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jazful's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I've wanted to read this book for a long time and finally started it because I wanted to read a crime or a spy thriller. I didn't know what to expect and just went for it.
I liked the narrative style, and the main character. There are not many books that describe a spy story from the perspective of a black woman. The book is therefore also very political in nature. Several topics are dealt with; the main character's own experience as one of the only Black women in the FBI, and the intersectional discrimination that results from this. But it also deals with the political circumstances in the 70s and 80s in the USA (Communism, Black Liberation, Cold War, etc.) and in West African countries.
I like novels with real, historical events. I learnt a lot of new things. For example, I knew nothing about Thomas Sankara or the political situation in Burkina Faso in the 1980s. Learning more about him as a person and his political ideologies and actions was rewarding. At the same time, I wonder to what extent the author had this insight into the life and thoughts of this personality, who really existed.
Once again I was also disgusted and enraged by the audacity of the US to interfere everywhere under the disguise of democracy (nobody asked for it). They overthrow entire regimes, start wars and think they have the right to do so. The fear of communism in the 70-90s seems so ridiculous, and yet the government and the system works exactly the same in 2024 (look at Israel, Afghanistan and other countries). I also found it exciting to read this story because I'm reading Angela Davis' autobiography at the same time, so I can get a different perspective on the Communist Party, Black Panthers and Black Liberation Movement. In this book, the perspective of federal agents, American propaganda, is told, but it is noticeable that the main character is critical of many things.
To summarise, it was an exciting story, a bit slow paced at times, but in summary really very well researched and presented. I would recommend it to people who are interested in spy novels as well as political topics such as female empowerment, the political situation in West Africa in the 80s, the work of the CIA and mindset.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Car accident, Abandonment, and Colonisation
corrieroe's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Car accident and Colonisation
layzuli's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War
shingekiyes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Cursing, Genocide, Xenophobia, and Alcohol
stacyaj's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence
skitch41's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Colonisation
Minor: Torture and Pregnancy
caramellattekiss's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Read for the Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt "a book about someone leading a double life."
I loved the concept of this, and there are some great parts, exploring the challenges that Marie faces as a black woman in the FBI. Unfortunately, the rest fell flat for me. This is a thriller without the thrills.
The format, with Marie telling the story in a journal for her young sons, seemed to suck all tension out of the story. I just didn't care about what happened to anybody, and the writing dry and quite boring. It was a struggle to the end.
I loved the concept of this, and there are some great parts, exploring the challenges that Marie faces as a black woman in the FBI. Unfortunately, the rest fell flat for me. This is a thriller without the thrills.
The format, with Marie telling the story in a journal for her young sons, seemed to suck all tension out of the story. I just didn't care about what happened to anybody, and the writing dry and quite boring. It was a struggle to the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Violence
madmantha's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I enjoyed reading this book. It was informative with a unique narrative.
I was a bit unsatisfied with how the novel finished; it felt almost like a non-ending? Not really a cliffhanger per say but almost unfinished?
I’m not sure if the narrative caught up with real historical events and then had no where to go; but since I’m pretty sure there’s no sequel, it’s hard for me to recommend this since I felt so disappointed with the ending…?
I was a bit unsatisfied with how the novel finished; it felt almost like a non-ending? Not really a cliffhanger per say but almost unfinished?
I’m not sure if the narrative caught up with real historical events and then had no where to go; but since I’m pretty sure there’s no sequel, it’s hard for me to recommend this since I felt so disappointed with the ending…?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Genocide, Gore, Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
PTSD, Trauma, CPTSD, Coupquietpageturner's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence and Murder
stephaniekane's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Based on true events (how true, I have no idea), American Spy is the story of Marie Mitchell, the titular American spy who goes undercover to aid American efforts to overthrow Thomas Sankara, the leader of Burkina Faso in the late 1980s. What makes this cold war era spy novel unique, aside from having no action in the USSR, is that Marie is a Black women fighting for a government that doesn't fight for her.
While the book was slow to start and I personally felt like it took a while for me to be grounded in the time period, I was intrigued by the premise. Parts of the book are in second person as Marie is writing her story so her sons know about her life in the event that something happens to her in the field. This gave me the dual feeling of this book being both for me and not for me, when she would address "you" I felt like I was being told a story by an old friend, but when she would specifically give her sons words of wisdom about how to live an American as a Black man, I was that this book is also not for me and speaks to an experience I will never understand.
As the plot unraveled, I found this book to be quite a page turner, even if I didn't always fully understand the politics. When I finished the book, I found myself longing for a sequel and/or a movie or mini-series adaptation starring Kerry Washington as Marie Mitchell. Just a suggestion!
While the book was slow to start and I personally felt like it took a while for me to be grounded in the time period, I was intrigued by the premise. Parts of the book are in second person as Marie is writing her story so her sons know about her life in the event that something happens to her in the field. This gave me the dual feeling of this book being both for me and not for me, when she would address "you" I felt like I was being told a story by an old friend, but when she would specifically give her sons words of wisdom about how to live an American as a Black man, I was that this book is also not for me and speaks to an experience I will never understand.
As the plot unraveled, I found this book to be quite a page turner, even if I didn't always fully understand the politics. When I finished the book, I found myself longing for a sequel and/or a movie or mini-series adaptation starring Kerry Washington as Marie Mitchell. Just a suggestion!
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence