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reeder_reads 's review for:
American Spy
by Lauren Wilkinson
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is one big “meh” for me. Let me explain why...
Things That Worked For Me:
Premise: A spy story about a black, female FBI agent in the late 1980s. Marie is at a standstill in her career. She isn’t getting the same recognition her white, male peers receive. She takes a chance to work a spy case with the CIA and her life is altered forever. I loved this premise so much!!
Opening Chapter: MURDER! Marie protecting her children and flying them down to Martinique! I had SO many questions I was instantly hooked.
Main Character: I really learned a lot through Marie. I think Wilkinson did a beautiful job writing about racism within government agencies, and the desire for women to protect their children at all costs.
Things That Did Not Work For Me:
Book Structure: I felt confused for about 70% of the book. Wilkinson wrote this book from Marie’s perspective as a letter to her two young sons. The time periods jumped around and there were a LOT of characters. I think American Spy would have benefited from a character map!! I was so often like wait, what’s this character’s connection to Marie?
Slow Middle: The middle dragged. I didn’t have the desire to pick up my book to read it. This book is under 300 pages and took me over a week to finish 😳
Rushed Ending: SO much happened at the end and I was like wait...WHAT. I wish the middle was condescend so there was more details around the major plot shifts at the end of the book.
This is my book club’s February fiction pick. To keep it 💯, if this wasn’t a book club read, I would have DNF-ed it. BUT, I’m excited to talk about it over zoom with my book club and hear their thoughts! Just because a book doesn’t work for me, doesn’t mean it won’t work for others! 💛
Things That Worked For Me:
Premise: A spy story about a black, female FBI agent in the late 1980s. Marie is at a standstill in her career. She isn’t getting the same recognition her white, male peers receive. She takes a chance to work a spy case with the CIA and her life is altered forever. I loved this premise so much!!
Opening Chapter: MURDER! Marie protecting her children and flying them down to Martinique! I had SO many questions I was instantly hooked.
Main Character: I really learned a lot through Marie. I think Wilkinson did a beautiful job writing about racism within government agencies, and the desire for women to protect their children at all costs.
Things That Did Not Work For Me:
Book Structure: I felt confused for about 70% of the book. Wilkinson wrote this book from Marie’s perspective as a letter to her two young sons. The time periods jumped around and there were a LOT of characters. I think American Spy would have benefited from a character map!! I was so often like wait, what’s this character’s connection to Marie?
Slow Middle: The middle dragged. I didn’t have the desire to pick up my book to read it. This book is under 300 pages and took me over a week to finish 😳
Rushed Ending: SO much happened at the end and I was like wait...WHAT. I wish the middle was condescend so there was more details around the major plot shifts at the end of the book.
This is my book club’s February fiction pick. To keep it 💯, if this wasn’t a book club read, I would have DNF-ed it. BUT, I’m excited to talk about it over zoom with my book club and hear their thoughts! Just because a book doesn’t work for me, doesn’t mean it won’t work for others! 💛