American War

A Novel

De: Omar El Akkad

Narrado por: Dion Graham

An audacious and powerful debut novel: a second American Civil War, a devastating plague, and one family caught deep in the middle - a story that asks what might happen if America were to turn its most devastating policies and deadly weapons upon itself.

Sarat Chestnut, born in Louisiana, is only six when the Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. But even she knows that oil is outlawed, that Louisiana is half underwater, that unmanned drones fill the sky. And when her father is killed and her family is forced into Camp Patience for displaced persons, she quickly begins to be shaped by her particular time and place until, finally, through the influence of a mysterious functionary, she is turned into a deadly instrument of war. Telling her story is her nephew, Benjamin Chestnut, born during the war - part of the Miraculous Generation - and now an old man confronting the dark secret of his past, his family's role in the conflict and, in particular, that of his aunt, a woman who saved his life while destroying untold others.

©2017 Omar El Akkad (P)2017 Random House Audio

Hard hitting and honest

This is a book about war. It doesn’t hold back. It doesn’t sugar coat. It doesn’t paint one side better than the other. It doesn’t pay homage to sentiment, tradition, or expectation. It doesn’t pretend that there’s good, god-chosen core to America that doesn’t let bad things happen.

It’s ugly, honest, and beautiful. I’m sure that’s why it doesn’t get all the stars it could, and why all the “now wait just a darned second” reviews.

It rubs everybody’s nose in the shit. And they all deserve it.

wow great book, and narration is awesome

powerful book, great listen and the narrator did a great job on a superbly written book

Fantastic

I loved this book. If you're looking for a great dystopian novel, this is it.

Harrowing and Poignant

A parable of today, and how radicals are made, the horrors of war from within.

Fabulous narration!

Fascinating, creative idea of a second civil war in the future and the haunting story of Sarah Chestnut and her family entertained within it. Dystopian darkness for those that like that sort of thing. The greatest part was the narration by Dion Graham. Put a few books on my wish list because he’s narrating. Great job!!

Compelling, terrifying and so worth the read.

Sure it's obvious in places but this is a dark and compelling vision of the very near future. Given the way things are going in the US right now, it's definitely not for those prone to nightmares. For those prepared to contemplate the parallels, it offers stark insight into a whole heap of attitudes and experiences.

way too slow

struggled to finish it. it felt way too long. The story is alright, but it takes way too long to start becoming interesting

BRILLIANT READER

This guy is as good as Frank Muller. Most Audible readers are trained actors but not especially literate. They mispronounce words and place wrong emphasis, which distracts and detracts from the book. Mr Dion commands English like a college prof. And he’s spellbinding. I usually speed up Audible books but not Dion’s.
—David Eick

Realistic post apocalyptic future

While I was reading this book I watched the Netflix 9/11 documentary episode about the torture of Guantanamo bay detainees. I noticed the similarities to how the southerners in this story were tortured. The characters confessed to crimes they didn’t commit and to things that weren’t true to stop the torture. This story makes you understand how people can be made to become suicide bombers. I enjoyed the story. I think the bouazizzi empire interfering in the American war was similar to how Americans interfere in the Middle East today. The plagues were a nice touch but I like that they were not the main reason for the post apocalyptic future but just a small part of it. The author tied together climate change, political radicalism, pandemics, and war all leading to the ruin of America. I would read another book by this author someday but I think I need something a bit lighter for my next read.

Timely "read"

It's strange to say that this was an enjoyable listen, but the narrator's performance was really good and easy to listen to. Calling this book enjoyable is what's strange - it's a great book, but dark. I could imagine this story being real and that has caused me to see the world a little differently.
I recommend the book - "enjoy".