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A review by marthagal
The Last War by Ana Menéndez
4.0
Usually when I finish a book, I think about whether I liked the plot or the characters or what not. This was one time where what really stood out was the writing. I thought that this book was beautifully written.
The main character, Flash, is a photographer who makes her living covering wars with her journalist husband, Brando. The novel in set in 2003, and Brando is in Iraq. Meanwhile, Flash is in Istanbul ostensibly waiting for her papers to come through so she can join him. Other than a mysterious letter arriving, not much happens in the novel except Flash living in Istanbul and considering her marriage.
I love introspective stuff like this. I love being a voyeur in someone's inner life.
Anyway. Some minor things I didn't like:
1) I thought the phrase "I poured myself a glass of wine" was way overused. And that's taking into account the fact that a) I get the wine-drinking was a key characterization thing and b) I love wine.
2) I didn't like all the nicknames. Flash, Tunes, Wonderboy. Eh. Something about them just rubbed me the wrong way.
3) I found the flashbacks to Afghanistan confusing and sort of annoying. Also, I didn't believe that Flash would really do a thing that I will not name for fear of spoiling the plot.
The main character, Flash, is a photographer who makes her living covering wars with her journalist husband, Brando. The novel in set in 2003, and Brando is in Iraq. Meanwhile, Flash is in Istanbul ostensibly waiting for her papers to come through so she can join him. Other than a mysterious letter arriving, not much happens in the novel except Flash living in Istanbul and considering her marriage.
I love introspective stuff like this. I love being a voyeur in someone's inner life.
Anyway. Some minor things I didn't like:
1) I thought the phrase "I poured myself a glass of wine" was way overused. And that's taking into account the fact that a) I get the wine-drinking was a key characterization thing and b) I love wine.
2) I didn't like all the nicknames. Flash, Tunes, Wonderboy. Eh. Something about them just rubbed me the wrong way.
3) I found the flashbacks to Afghanistan confusing and sort of annoying. Also, I didn't believe that Flash would really do a thing that I will not name for fear of spoiling the plot.