From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever…

American War

Omar El Akkad

Start date: April 15, 2024

Finish date: May 1, 2024

Discussion: AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

Discussion leader: Gertie

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AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

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What Members Thought

Sep 28, 2017 Amy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: dnf

I had great expectations for this book about a future American civil war. It is on several must-read lists for 2017, but it really fell flat for me. I read a little over half of the book before my library ebook loan period ended, and I've decided that I don't want to put it on hold again. I read through many lower-star ratings for this book, and they're all written by intelligent and eloquent people. Many reviewers have expressed the sentiment that the cause of the civil war in the book is not b I had great expectations for this book about a future American civil war. It is on several must-read lists for 2017, but it really fell flat for me. I read a little over half of the book before my library ebook loan period ended, and I've decided that I don't want to put it on hold again. I read through many lower-star ratings for this book, and they're all written by intelligent and eloquent people. Many reviewers have expressed the sentiment that the cause of the civil war in the book is not believable, but I think that it is. So many civil wars start over ideological disagreements but morph into mutual hatred and fighting between 2 sides that no longer care about the original cause. In this case, the disagreement is between the South who wants to continue to rely on fossil fuels and the North who does not. However, as a result of weather change, parts of the Southern USA have succumbed to the ocean and the climate is no longer hospitable for many traditional southern crops. The South has a very stubborn culture that holds tight to their beliefs and ideals. Here, these beliefs have resulted in a never ending war and a large part of the Southern population living in poverty and/or in camps that rely on foreign aid.

So we've got an interesting premise, and the author does a great job of creating a divided America and a South with a new culture and transformed setting. However, the book moves slowly and doesn't live up to its potential to say something grand. I read all of Part I and a bit of Part II. Part I feels like it is following a writing formula I haven't seen before that I will call the Warrior's Journey: The warrior (a very tall mixed race female) leaves home (a shipping container in Mississippi), proves bravery (by swimming in sewage and hitting a guy), gains mentor (the camp overseer), receives weapon (a folding knife), experiences atrocities (a camp massacre), and pledges revenge. I assume that Part II will be about this revenge. Can you see why I'm underwhelmed here?

I highlighted some quotable phrases, but they all stand alone without much power to them. I'm expecting John Steinbeck and getting this:

"This isn’t a story about war. It’s about ruin."

"It seemed such a petty thing to fight over, so inconsequential."

"The first thing they try to take from you is your history."

These quotes are true, but they lack the depth I wanted from this novel. I feel like I was looking for a classy 3 course meal, and I got a deep-fried appetizer instead.

Why am I writing so much for a book I'm not going to finish? I think it's because I want someone to finish this book and tell me that I need to keep going, that it gets better, that it gets deeper, that this brave warrior does something that will change me if I keep reading about her.

...more

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Feb 17, 2018 Paul Liadis rated it it was amazing

This book is a sometimes brutal (as books about a civil war should be) look at what a modern American civil war would be.

A particular line stood out to me:
"You fight the war with guns, you fight the peace with stories." ...more

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