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ninmarkovic's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
angola's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
stevenanteau's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this book, but I've never wavered on a 3.5 more than this.
Your enjoyment of this book will depend mainly on your "politics junkie" status, your support of Andrew Yang, and your partisanship.
The Last Election is the story of the last year of the 2024 election cycle with a third-party candidate, Cooper Sherman, upending the system. The chapters are separated by several weeks and highlight important moments of the campaign cycle: Media appearances, Super Tuesday, the debates, etc., and in between are significant events hinted at but rarely seen or explained.
In the background, there is a military conspiracy to overthrow the constitution and a reporter sitting on the story. Cooper's campaign managers and staff, a right-wing "problem solver," a tech billionaire, and others make up the window dressing to make the book move page by page.
I'll start with the general eye rollers and failures of the book.
The characters are not defined much at all. One wants a baby, but that's all we know. None of the campaign staff seem to have lives outside of hoping to save democracy. Cooper himself is as out of touch and hopeful as any actual candidates. The most interesting character is the right-wing mobster who drinks, commiserates, and tells his life story to prostitutes.
The assassinations, bombings, and street wars happen in the background, like on a news channel crawl. It felt like I was reading half, or even one-third, of a book. A chapter would end with an explosive, shocking act of violence, then jump forward 6 weeks, and it would never be mentioned again outside of some quip about the "rise in violence."
There are some NAUSEATING depictions and conversations about sex that add nothing to the book and come at the most ludicrous moments. Running from a gang of black-clad vigilantes would not get me horny, but maybe I'm the weird one. It all comes out of left field and exists in a vacuum, rarely acknowledged again.
Now, the good.
The book is fanfiction of how Andrew Yang wished his campaign had gone. It felt authentic like the authors were pulling from actual events. Bundling, campaign events, lobbying, navigating news scandals, etc., all rang authentic from experience.
The rise in violence and the reaction will be over the top until we see it happen in the real world, but it didn't seem that outlandish. Just the 2020 election turned up one degree more. The downward spiral of the country felt believable and rooted in policy. The news interviews and use of the natural world made it easy to visualize and feel.
The story is a page-turner, and I read this in just 3 sittings. It moved fast and made me wish there was a sequel or a midquel to fill the gap, telling the story from another character's POV.
I would recommend this to anyone who is into the news, and if you're a Yang fan, it is Tailor-made for you.
I will have to drop it to a 3-star but a 4-star if you are the target demographic.
Your enjoyment of this book will depend mainly on your "politics junkie" status, your support of Andrew Yang, and your partisanship.
The Last Election is the story of the last year of the 2024 election cycle with a third-party candidate, Cooper Sherman, upending the system. The chapters are separated by several weeks and highlight important moments of the campaign cycle: Media appearances, Super Tuesday, the debates, etc., and in between are significant events hinted at but rarely seen or explained.
In the background, there is a military conspiracy to overthrow the constitution and a reporter sitting on the story. Cooper's campaign managers and staff, a right-wing "problem solver," a tech billionaire, and others make up the window dressing to make the book move page by page.
I'll start with the general eye rollers and failures of the book.
The characters are not defined much at all. One wants a baby, but that's all we know. None of the campaign staff seem to have lives outside of hoping to save democracy. Cooper himself is as out of touch and hopeful as any actual candidates. The most interesting character is the right-wing mobster who drinks, commiserates, and tells his life story to prostitutes.
The assassinations, bombings, and street wars happen in the background, like on a news channel crawl. It felt like I was reading half, or even one-third, of a book. A chapter would end with an explosive, shocking act of violence, then jump forward 6 weeks, and it would never be mentioned again outside of some quip about the "rise in violence."
There are some NAUSEATING depictions and conversations about sex that add nothing to the book and come at the most ludicrous moments. Running from a gang of black-clad vigilantes would not get me horny, but maybe I'm the weird one. It all comes out of left field and exists in a vacuum, rarely acknowledged again.
Now, the good.
The book is fanfiction of how Andrew Yang wished his campaign had gone. It felt authentic like the authors were pulling from actual events. Bundling, campaign events, lobbying, navigating news scandals, etc., all rang authentic from experience.
The rise in violence and the reaction will be over the top until we see it happen in the real world, but it didn't seem that outlandish. Just the 2020 election turned up one degree more. The downward spiral of the country felt believable and rooted in policy. The news interviews and use of the natural world made it easy to visualize and feel.
The story is a page-turner, and I read this in just 3 sittings. It moved fast and made me wish there was a sequel or a midquel to fill the gap, telling the story from another character's POV.
I would recommend this to anyone who is into the news, and if you're a Yang fan, it is Tailor-made for you.
I will have to drop it to a 3-star but a 4-star if you are the target demographic.
fransbooks's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
lady_snuffy's review against another edition
4.0
A gripping telling of a political campaign that is full of suspense, intrigue and thrills. The Last Election follows the presidential canditate of Andrew Yang and we are thrown into the chaotic world of possibilities - frightening possibilities. Following the main characters of Mikey Ricci and Martha Kass, we follow blindly into the underbelly of the political sphere where we are faced with the grim and sometimes questionable decisions, that are played out behind the scenes.
This is a great look at the failure of the America’s Two-party system and how the delicate balance can lead into the unthinkable, As well as the fear of the collapse of the electoral system of the US government.
Andrew Yang and Stephen Marche have provided a gripping, thrilling glimpse into a frightening possibilities of unhinged seizure of power within the American government election system.
4 Stars and well worth a seceond listening to.
This is a great look at the failure of the America’s Two-party system and how the delicate balance can lead into the unthinkable, As well as the fear of the collapse of the electoral system of the US government.
Andrew Yang and Stephen Marche have provided a gripping, thrilling glimpse into a frightening possibilities of unhinged seizure of power within the American government election system.
4 Stars and well worth a seceond listening to.
the_kristin_amber's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sciencewhizliz's review against another edition
2.0
I had a hard time with this book. The premise was intriguing but something missed the mark. I had a hard time staying engaged with the audio so I feel like I missed important points in the story. Overall it was entertaining but perhaps better consumed in print!
cosmicbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
The story is about the 3rd Party candidacy of the newly founded Maverick Party, and about what could happen if, in a presidential contest, nobody reaches the 270 vote threshold that would win them the election. It is thought-provoking and frightening. The idea that scandal is needed in order for a candidate to be popular is disturbing. With Andrew Yang having run for the candidacy in the last presidential election cycle he has inside knowledge of what actually goes on. It is unclear what parts of the novel are true and what parts are simply possibilities or speculation.
I found "The Last Election" to be heavy-handed messaging disguised as a novel. It is slow-moving at times but thought-provoking. There is way more sexual content than necessary....unless everyone in Washington really is a pervert who has no respect for women...including the women. Who knows - maybe Yang and Marche are calling it as it is. If so everyone in Washington should be ousted.
The representation of the press being unwilling to put stories in print that the American public has a right to know about or should be aware of is frightening. I don't know who of my peers I would recommend this book to, but there are ideas presented that we should all be able to try to wrap our minds around. The idea of a Contingent Election was never brought up in Government class.
I found "The Last Election" to be heavy-handed messaging disguised as a novel. It is slow-moving at times but thought-provoking. There is way more sexual content than necessary....unless everyone in Washington really is a pervert who has no respect for women...including the women. Who knows - maybe Yang and Marche are calling it as it is. If so everyone in Washington should be ousted.
The representation of the press being unwilling to put stories in print that the American public has a right to know about or should be aware of is frightening. I don't know who of my peers I would recommend this book to, but there are ideas presented that we should all be able to try to wrap our minds around. The idea of a Contingent Election was never brought up in Government class.