this book is not my normal read but it was completely worth it. American Spy is a tense, emotional story written in the style of a memoir. i loved the writing in this—sparse but evocative with a unique voice. Marie’s perspective on the world is one i had never considered, and put together some of the loose, frayed ends of history we barely touch on in school. 
i thoroughly enjoyed her perspective and felt i learned a lot about the US in the 1980s through new eyes. even though her story is fictional, so much truth—about politics and race, about capitalism and democracy, and about womanhood and love—rose to the surface and challenged some preconceived notions i had about the world. 
as far as narrative, the story REALLY pops off once Marie gets to Burkina Faso, and i found myself on the edge of my seat for the last 1/4th of the book. the web of lies and betrayals and truths were so difficult, yet enthralling, to parse through. this is one i’d recommend to anyone who is fascinated by the cold war, but also to anyone who simply likes espionage stories. it will really make you think and feel things you didn’t know were possible.