.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for a honest review).
borjabilbao's review against another edition
3.0
Mucha paranoia con el 11S. Un repaso a buena parte de las teorias conspiranoicas con lo que o te gusta o lo odias.
Por otro lado, Priest vuelve a ahondar en la mente humana. En este caso en como reacciona tras unos eventos tan criticos como los que sucedieron en Nueva York.
Lo he leido con agrado.
Por otro lado, Priest vuelve a ahondar en la mente humana. En este caso en como reacciona tras unos eventos tan criticos como los que sucedieron en Nueva York.
Lo he leido con agrado.
iamleyeti's review
4.0
An American Story is a very classic Christopher Priest book and I would even recommend NOT starting reading his works by this novel. We follow the thoughts of a journalist who lost his girlfriend in 9/11 and is taken back to that fateful day over and over again by destiny… or mathematics.
It is not surprising that the book was not published in the States. Not surprising by quite shocking honestly as the novel perfectly explains why it is wrong: by not debating this event, we surrendered our rights to know the Truth with a capital T.
Yet, the Truth is not in the book. It is NOT a book about the events of 9/11, NOT a book showing the US lied to us, NOT a book about conspiracies. It is simply a book daring to ask: why aren't we discussing this event?
It is not surprising that the book was not published in the States. Not surprising by quite shocking honestly as the novel perfectly explains why it is wrong: by not debating this event, we surrendered our rights to know the Truth with a capital T.
Yet, the Truth is not in the book. It is NOT a book about the events of 9/11, NOT a book showing the US lied to us, NOT a book about conspiracies. It is simply a book daring to ask: why aren't we discussing this event?
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