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Spoils
"The finest Iraq War novel yet written by an American" - Wall Street Journal, 10 Best Novels of the Year
An "electrifying debut" (The Economist) that maps the blurred lines between good and evil, soldier and civilian, victor and vanquished.
Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence
It is April 2003. American forces have taken Baghdad and are now charged with winning hearts and minds. But this vital tipping point is barely recognized for what it is, as a series of miscalculations and blunders fuels an already-simmering insurgency intent on making Iraq the next graveyard of empires.
In dazzling and propulsive prose, Brian Van Reet explores the lives on both sides of the battle lines: Cassandra, a nineteen-year-old gunner on an American Humvee who is captured during a deadly firefight and awakens in a prison cell; Abu al-Hool, a lifelong mujahedeen beset by a simmering crisis of conscience as he struggles against enemies from without and within, including the next wave of far more radicalized jihadists; and Specialist Sleed, a tank crewman who goes along with a "victimless" crime, the consequences of which are more awful than any he could have imagined.
Depicting a war spinning rapidly out of control, destined to become a modern classic, Spoils is an unsparing and morally complex novel that chronicles the human cost of combat.
An "electrifying debut" (The Economist) that maps the blurred lines between good and evil, soldier and civilian, victor and vanquished.
Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence
It is April 2003. American forces have taken Baghdad and are now charged with winning hearts and minds. But this vital tipping point is barely recognized for what it is, as a series of miscalculations and blunders fuels an already-simmering insurgency intent on making Iraq the next graveyard of empires.
In dazzling and propulsive prose, Brian Van Reet explores the lives on both sides of the battle lines: Cassandra, a nineteen-year-old gunner on an American Humvee who is captured during a deadly firefight and awakens in a prison cell; Abu al-Hool, a lifelong mujahedeen beset by a simmering crisis of conscience as he struggles against enemies from without and within, including the next wave of far more radicalized jihadists; and Specialist Sleed, a tank crewman who goes along with a "victimless" crime, the consequences of which are more awful than any he could have imagined.
Depicting a war spinning rapidly out of control, destined to become a modern classic, Spoils is an unsparing and morally complex novel that chronicles the human cost of combat.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2017
71 people are currently reading
2658 people want to read
About the author
Brian Van Reet
4 books109 followersBrian Van Reet is the author of Spoils, a novel named one of the best books of 2017 by the Guardian, Military Times, the Wall Street Journal, and others. A graduate of the Michener Center for Writers, he has twice won the Texas Institute of Letters short story award. He lives in Austin with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
June 14, 2017
In 2003 as American forces have taken over Baghdad a group of American troops is captured and held prisoner by jihadists. The book follows three people's perspectives, Cassandra who is one of the troops that has been captured and is a POW, Sleed who is a crewman and specialist taking advantage of the chaos in the wake of the war, and Abu al-hool one of the mujahideen struggling with the new wave of people joining their cause and his weakening power. The book is well written and it does a good job of portraying the complex factors taking place during the whole invasion. The author even manages to make the jihadists sympathetic and shows their own perspective and motivations. I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy the book more though, I think the constant switching in POV certainly didn't help. All the parts with Sleed were boring to me and he didn't quite fit into the story line as well with everything that was going on. I would have much rather read the whole book through Cassandra's POV. I think also its been quite a while since all the events of the book, not long enough where it's interesting to think about but long enough that a lot of the things brought up in the book are pretty well known at this point. The timing just makes the book less interesting, at least to me because all the things discussed are things I've already seen talked about a lot and I'm not far enough away from it yet to want to rehash everything. I found the book to be okay, I just couldn't get into it for some reason but others seem to have enjoyed it a lot more than I did.
February 7, 2017
Spoils is both fast-paced and hard to put down. This story covers eight weeks during the early stages of the war in Iraq in 2003. It is written from three points of view, but I mostly connected with young female American soldier, Specialist Cassandra Wigheard and a Jihadist called Abu al-Hool.
Be warned, this is not a light read. I don’t use the word hate very often, but I hate war and terrorism. I used to love horror novels, but they rarely scare me these days. Terrorism, however, is very much my horror equivalent these days, as it seems to get deep within me and plays on my fears. It actually gives me nightmares. So why did I choose to read this novel, I hear you ask. I just can’t help searching for an answer to make sense of all this mindless violence and seemingly pointless bloodshed, even if that is within the pages of a novel. I wish it would all go away and peace could prevail, but I fear it will just continue until the human race destroys itself.
This novel, although hard-hitting, is very well written and doesn’t sensationalise violence. It feels unnervingly real, truthful and terrifying. The characters are well developed on both sides, enabling you to see there isn’t a clear line between good and bad, right or wrong. It feels like we’re all losers in this. I read this book with a heavy heart and feel rather emotionally drained and a little bit traumatised now that I’ve finished it.
This is a great book that I highly recommend. I’m not usually very good at recommending other similar books, but as I read so few war books, if you enjoyed this, I can recommend Real Monsters, by Liam Brown, as I loved that book, and it made it into my Top Ten Books read in 2015.
Be warned, this is not a light read. I don’t use the word hate very often, but I hate war and terrorism. I used to love horror novels, but they rarely scare me these days. Terrorism, however, is very much my horror equivalent these days, as it seems to get deep within me and plays on my fears. It actually gives me nightmares. So why did I choose to read this novel, I hear you ask. I just can’t help searching for an answer to make sense of all this mindless violence and seemingly pointless bloodshed, even if that is within the pages of a novel. I wish it would all go away and peace could prevail, but I fear it will just continue until the human race destroys itself.
This novel, although hard-hitting, is very well written and doesn’t sensationalise violence. It feels unnervingly real, truthful and terrifying. The characters are well developed on both sides, enabling you to see there isn’t a clear line between good and bad, right or wrong. It feels like we’re all losers in this. I read this book with a heavy heart and feel rather emotionally drained and a little bit traumatised now that I’ve finished it.
This is a great book that I highly recommend. I’m not usually very good at recommending other similar books, but as I read so few war books, if you enjoyed this, I can recommend Real Monsters, by Liam Brown, as I loved that book, and it made it into my Top Ten Books read in 2015.
November 10, 2019
It's 2003 and I'm in Iraq watching while a young female American soldier is captured, an only slightly older male American soldier is elsewhere learning the truth of war, and a seasoned mujahedeen finds his brothers becoming much more radicalised.
Oh hang on, no I'm not there. It is a book. It didn't really happen. It is a book. It is a book. It didn't really happen. Did it...?
I'm not the usual war-story reader and even less so modern day warfare, so it surprised me to no end how much I loved this book. And isn't that the best kind? It is about war, but it is much more than that. The way Van Reet is able to immerse you into this time period and these lives is remarkable. I guess there is nothing like first hand experience to draw on the senselessness and humanity of war.
The story plays out like a film in front of your eyes and I really hope that one day this is made into a film that does it justice and moves audiences, the way that Hurt Locker did.
I recommend this book to anyone that likes to read. Don't be put off by the fact it is a "war" book. Just go and read it.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Oh hang on, no I'm not there. It is a book. It didn't really happen. It is a book. It is a book. It didn't really happen. Did it...?
I'm not the usual war-story reader and even less so modern day warfare, so it surprised me to no end how much I loved this book. And isn't that the best kind? It is about war, but it is much more than that. The way Van Reet is able to immerse you into this time period and these lives is remarkable. I guess there is nothing like first hand experience to draw on the senselessness and humanity of war.
The story plays out like a film in front of your eyes and I really hope that one day this is made into a film that does it justice and moves audiences, the way that Hurt Locker did.
I recommend this book to anyone that likes to read. Don't be put off by the fact it is a "war" book. Just go and read it.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2017
One thing abundantly clear is that Van Reet knows what he's talking about when he writes war: he conveys the chaos, the confusion and the visceral nature of combat with a raw and clear-eyed intention. We hear the noise, we see the blood, we smell the fear and the fire.
That said, there are signs of less than complete mastery over the craft of novel-writing: for one, there are too many switches in points of view (two 1st person narrators, plus a 3rd person narrative focalised through a female soldier) and that constant flitting backwards and forwards in time and geography that so many authors do without necessarily considering what it adds to the story they're telling. Rather than creating tension or roundedness, this served to distract and irritate me - the second 1st person narrative by a tank soldier, especially, seems to add little other than a bit of handy moralising about the lacks of morals in a war setting.
What attracted me to this book was the blurb about the captured female soldier and Van Reet treats this strand superbly: again, it's a shame that we're halfway through the book before this advertised storyline emerges. When it does, the closely-wrought tension, the twisted intimacy between captors and captives, ramp the book up and these sections alone (in between all the to-ing and fro-ing to other people and places) would have warranted a 5-star rating. Especially impressive, is the way Van Reet gets inside a female consciousness, something that not all male authors do with success.
So a somewhat mixed response fom me though one which is certainly positive overall: the claustrophobic and sometimes shocking events during the captivity scenes are what made this a standout read for me - more focus, less generalising 'war is chaos' (I'm sure it is but too many other books are saying the same thing) would have upped my rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because the taut captivity scenes are rendered superbly.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
That said, there are signs of less than complete mastery over the craft of novel-writing: for one, there are too many switches in points of view (two 1st person narrators, plus a 3rd person narrative focalised through a female soldier) and that constant flitting backwards and forwards in time and geography that so many authors do without necessarily considering what it adds to the story they're telling. Rather than creating tension or roundedness, this served to distract and irritate me - the second 1st person narrative by a tank soldier, especially, seems to add little other than a bit of handy moralising about the lacks of morals in a war setting.
What attracted me to this book was the blurb about the captured female soldier and Van Reet treats this strand superbly: again, it's a shame that we're halfway through the book before this advertised storyline emerges. When it does, the closely-wrought tension, the twisted intimacy between captors and captives, ramp the book up and these sections alone (in between all the to-ing and fro-ing to other people and places) would have warranted a 5-star rating. Especially impressive, is the way Van Reet gets inside a female consciousness, something that not all male authors do with success.
So a somewhat mixed response fom me though one which is certainly positive overall: the claustrophobic and sometimes shocking events during the captivity scenes are what made this a standout read for me - more focus, less generalising 'war is chaos' (I'm sure it is but too many other books are saying the same thing) would have upped my rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because the taut captivity scenes are rendered superbly.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
February 22, 2018
A gripping literary novel about jihadism and US the invasion of Iraq. Don't expect an action-packed war novel, this is not that kind of book. Rather, it tells the tale of a female US gunner who is captured along with two of her colleagues, a male US tank crewman who is part of the effort to find and rescue them; and a veteran mujahid from the Afghan-Soviet war, who is battling personal doubts about the direction and methods of the jihadi movement. Gritty and realistic, the story is told from three separate viewpoints until eventually their fates and actions intertwine.
February 7, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley, Random house uk, vintage and Brian Van Reet for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.
You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On Goodreads from today under Karen Whittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.
I usually shy away from reading anything about war. But this books bio really spoke to me and I just couldn't not read it.
The narrator if you like of this story is a former Army tank officer in Iraq Van Reet.
Van Reet deliveres a moving and powerful book. The book is told from the perspective of three different people two American soldiers and a mujahideen fighter. But each of the people's stories are written carefully and truthfully and in a clear and delicate way. There are lots of descriptions about how the tanks work and military life. But there are also massive in depth and delicately told information about Islamic life. Including lots of descriptions about the differences in the Muslim faith and other religions.
Van Reet has a very plain and manner of fact way of telling you about the details of war. He doesn't beat around the bush and this is refreshing.
This is a very powerful and important book. It tells you about the war and the effects it has on people. It is clear on the matter of fact truth that war does not produce a winner and a loser. But losers on each side. A hard hitting emotional read that is an important eye opener. A must read.
Happy reading everyone
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.
You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On Goodreads from today under Karen Whittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.
I usually shy away from reading anything about war. But this books bio really spoke to me and I just couldn't not read it.
The narrator if you like of this story is a former Army tank officer in Iraq Van Reet.
Van Reet deliveres a moving and powerful book. The book is told from the perspective of three different people two American soldiers and a mujahideen fighter. But each of the people's stories are written carefully and truthfully and in a clear and delicate way. There are lots of descriptions about how the tanks work and military life. But there are also massive in depth and delicately told information about Islamic life. Including lots of descriptions about the differences in the Muslim faith and other religions.
Van Reet has a very plain and manner of fact way of telling you about the details of war. He doesn't beat around the bush and this is refreshing.
This is a very powerful and important book. It tells you about the war and the effects it has on people. It is clear on the matter of fact truth that war does not produce a winner and a loser. But losers on each side. A hard hitting emotional read that is an important eye opener. A must read.
Happy reading everyone
November 21, 2021
Spoils takes readers into the Iraq war, stripping away the facade of accepted views of the enemy and the justification of war to reveal the complicated reality.
Debut author Brian Van Reet knows his subject. He left university to enlist in the U. S. Army after the September 11 attacks, serving as a tank crewman in Iraq and earning a Bronze Star for valor. After his discharge, Van Reet returned to his studies and to writing.
From the viewpoint of the American characters, we learn of the hardships and boredom of war, the crazy randomness of violence, and the gap between the reason and the reality of war.
The Iraqi characters shed light on the history of the conflict and the changing nature of jihad under extremists and after America invaded Iraq.
Cassandra Wigheard is a nineteen-year-old American soldier serving as a tank gunner. She is aware of the gap between the political hype about Operation Iraqi Freedom and the reality that the army's purpose is to kill and destroy. She joined the army to be different, to "escape a hard life for one she hoped would be harder." She is appalled by the rape of another female soldier, and at her fellow soldiers' callousness.
Abu Al-Hool is a dedicated mujaheddin who sees radicalized jihadists taking over. He left his privileged life to join something bigger, to shape the world. Now, with the murder of women and children and the rise of Osama, he questions his place in the jihad. Dr. Walid, a leader whose motto was "Jihad and the rifle alone," is taking over power.
Sargent Sleed joined the army to find a 'higher purpose,' but instead makes bad decisions, causing the deaths of Iraqi civilians, which he covers up.
Cassandra is captured by the group led by Dr. Walid and Abu Al-Hool, leading Al-Hool to make a fatal choice.
There is no sensationalizing of war, no graphic details of violence. My reaction was more intellectual than visceral. But that makes me happy--I can't read graphic violence.
"I always had an idea of what the Americans would be like. But they are different than I thought. They're just people." That was one of my favorite quotes in the book.
The publisher writes,"Depicting a war spinning rapidly out of control, destined to become a modern classic, Spoils is an unsparing and morally complex novel that chronicles the achingly human cost of combat."
That about sums it up for me.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Debut author Brian Van Reet knows his subject. He left university to enlist in the U. S. Army after the September 11 attacks, serving as a tank crewman in Iraq and earning a Bronze Star for valor. After his discharge, Van Reet returned to his studies and to writing.
From the viewpoint of the American characters, we learn of the hardships and boredom of war, the crazy randomness of violence, and the gap between the reason and the reality of war.
The Iraqi characters shed light on the history of the conflict and the changing nature of jihad under extremists and after America invaded Iraq.
Cassandra Wigheard is a nineteen-year-old American soldier serving as a tank gunner. She is aware of the gap between the political hype about Operation Iraqi Freedom and the reality that the army's purpose is to kill and destroy. She joined the army to be different, to "escape a hard life for one she hoped would be harder." She is appalled by the rape of another female soldier, and at her fellow soldiers' callousness.
Abu Al-Hool is a dedicated mujaheddin who sees radicalized jihadists taking over. He left his privileged life to join something bigger, to shape the world. Now, with the murder of women and children and the rise of Osama, he questions his place in the jihad. Dr. Walid, a leader whose motto was "Jihad and the rifle alone," is taking over power.
Sargent Sleed joined the army to find a 'higher purpose,' but instead makes bad decisions, causing the deaths of Iraqi civilians, which he covers up.
Cassandra is captured by the group led by Dr. Walid and Abu Al-Hool, leading Al-Hool to make a fatal choice.
There is no sensationalizing of war, no graphic details of violence. My reaction was more intellectual than visceral. But that makes me happy--I can't read graphic violence.
"I always had an idea of what the Americans would be like. But they are different than I thought. They're just people." That was one of my favorite quotes in the book.
The publisher writes,"Depicting a war spinning rapidly out of control, destined to become a modern classic, Spoils is an unsparing and morally complex novel that chronicles the achingly human cost of combat."
That about sums it up for me.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
July 8, 2017
Ich habe dieses Buch zusammen mit Marcus Gärtner (mit Hilfe von Thomas Wiegold von augengeradeaus.net) übersetzt und mag es nach dem Übersetzen immer noch ganz gern. (Das heißt einiges, fragt beliebige Übersetzer oder lest es bei Harry Rowohlt nach). Es hat drei sehr unterschiedliche Erzählperspektiven, eine beeindruckende, eine gute, und die dritte ist auch nicht schlecht. Es kommt nicht oft vor, dass jemand selbst Erfahrung mit dem Krieg hat und danach etwas Interessantes darüber schreiben kann. Dieses Buch ist in den Top Ten der Kriegsromane, die ich kenne, und ich habe zumindest sehr viele angefangen und wieder weggelegt, weil siehe oben.
April 18, 2017
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For me, Spoils is a tricky book to write about. There were parts of it I found deeply fascinating and which really hooked me in – mainly the parts where Cassandra is in captivity, which were so disturbing but at the same time incredibly interesting to read about. The general theme of army life and conditions in Afghanistan is also one I found I became absorbed in.
I wasn’t overly keen on the way the novel was structured; I found the switches in narrator a little confusing. I usually really enjoy books that swap around a lot, but in Spoils I found it a bit off-putting at times. I think I really just wanted to read more about Cassandra’s capture, as that’s what really hooked me in from the synopsis! Unfortunately it takes a long time in the storyline before that actually happens, and I found myself feeling a bit impatient as I wanted the narrative to get to that point, despite knowing it would be disturbing / tricky at times to read. I understand that the section before that point is laying out the run-up to these events and really setting the scene, but I found that I much preferred reading the scenes about Cassandra’s captivity and how Abu al-Hool’s ‘brotherhood’ treated her, as it was just so intriguing and different to read about. I felt Cassandra’s captivity as if I was experiencing it myself, and this is a testament to Brian Van Reet’s writing and knowledge on the subject - very impressive.
I would recommend this novel, and feel it is an important novel to read especially with everything going on in the world today, and it's certainly something different, as well as being a powerful read.
Rating: 3.5 bumped to 4
Many thanks to the publisher, Vintage (Random House UK) for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
For me, Spoils is a tricky book to write about. There were parts of it I found deeply fascinating and which really hooked me in – mainly the parts where Cassandra is in captivity, which were so disturbing but at the same time incredibly interesting to read about. The general theme of army life and conditions in Afghanistan is also one I found I became absorbed in.
I wasn’t overly keen on the way the novel was structured; I found the switches in narrator a little confusing. I usually really enjoy books that swap around a lot, but in Spoils I found it a bit off-putting at times. I think I really just wanted to read more about Cassandra’s capture, as that’s what really hooked me in from the synopsis! Unfortunately it takes a long time in the storyline before that actually happens, and I found myself feeling a bit impatient as I wanted the narrative to get to that point, despite knowing it would be disturbing / tricky at times to read. I understand that the section before that point is laying out the run-up to these events and really setting the scene, but I found that I much preferred reading the scenes about Cassandra’s captivity and how Abu al-Hool’s ‘brotherhood’ treated her, as it was just so intriguing and different to read about. I felt Cassandra’s captivity as if I was experiencing it myself, and this is a testament to Brian Van Reet’s writing and knowledge on the subject - very impressive.
I would recommend this novel, and feel it is an important novel to read especially with everything going on in the world today, and it's certainly something different, as well as being a powerful read.
Rating: 3.5 bumped to 4
Many thanks to the publisher, Vintage (Random House UK) for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
November 7, 2016
This one can be placed right beside ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, THE NAKED AND THE DEAD, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY... it is that powerful and important a novel of war and the effects. Van Reet gives you stories from both sides of Baghdad in 2003, the three main characters are all wonderfully crafted as is the entire novel. SPOILS hits hard and is sure to be high on BEST OF 2017 lists.
May 25, 2017
A powerful, searing novel which takes place in the Iraq war zone in 2003. Baghdad has been taken and the American's goal aims at winning the hearts and minds in Iraq. We know this doesn't go as planned and the good intentions fall by the wayside. The story involves 3 main characters, and we see everything spin out of control.
Cassandra is a 19 year old soldier who is shown to be brave and competent among her male colleagues. She is captured by jihadists, and her time in solitary prison is upsetting to read. Adding her torment is that she is aware of the fate of two male soldiers on patrol with her and who were taken prisoner at the same time. Her story is a very disturbing one.
There is Abu al-Hool, a mujahedeen veteran of Afghanistan and other war zones, now at in Iraq where the three American soldiers are being held prisoner. He is a troubled man, having lost his authority to more radicalized jihadists, and with the death of his son on his conscience.
The third character is tank crewman Sleed. He gets involved in looting a palace with some comrades. The results of this crime has terrible consequences that no one could have predicted.
Through the experiences of these main characters we see the miscalculations and chaos, feel the dread and terror as a series of blunders further strengthens the intent of the insurgents against an army they consider invaders of Iraq.
The story is told in sparse, powerful prose by an author who was there and makes the bloodshed, mistakes and confusion seem very real. 4.5 stars
Cassandra is a 19 year old soldier who is shown to be brave and competent among her male colleagues. She is captured by jihadists, and her time in solitary prison is upsetting to read. Adding her torment is that she is aware of the fate of two male soldiers on patrol with her and who were taken prisoner at the same time. Her story is a very disturbing one.
There is Abu al-Hool, a mujahedeen veteran of Afghanistan and other war zones, now at in Iraq where the three American soldiers are being held prisoner. He is a troubled man, having lost his authority to more radicalized jihadists, and with the death of his son on his conscience.
The third character is tank crewman Sleed. He gets involved in looting a palace with some comrades. The results of this crime has terrible consequences that no one could have predicted.
Through the experiences of these main characters we see the miscalculations and chaos, feel the dread and terror as a series of blunders further strengthens the intent of the insurgents against an army they consider invaders of Iraq.
The story is told in sparse, powerful prose by an author who was there and makes the bloodshed, mistakes and confusion seem very real. 4.5 stars
June 11, 2017
“Spoils” is the Iraq conflict distilled down to its essence. It is an unflinching look at who fights our wars, how they are fought and who the enemy is. There is no glory, no jingoism, or happy ending here.
Three voices describe the events; Specialist Cassandra Wigheard, a U.S. Army Military Policewoman; Abu Al-Hool (Father of Dread), a war-weary mujahideen veteran; Private Sleed, a tank gunner, new to the Army and war.
The story begins with Wigheard and a group of Military Police guarding a roundabout outside Bagdad. The unit comes under mortar and small arms attack from Al-Hool and his brethren, who overrun the position. Taken prisoner by the jihadis, Wigheard, and her team are locked up in an abandoned water plant.
After the initial firefight adept use of shifting time segments allows Van Reet to fully flesh out his characters, and the forces driving them. His style is crisp and reflects the eye of an astute observer. The scenes of the awful and inhumane treatment meted out to those unfortunate enough to be taken as POW by the mujahideen, while also exploring their humanity, are exceptionally vivid.
The author, a veteran of the Second Gulf War, has in his first novel given us a dose of reality. I don’t think I have ever read a better fictional “war” story. Very highly recommended for aficionados of the genre.
I received an advance digital copy of this novel from Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley in exchange for this review.
Three voices describe the events; Specialist Cassandra Wigheard, a U.S. Army Military Policewoman; Abu Al-Hool (Father of Dread), a war-weary mujahideen veteran; Private Sleed, a tank gunner, new to the Army and war.
The story begins with Wigheard and a group of Military Police guarding a roundabout outside Bagdad. The unit comes under mortar and small arms attack from Al-Hool and his brethren, who overrun the position. Taken prisoner by the jihadis, Wigheard, and her team are locked up in an abandoned water plant.
After the initial firefight adept use of shifting time segments allows Van Reet to fully flesh out his characters, and the forces driving them. His style is crisp and reflects the eye of an astute observer. The scenes of the awful and inhumane treatment meted out to those unfortunate enough to be taken as POW by the mujahideen, while also exploring their humanity, are exceptionally vivid.
The author, a veteran of the Second Gulf War, has in his first novel given us a dose of reality. I don’t think I have ever read a better fictional “war” story. Very highly recommended for aficionados of the genre.
I received an advance digital copy of this novel from Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley in exchange for this review.
March 24, 2017
One word. Wow.
May 25, 2017
Spoils is a good, well-written book, but it has its flaws.
The well-publicised nub of the story is that in the 2003 Iraq war, a female US soldier, Cassandra Wigheard, is captured by a group of jihadi fighters. We get a first-person account by Abu al-Hool an experienced, slightly world-weary jihadi and a third-person narrative from Wigheard's point of view. Both of these are very well done; van Reet clearly knows about his subject matter and I found the setting and action completely convincing. These two voices, too, are very good and I found myself involved with both characters. There is also another first-person narrative from Sleed, another soldier, to give the perspective of those observing and trying to find Wigheard. I thought this was a mistake.
The story moves a little sluggishly to begin with; the capture which the publishers' blurb suggests is the central theme of the book doesn't happen until about half way through. The book chops between narrators and timescales (almost obligatory in current fiction, apparently) which for me didn't help the book at all, and the Sleed voice simply got in the way. He is making important points about the conduct of the war – but they're not what the book is really about and a tightening of the structure would have helped a great deal.
I thought the second half of Spoils was excellent. It was tense, gripping, insightful and very well written. Van Reet's portraits of Wigheard and al-Hool are excellent and I was completely involved as things developed. The Sleed narrative still intruded, but less so, and apart from one long, inappropriate flashback to earlier times just as the climax approached, I found it completely engrossing.
With tighter editing sand structure, this could have been a real modern war classic in the same league as The Yellow Birds or Billy Lynn's Long Half Time Walk. There are parts of Spoils which are in that class, but it was somewhat flawed as a novel. However, much of it is truly excellent and very memorable and I can recommend it.
(I received an ARC via Netgalley.)
The well-publicised nub of the story is that in the 2003 Iraq war, a female US soldier, Cassandra Wigheard, is captured by a group of jihadi fighters. We get a first-person account by Abu al-Hool an experienced, slightly world-weary jihadi and a third-person narrative from Wigheard's point of view. Both of these are very well done; van Reet clearly knows about his subject matter and I found the setting and action completely convincing. These two voices, too, are very good and I found myself involved with both characters. There is also another first-person narrative from Sleed, another soldier, to give the perspective of those observing and trying to find Wigheard. I thought this was a mistake.
The story moves a little sluggishly to begin with; the capture which the publishers' blurb suggests is the central theme of the book doesn't happen until about half way through. The book chops between narrators and timescales (almost obligatory in current fiction, apparently) which for me didn't help the book at all, and the Sleed voice simply got in the way. He is making important points about the conduct of the war – but they're not what the book is really about and a tightening of the structure would have helped a great deal.
I thought the second half of Spoils was excellent. It was tense, gripping, insightful and very well written. Van Reet's portraits of Wigheard and al-Hool are excellent and I was completely involved as things developed. The Sleed narrative still intruded, but less so, and apart from one long, inappropriate flashback to earlier times just as the climax approached, I found it completely engrossing.
With tighter editing sand structure, this could have been a real modern war classic in the same league as The Yellow Birds or Billy Lynn's Long Half Time Walk. There are parts of Spoils which are in that class, but it was somewhat flawed as a novel. However, much of it is truly excellent and very memorable and I can recommend it.
(I received an ARC via Netgalley.)
August 27, 2017
I have been thinking about this book since I finished it. Actually a 4.5 rating. Given many givens, I am somewhat behind on literature, non-fiction and movies about the two wars that the American armed forces have been fighting forever, especially as compared to my in-depth self-study course on Vietnam.
One description of this novel said "The Kite Runner meets The Things They Carried," and I don't think that's an apt or fair 'log line' for this novel. I suppose I'm glad it wasn't reduced to "the next Gone Girl, set in Iraq."
This book, with alternating shifts of character and perspective, bit off a lot and for the most part succeeded. In places, it felt overstuffed (a rescue mission, radicalism, torture, political and religions background, father issues, the buddies in the unit, and yes, US troops throwing candy to local kids). However, I have a vivid mental image of American tanks and action that did not come from any movie.
With that picky aside, I have to admit that Van Reet succeeded in his effort to tell a solid, vivid, and thought provoking story about an(other) unpopular war with several complex characters and perspectives. I don't know that it is "The Things They Carried," but I'm not fond of comparisons. As time continues to pass and the culture processes the stories that inevitably come from yet another sad war, this book will remain memorable and worth reading.
One description of this novel said "The Kite Runner meets The Things They Carried," and I don't think that's an apt or fair 'log line' for this novel. I suppose I'm glad it wasn't reduced to "the next Gone Girl, set in Iraq."
This book, with alternating shifts of character and perspective, bit off a lot and for the most part succeeded. In places, it felt overstuffed (a rescue mission, radicalism, torture, political and religions background, father issues, the buddies in the unit, and yes, US troops throwing candy to local kids). However, I have a vivid mental image of American tanks and action that did not come from any movie.
With that picky aside, I have to admit that Van Reet succeeded in his effort to tell a solid, vivid, and thought provoking story about an(other) unpopular war with several complex characters and perspectives. I don't know that it is "The Things They Carried," but I'm not fond of comparisons. As time continues to pass and the culture processes the stories that inevitably come from yet another sad war, this book will remain memorable and worth reading.
May 28, 2017
Brian Van Reet has written some of my favorite fiction to emerge from the War on Terror, so I was very much looking forward to Spoils. It didn't take me long to read it—two days, punctuated by work—and I'm still thinking about it now.
To begin with, Spoils is driven as much by its powerful characters as its plot. One can tell a lot about a story or an event by the type of choices an author makes privileging one over the other, and ultimately the plot overshadows the individual choices of each character—the soldiers who fight, who are taken prisoner, who allow others to be taken prisoner, and the jihadists/terrorists. Van Reet is empathetic toward all of them, and does an extraordinary job of providing even-handed, interesting problems for each of them to resolve—none of the protagonists or antagonists act by themselves, however. The book is set amid massive geopolitical events, some of which transpire before 9-11—the characters have lives outside the war that all come together in Iraq, mostly in spite of themselves. This is all the more incredible because the characters seem to choose their paths. In other words, it's not clear what role destiny plays in determining Spoils' outcome.
I offer my highest recommendation that people read this book, it will give them insight into how the war happened the way it did, but not in a way that is aggressive or political, as is so often the case.
To begin with, Spoils is driven as much by its powerful characters as its plot. One can tell a lot about a story or an event by the type of choices an author makes privileging one over the other, and ultimately the plot overshadows the individual choices of each character—the soldiers who fight, who are taken prisoner, who allow others to be taken prisoner, and the jihadists/terrorists. Van Reet is empathetic toward all of them, and does an extraordinary job of providing even-handed, interesting problems for each of them to resolve—none of the protagonists or antagonists act by themselves, however. The book is set amid massive geopolitical events, some of which transpire before 9-11—the characters have lives outside the war that all come together in Iraq, mostly in spite of themselves. This is all the more incredible because the characters seem to choose their paths. In other words, it's not clear what role destiny plays in determining Spoils' outcome.
I offer my highest recommendation that people read this book, it will give them insight into how the war happened the way it did, but not in a way that is aggressive or political, as is so often the case.
June 2, 2017
compelling, cliché-free
March 22, 2017
Brief note: I was grateful enough to receive an advanced copy of this book, and I thought it worthwhile to provide my review of the book. I have tried not to include any spoilers.
I have been looking forward to this novel for some time, and it did not disappoint. The book's opening scene takes place early in the Iraq invasion of 2003, and is presented in a chaotic, heart-pounding firefight, where we are introduced to our protagonist Cassandra Wigheard. Manning a 50 caliber machine gun Cassandra appears unafraid of the violence taking place around her as others scramble to safety, only to find herself wounded and disoriented as the situation deteriorates. In vivid language, Van Reet creates an extremely enlivening scene, bringing all the senses one might experience in a firefight through to the reader. Needless to say, I had to take a minute after finishing the opening.
As the novel continues we are transported back in time to more fully understand our three main characters; Cassandra, Specialist Sleed, and Abu Al-Hool. Their back stories are included as a way to develop their thinking (and understanding of war) leading up to the ambush, and as the story progresses thereafter. And as we follow the characters through the days after the ambush we learn how they come to view their current situations and the thinking that got them there. While all three have different reasons for being where they were, all three are connected by the ever-constant struggle of "what if?" In many ways this was one the main themes I took from the book, as all three look to come to terms with, and ultimately accept, their situations.
I do wish that there had been more development of Specialist Sleed's character. At times it felt forced, and not nearly as connected to the narratives of Cassandra and Abu Al-Hool. The reason I would have liked to see more of him is because I think his character has to deal with the most ambiguous, yet ultimately devastating notion of 'what if.' He and his tank crew may be culpable in allowing the events to transpire as they did (and he recognizes this fact), but can he really blame himself for that and the other tragedies that occur? Introspectively he believes so, yet there really is no way of truly knowing. I think Van Reet leaves this idea intentionally ambiguous so that the reader can decide for themselves, and because I think he wants you to see that even Sleed isn't completely convinced of his own guilt. For those reasons I think his character could have benefited from more attention throughout the book.
This was a great novel however, and while I may have liked to have seen a different ending I think there's much to be appreciated in how it ultimately must (in my opinion) conclude. Viewed alongside other new novels about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have to garner high praise on Van Reet's debut novel. It tackles what so many who fought in these wars have dealt with these last 14+ years; from the many what-ifs, to the very real consequences that our actions do have. At times disturbing, this novel is nonetheless a must read for anyone interested in better understanding the weight these wars have placed on those who fought them, and how quickly events can spiral out of control in war.
I have been looking forward to this novel for some time, and it did not disappoint. The book's opening scene takes place early in the Iraq invasion of 2003, and is presented in a chaotic, heart-pounding firefight, where we are introduced to our protagonist Cassandra Wigheard. Manning a 50 caliber machine gun Cassandra appears unafraid of the violence taking place around her as others scramble to safety, only to find herself wounded and disoriented as the situation deteriorates. In vivid language, Van Reet creates an extremely enlivening scene, bringing all the senses one might experience in a firefight through to the reader. Needless to say, I had to take a minute after finishing the opening.
As the novel continues we are transported back in time to more fully understand our three main characters; Cassandra, Specialist Sleed, and Abu Al-Hool. Their back stories are included as a way to develop their thinking (and understanding of war) leading up to the ambush, and as the story progresses thereafter. And as we follow the characters through the days after the ambush we learn how they come to view their current situations and the thinking that got them there. While all three have different reasons for being where they were, all three are connected by the ever-constant struggle of "what if?" In many ways this was one the main themes I took from the book, as all three look to come to terms with, and ultimately accept, their situations.
I do wish that there had been more development of Specialist Sleed's character. At times it felt forced, and not nearly as connected to the narratives of Cassandra and Abu Al-Hool. The reason I would have liked to see more of him is because I think his character has to deal with the most ambiguous, yet ultimately devastating notion of 'what if.' He and his tank crew may be culpable in allowing the events to transpire as they did (and he recognizes this fact), but can he really blame himself for that and the other tragedies that occur? Introspectively he believes so, yet there really is no way of truly knowing. I think Van Reet leaves this idea intentionally ambiguous so that the reader can decide for themselves, and because I think he wants you to see that even Sleed isn't completely convinced of his own guilt. For those reasons I think his character could have benefited from more attention throughout the book.
This was a great novel however, and while I may have liked to have seen a different ending I think there's much to be appreciated in how it ultimately must (in my opinion) conclude. Viewed alongside other new novels about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have to garner high praise on Van Reet's debut novel. It tackles what so many who fought in these wars have dealt with these last 14+ years; from the many what-ifs, to the very real consequences that our actions do have. At times disturbing, this novel is nonetheless a must read for anyone interested in better understanding the weight these wars have placed on those who fought them, and how quickly events can spiral out of control in war.
January 1, 2017
I used to shy away from fiction about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I loved Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain, with its satire and black comedy, but thought that more straightforward or realistic narratives would just be too depressing, and perhaps one-sided in perspective. Phil Klay's Redeployment made me realize that these conflicts could produce many amazing stories told from many different viewpoints.
I know I've missed a few good ones, but I'm so glad (and grateful to Hachette, who sent me the advanced copy) that I didn't let this one pass me by. A former Army tank crewman in Iraq, Van Reet delivers a powerful and beautifully written story told by three characters: two American soldiers and one mujahideen fighter. But all the characters are well rounded and thoughtfully written. And while it's not surprising that a former tank crewman would write such wonderfully detailed descriptions of tank operations and military life in general, he is just as adept at writing details of Islamic life, including nuanced cultural differences between Muslims from different countries.
The story itself is fairly straightforward but incredibly gripping. And while he doesn't pull any punches with the gory details, Van Reet doesn't hit you over the head with "War is Hell" pronouncements. But the story and the characters speak for themselves. While there is much moral and emotional gray area, it is clear that the war in Iraq does not have winners and losers. Only losers.
I know I've missed a few good ones, but I'm so glad (and grateful to Hachette, who sent me the advanced copy) that I didn't let this one pass me by. A former Army tank crewman in Iraq, Van Reet delivers a powerful and beautifully written story told by three characters: two American soldiers and one mujahideen fighter. But all the characters are well rounded and thoughtfully written. And while it's not surprising that a former tank crewman would write such wonderfully detailed descriptions of tank operations and military life in general, he is just as adept at writing details of Islamic life, including nuanced cultural differences between Muslims from different countries.
The story itself is fairly straightforward but incredibly gripping. And while he doesn't pull any punches with the gory details, Van Reet doesn't hit you over the head with "War is Hell" pronouncements. But the story and the characters speak for themselves. While there is much moral and emotional gray area, it is clear that the war in Iraq does not have winners and losers. Only losers.
March 5, 2017
Spoils is the debut novel from author Brian Van Reet.
The story is set in the early stages of the Gulf War in 2003. The plot centres around US Specialist Soldier Cassandra Wigheard and her deployment in Iraq. During her deployment, Cassandra is captured by mujahideen fighters and held hostage.
The plot of Spoils explores Cassandra's capture from multiple viewpoints including Cassandra's, her captors including long-term jihadist Abu al-Hool, and the colleagues she left behind who are searching for her.
The main plot timeline focuses on the capture, but Van Reet jumps the narrative around to give the reader more context on life in the military, Cassandra and al-Hool's background before moving forward in time.
Many other reviewers have commented on Van Reet's minimalist, powerful prose. I agree.
The sentences are really sharply crafted; with no spare words, adjectives or fluff, and the plot moves along at a fast pace. Given Van Reet's military service, it is not surprising that the military aspects of the story, (in particular the battle scenes), are vividly described and very powerful.
Given its subject matter, Spoils is by no means a light read and there are scenes in the novel that some may find disturbing but I thought it was a very powerful read. Highly recommended.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story is set in the early stages of the Gulf War in 2003. The plot centres around US Specialist Soldier Cassandra Wigheard and her deployment in Iraq. During her deployment, Cassandra is captured by mujahideen fighters and held hostage.
The plot of Spoils explores Cassandra's capture from multiple viewpoints including Cassandra's, her captors including long-term jihadist Abu al-Hool, and the colleagues she left behind who are searching for her.
The main plot timeline focuses on the capture, but Van Reet jumps the narrative around to give the reader more context on life in the military, Cassandra and al-Hool's background before moving forward in time.
Many other reviewers have commented on Van Reet's minimalist, powerful prose. I agree.
The sentences are really sharply crafted; with no spare words, adjectives or fluff, and the plot moves along at a fast pace. Given Van Reet's military service, it is not surprising that the military aspects of the story, (in particular the battle scenes), are vividly described and very powerful.
Given its subject matter, Spoils is by no means a light read and there are scenes in the novel that some may find disturbing but I thought it was a very powerful read. Highly recommended.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2017
This book was transporting, awe inspiring, and very hard to put down. I actually considered taking a day off work to finish reading it. Though the narrative was horrifying at times, and the details vivid and disturbing, its violence was not sensationalized. The story evokes sympathy for those on both sides of the conflict and educates on the experiences and beliefs that catalyzed the war, as well as its psychological "spoils" and human cost. I appreciated that enough military jargon was employed to create authentic imagery without alienating readers like myself who came to the book with only vague knowledge of war and a reluctant desire to better understand the experience. I highly recommend this read with the caveat that it will haunt you.
April 11, 2017
I highly recommend this for anyone who has yet to venture into any literature on the Iraq war.
The story revolves around 3 main characters, Cassandra a gunner on a humvee, Abu al-Hool a lifelong mujahdeen, and Specialist Sleed a tank crewman. The narrative is masterfully woven together as all the characters have some cause and effect on each other.
The war is made all too real when a road block is attacked and American soldiers are taken hostage. Every action has a consequence, would they have won that battle if a few men hadn't been blowing off some steam instead of being on time and at the ready when they were supposed to be.
Every choice the characters make puts others in life and death situations and there's no turning back.
This will haunt you and make you more aware of the cost both physical, emotionally and mentally that our troops go through. As a Navy wife the dangers are all too real, but I'm thankful everyday for every man and woman who protects our country. I'd also like to thank the author Brian Van Reet for his service. 🇺🇸
4⭐️’s
The story revolves around 3 main characters, Cassandra a gunner on a humvee, Abu al-Hool a lifelong mujahdeen, and Specialist Sleed a tank crewman. The narrative is masterfully woven together as all the characters have some cause and effect on each other.
The war is made all too real when a road block is attacked and American soldiers are taken hostage. Every action has a consequence, would they have won that battle if a few men hadn't been blowing off some steam instead of being on time and at the ready when they were supposed to be.
Every choice the characters make puts others in life and death situations and there's no turning back.
This will haunt you and make you more aware of the cost both physical, emotionally and mentally that our troops go through. As a Navy wife the dangers are all too real, but I'm thankful everyday for every man and woman who protects our country. I'd also like to thank the author Brian Van Reet for his service. 🇺🇸
4⭐️’s
June 9, 2019
SPOILS is as good a war novel as I've read. Taut, devastating, and without a wasted word. The amount of ground Van Reet covers through a single incident and its fallout is remarkable - the American perspective, the mujahideen - it feels like a completely told story and for me the most remarkable part is the storytelling itself. This is a novel of incredible depth that moves with incredible pace (that is hard to do) and its truths are rendered with empathy, precision, and humility.
Cassandra Wigheard is a likable protagonist, but this was the rare book where I found myself rooting for the story itself. I was hooked early and wanted the book to maintain both its momentum and depth of feeling and it never missed a beat. It was kind of like watching a no-hitter - I kept waiting for the magic to be snapped and it just never was. The ending was absolutely nails and it floored me.
Cassandra Wigheard is a likable protagonist, but this was the rare book where I found myself rooting for the story itself. I was hooked early and wanted the book to maintain both its momentum and depth of feeling and it never missed a beat. It was kind of like watching a no-hitter - I kept waiting for the magic to be snapped and it just never was. The ending was absolutely nails and it floored me.
April 12, 2017
I don't usually read war stories but there was something in the blurb for this book that made me want to read it and I'm glad I followed that up. The story switches between three points of view but there was never any danger of confusing them. The character of Cassandra the young American soldier was particularly well drawn and the stand out character for me. I note that the author is an Iraq war veteran and I wonder just how close to real life this book is. In any case, this is a powerful story and I highly recommend it, particularly to readers (like me) who don't normally read war stories.
I received a free copy of Spoils via NetGalley and my thanks to Vintage Publishing for that.
I received a free copy of Spoils via NetGalley and my thanks to Vintage Publishing for that.
November 16, 2016
A stunning and heart-wrenching portrait of the boots on the ground - on both sides - in the war in Iraq. I read this during a dark and emotional time, which amplified the reading experience and opened new resonances. This novel will stay with me for a long time.
September 27, 2017
"Death by micromanagement."
How hard it must be to write a book that offers a new perspective on war. Brian Van Reet succeeds - quite brilliantly, in my view - because he provides the reader with fresh insights. He is himself a veteran of the conflict in Iraq; this is no guarantee of producing a fine novel of course, but Mr Van Reet is a gifted writer. The opening lines immediately convey the quality of the prose and an example of his insight:
“She is the most dangerous thing around. The best soldiers are like her, just on the far side of childhood. Their exact reasons for fighting don’t matter much. They can carry deep resentments or have been blessed with an easygoing temperament; fear and shame are the army’s two great teaching tools, and they work equally well on most personality types. The main thing, what makes Cassandra good at soldiering, is simply her age. The training won’t transform anyone much over thirty. No amount of drilling and shouting and rote repetition through pain and humiliation and hardship can erase the kind of wariness that comes through the accumulated calamity of years, the adult fear of death that makes taking the kind of risks you must take to personally win a ground war too unlikely a feat for anyone but a megalomaniac, a latent suicide, or a teenager.” The word ‘teenager’ simply stops you in your tracks.
An incident whereby an American detail deployed to guard a crossroads is attacked by a group of jihadis forms the backbone of the narrative which examines the character and motives of the main protagonists from three different points of view. The voice of Abu al-Hool, the bitter deposed leader of a mujahideen cadre, is told in the first person as is the voice of Sleed, the American grunt with a conscience, whose moment of waywardness may have cost the detail dear. But it is Cassandra’s voice that is the most authentic and compelling. How interesting and how honest that *this* is the voice the author chooses to write in the third person - as if he wouldn’t presume to get inside a woman’s head. And yet, get into her head Brian Van Reet does. Without giving too much away, there is one scene when Cassandra’s womanhood manifests itself, pulling the fact of her femininity powerfully into focus and forcing the reader to confront certain appallingly ignorant male attitudes to the female sex. I shudder still to think of it. This book is enlightening and engrossing in equal measure.
How hard it must be to write a book that offers a new perspective on war. Brian Van Reet succeeds - quite brilliantly, in my view - because he provides the reader with fresh insights. He is himself a veteran of the conflict in Iraq; this is no guarantee of producing a fine novel of course, but Mr Van Reet is a gifted writer. The opening lines immediately convey the quality of the prose and an example of his insight:
“She is the most dangerous thing around. The best soldiers are like her, just on the far side of childhood. Their exact reasons for fighting don’t matter much. They can carry deep resentments or have been blessed with an easygoing temperament; fear and shame are the army’s two great teaching tools, and they work equally well on most personality types. The main thing, what makes Cassandra good at soldiering, is simply her age. The training won’t transform anyone much over thirty. No amount of drilling and shouting and rote repetition through pain and humiliation and hardship can erase the kind of wariness that comes through the accumulated calamity of years, the adult fear of death that makes taking the kind of risks you must take to personally win a ground war too unlikely a feat for anyone but a megalomaniac, a latent suicide, or a teenager.” The word ‘teenager’ simply stops you in your tracks.
An incident whereby an American detail deployed to guard a crossroads is attacked by a group of jihadis forms the backbone of the narrative which examines the character and motives of the main protagonists from three different points of view. The voice of Abu al-Hool, the bitter deposed leader of a mujahideen cadre, is told in the first person as is the voice of Sleed, the American grunt with a conscience, whose moment of waywardness may have cost the detail dear. But it is Cassandra’s voice that is the most authentic and compelling. How interesting and how honest that *this* is the voice the author chooses to write in the third person - as if he wouldn’t presume to get inside a woman’s head. And yet, get into her head Brian Van Reet does. Without giving too much away, there is one scene when Cassandra’s womanhood manifests itself, pulling the fact of her femininity powerfully into focus and forcing the reader to confront certain appallingly ignorant male attitudes to the female sex. I shudder still to think of it. This book is enlightening and engrossing in equal measure.
June 27, 2017
I read this for a book club discussion. War novels are not my chosen genre. That aside, this is a very powerful piece of work . . . in fact, nearly too raw and powerful in its intensity. Van Reet writes with a realism that comes from experience (as a medaled Iraqi War tank crewman.) I found a degree of actual physical discomfort in his vivid, gritty narrative. I could only read the book in short bursts, and as a result it took longer than its 290 pages would indicate. The story is told from three points of view, an enlisted American female soldier named Wigheard, an unreliable American tank crewman named Sleed (whose recklessness and poor judgment provides the impetus for the story) and Abu al-Hool, an increasingly disillusioned Egyptian-born jihadist. The varied points of view bring a dimensional humanity to the story, especially from Wigheard and al-Hool. And, out of the roughly twelve to fifteen other characters in the book, only two demonstrate unchallenged, jingoistic, black-and-white extremism. Everyone else is varying shades of gray, participants by circumstance in an unchosen war. A favorite quote from the novel: “Who did you suppose we were fighting? It is always ‘just people.’”
July 24, 2017
The Iraq war, 2003, told from three perspectives - Cassandra, a young American gunner; Abu Al-Hool, a Pakistani mujahideen; and Sleed, an American tank crewman. In the first chapter, Cassandra's Humvee is attacked. Each subsequent chapter is told from one of the three points of view, all leading to and after the attack.
Cassandra's story, told in the third person, propels the story and is interesting from the beginning. It takes several chapters for things to click with the other characters, both written in the first person, and Sleed is a much less successful characterization.
The author served in Iraq and the story's details feel very real. About half way through, the novel becomes a gripping page-turner. Spoils is a valuable addition to the Iraq and Afghanistan war chronicles, especially because it provides a voice for a female American soldier and a jihadist.
Cassandra's story, told in the third person, propels the story and is interesting from the beginning. It takes several chapters for things to click with the other characters, both written in the first person, and Sleed is a much less successful characterization.
The author served in Iraq and the story's details feel very real. About half way through, the novel becomes a gripping page-turner. Spoils is a valuable addition to the Iraq and Afghanistan war chronicles, especially because it provides a voice for a female American soldier and a jihadist.
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