Review by Kaylee123 -- East Wind, 2nd edition
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Kaylee Elmer
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Review by Kaylee123 -- East Wind, 2nd edition
[Following is a volunteer review of "East Wind, 2nd edition" by Jack Winnick.]
A bomb goes off in a marina in Los Angeles, California. The marina and surrounding area are decimated, killing thousands of people. It's clear this terrorist attack isn't a one-time thing. Two young agents must race against the clock to try to prevent another attack. Will they make it in time? Or is the United States doomed?
In East Wind, by Jack Winnick, Lara is a young FBI agent who is an expert at navigating computers. Her new partner, Uri, is an Israeli who is a member of Mossad. They become part of the team trying to track down those responsible for the bombing in Los Angeles. They know they're looking for individuals connected to Hezbollah, a Muslim extremist group. They want the United States to cut ties with Israel and will continue bombings until they get their way.
My favorite part of the book was the relationship between Lara and Uri. Their relationship followed a realistic, natural progression. They started as colleagues who greatly respected each other's skill and talent. This evolved into a friendship. They had dinner outside of work together, and Lara showed Uri around a new city. And then, of course, it became a romantic relationship when they share a tiny hotel room. However, the relationship wasn't overly mushy, and they remained professional. The conversations they had helped the reader find out more about each of them as people, not just as agents.
I also enjoyed the fact that the book involved multiple viewpoints. Lara and Uri are main characters, but the reader is also privy to the thoughts of those on the other side. This included Walid, a young man who was responsible for setting off the bomb in Los Angeles, and Hossein, the bomb maker. Other chapters give insight into what top officials in each country are thinking. I love books that provide both sides of the story. It makes the book more well-rounded.
My least favorite part of the book was how gruesome it was. I understand violence was a necessary part of the story, but a few descriptions were a bit much for me. In the opening scene, the reader gets to picture skin torn off a face and body, as well as pieces of cerebellum splattered on a family portrait. Later, a man is killed, and his slimy organs spill out of his body. Towards the end, an eyeball is plucked from its socket by a knife, and a wrist is bent until it snaps. Some of these descriptions made me physically ill. But honestly, this shows the skill of the author. Winnick made me vividly picture in my mind what was happening.
This book is best for an adult audience. There is violence, sex, and some foul language. Mature teenagers could probably handle it, as well. More specifically, East Wind would really appeal to those who enjoy history and politics. It goes into great detail about the Arab-Israeli conflict and Israel and Palestine. On the flip side, I wouldn't recommend this book to those not interested in that topic. It was hard for me to stay focused on the historical parts at times.
I would rate East Wind 3 out of 4 stars. It doesn't deserve any lower because the story made me want to keep reading once it got going. I had to see how the story ended. The characters were also extremely likable, even some of the terrorists. However, I can't give it a 4 because it started slow, and after the action of the first chapter, it took me a while to get invested.
East Wind was a great mixture of action and history and politics. I look forward to reading the sequels to find out more about Lara and Uri!
******
East Wind, 2nd edition
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
A bomb goes off in a marina in Los Angeles, California. The marina and surrounding area are decimated, killing thousands of people. It's clear this terrorist attack isn't a one-time thing. Two young agents must race against the clock to try to prevent another attack. Will they make it in time? Or is the United States doomed?
In East Wind, by Jack Winnick, Lara is a young FBI agent who is an expert at navigating computers. Her new partner, Uri, is an Israeli who is a member of Mossad. They become part of the team trying to track down those responsible for the bombing in Los Angeles. They know they're looking for individuals connected to Hezbollah, a Muslim extremist group. They want the United States to cut ties with Israel and will continue bombings until they get their way.
My favorite part of the book was the relationship between Lara and Uri. Their relationship followed a realistic, natural progression. They started as colleagues who greatly respected each other's skill and talent. This evolved into a friendship. They had dinner outside of work together, and Lara showed Uri around a new city. And then, of course, it became a romantic relationship when they share a tiny hotel room. However, the relationship wasn't overly mushy, and they remained professional. The conversations they had helped the reader find out more about each of them as people, not just as agents.
I also enjoyed the fact that the book involved multiple viewpoints. Lara and Uri are main characters, but the reader is also privy to the thoughts of those on the other side. This included Walid, a young man who was responsible for setting off the bomb in Los Angeles, and Hossein, the bomb maker. Other chapters give insight into what top officials in each country are thinking. I love books that provide both sides of the story. It makes the book more well-rounded.
My least favorite part of the book was how gruesome it was. I understand violence was a necessary part of the story, but a few descriptions were a bit much for me. In the opening scene, the reader gets to picture skin torn off a face and body, as well as pieces of cerebellum splattered on a family portrait. Later, a man is killed, and his slimy organs spill out of his body. Towards the end, an eyeball is plucked from its socket by a knife, and a wrist is bent until it snaps. Some of these descriptions made me physically ill. But honestly, this shows the skill of the author. Winnick made me vividly picture in my mind what was happening.
This book is best for an adult audience. There is violence, sex, and some foul language. Mature teenagers could probably handle it, as well. More specifically, East Wind would really appeal to those who enjoy history and politics. It goes into great detail about the Arab-Israeli conflict and Israel and Palestine. On the flip side, I wouldn't recommend this book to those not interested in that topic. It was hard for me to stay focused on the historical parts at times.
I would rate East Wind 3 out of 4 stars. It doesn't deserve any lower because the story made me want to keep reading once it got going. I had to see how the story ended. The characters were also extremely likable, even some of the terrorists. However, I can't give it a 4 because it started slow, and after the action of the first chapter, it took me a while to get invested.
East Wind was a great mixture of action and history and politics. I look forward to reading the sequels to find out more about Lara and Uri!
******
East Wind, 2nd edition
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Josh the Firetruck by Bob A Goldstein
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anaplasticCerebrum
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I agree, Winnick sometimes described violence way too deeply. I am totally disgusted by entrails and eyeballs, so reading those sections was especially difficult.
