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A review by savage_book_review
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I'm incredibly torn by this book. It seems to examine every facet of the worst of humanity in a way that is enthralling, horrifying and thought-provoking all at the same time. Criminals in a dystopian future USA (I hesitate to wonder if it's actually all that dystopian!) have a choice; serve out their prison sentence, or sign up for the Chain-Gang All-Stars programme. For three years, you are on constant show to viewers worldwide, and there's the small matter of being faced with a televised fight to the death against a Link from another Chain every few weeks. Survive your time, and walk away free.
The characters that form the Chain are varied and well drawn and it becomes incredibly important that you are seeing them as human beings rather than convicted killers, r@pists and so on. You are also introduced to members of other chains and, despite yourself, you will likely find yourself rooting for one or more of them; the rich entitled mem behind the scenes that simply see this theatre of suffering as a way to make money; the fans who obsess over every nuance and declare undying love for their favourite all-star; and the campaigners who believe that the whole system is flawed. Ultimately, it paints an ugly picture of celebrity culture exacerbated by reality TV - the crowd are divorced from the horror that is played out in front of them and seem to very quickly dismiss the reason the participants ended up there; they've committed heinous crimes and yet people don't seem to care as long as they are entertained. And yet, it also serves as a really important reminder there is more to most criminals than their crime.
The cast is diverse, with the main character being in a same-sex relationship with a seemingly bisexual woman, who bounces back and forth between her and a male member of the chain. Another Chain member is trans, and there are all manner of races and cultures represented. The truth that the black population are statstically over-represented in the incarcerated population is well reflected, as is increasing racial tension and extremism that seems to be coming into view.
The author has also used the story to hammer home some real truths about the state of the penal system in the USA. Oddly for a novel, this is done by way of footnotes throughout, which provide a mix of factual notes about real court cases and legislation, and fictional asides regarding elements of the story. Some of the statistics are just mind-blowing, and the depictions of solitary confinement, police brutality and prisons run for profit don't feel like they belong in this odd future - they are sadly already here.
I think the story is great and I can see it making an amazing TV series, but the writing did come across as a bit disjointed. I was at the end before I'd really settled in, and I was waiting throughout for that moment where I was comfortable enough with the background and worldbuilding to fully immerse myself. The book certainly has depth to it as it truly makes you thing, but it feels like it's missing the exposition to give the writing the depth it needs. There are moments where the writer tries to set out his stall, but it gets lost in the confusion of constantly shifting perspectives and voices, and your mind is too busy trying to work out who these new people are and why they are important to fully absorb the plot points. While the footnotes play an important role, they do feel somewhat out of place and I think the fictional elements of these could have been better served by the author slowing the pace just a tad at the beginning and introducing them into the main narrative. That, or have an introductory device which sets out the parameters of the world (a bit like the Hunger Games does with the explanation of the creation of the Districts). Sadly, there are also several important moments which miss the mark impact-wise, including the ending, which comes far too soon; what should have been a hurricane is more like a gentle spring breeze.
There are inevitable comparisons with The Hunger Games and, while this is certainly justified, it is very different in tone and style. I'm not sure that the comparison serves this book well though; it just doesn't hit the same levels for me and I suspect that if you're coming into this purely because it's been sold to you as a Hunger Games vibe, you'll be left disappointed. Which is a shame, because underneath the issues there is a very good book.
The characters that form the Chain are varied and well drawn and it becomes incredibly important that you are seeing them as human beings rather than convicted killers, r@pists and so on. You are also introduced to members of other chains and, despite yourself, you will likely find yourself rooting for one or more of them; the rich entitled mem behind the scenes that simply see this theatre of suffering as a way to make money; the fans who obsess over every nuance and declare undying love for their favourite all-star; and the campaigners who believe that the whole system is flawed. Ultimately, it paints an ugly picture of celebrity culture exacerbated by reality TV - the crowd are divorced from the horror that is played out in front of them and seem to very quickly dismiss the reason the participants ended up there; they've committed heinous crimes and yet people don't seem to care as long as they are entertained. And yet, it also serves as a really important reminder there is more to most criminals than their crime.
The cast is diverse, with the main character being in a same-sex relationship with a seemingly bisexual woman, who bounces back and forth between her and a male member of the chain. Another Chain member is trans, and there are all manner of races and cultures represented. The truth that the black population are statstically over-represented in the incarcerated population is well reflected, as is increasing racial tension and extremism that seems to be coming into view.
The author has also used the story to hammer home some real truths about the state of the penal system in the USA. Oddly for a novel, this is done by way of footnotes throughout, which provide a mix of factual notes about real court cases and legislation, and fictional asides regarding elements of the story. Some of the statistics are just mind-blowing, and the depictions of solitary confinement, police brutality and prisons run for profit don't feel like they belong in this odd future - they are sadly already here.
I think the story is great and I can see it making an amazing TV series, but the writing did come across as a bit disjointed. I was at the end before I'd really settled in, and I was waiting throughout for that moment where I was comfortable enough with the background and worldbuilding to fully immerse myself. The book certainly has depth to it as it truly makes you thing, but it feels like it's missing the exposition to give the writing the depth it needs. There are moments where the writer tries to set out his stall, but it gets lost in the confusion of constantly shifting perspectives and voices, and your mind is too busy trying to work out who these new people are and why they are important to fully absorb the plot points. While the footnotes play an important role, they do feel somewhat out of place and I think the fictional elements of these could have been better served by the author slowing the pace just a tad at the beginning and introducing them into the main narrative. That, or have an introductory device which sets out the parameters of the world (a bit like the Hunger Games does with the explanation of the creation of the Districts). Sadly, there are also several important moments which miss the mark impact-wise, including the ending, which comes far too soon; what should have been a hurricane is more like a gentle spring breeze.
There are inevitable comparisons with The Hunger Games and, while this is certainly justified, it is very different in tone and style. I'm not sure that the comparison serves this book well though; it just doesn't hit the same levels for me and I suspect that if you're coming into this purely because it's been sold to you as a Hunger Games vibe, you'll be left disappointed. Which is a shame, because underneath the issues there is a very good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Slavery, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content