Review of America: The Obliged

[Lal Roni]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "America: The Obliged" by Nathan O'Discin.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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MY experience of reading "America: The Obliged" resembled observing an incredibly detailed account of a progressing disaster rather than traditional book reading. The unsettling experience held my attention forcefully because it resembled viewing an impending catastrophic storm. This book influenced me personally according to my viewpoint beyond standard reviewing criteria.

The book's setting must be clarified as our starting point. The author depicts an ominous, realistic scenario for America's 2045 state. The setting of this world lacks high-tech cities, like "drab overcast wrapped the sky in a gluttonous daub of clouds," showing oppressive weather conditions. President Aiden Connor controls the nation with an authoritarian grip while drawing new political boundaries through bloodshed. Your introduction to the book occurs in the ruined Statesboro Hospital, where you instantly experience the chilling environment. In this scene, you stand there with others while the sleet mixes with rain as you observe the "lazy crowd" who watch and fear the "unusual presence" of militiamen standing arm in arm outside the old facility. The current state of America exists as a reality of political deterioration that suffocates citizens throughout the nation.

The story follows Alyssa Cambridge, who just became a congresswoman through her idealistic worldview in this troubled time, and her loyal friend Chase. They must fight to live while trying to believe in better times despite massive adversity. The author presents the true brutality of our society in this story. As Chase enters Washington, D.C., his bus window shatters under a brick thrown by a protester, breaking his initial positive impression. This violent introduction marks the beginning of his challenging adventures. The setting features physical assaults and acts of violence instead of quiet political games.

The book showed moral gray areas without avoiding them. The story features regular people trying to live through a society built to destroy them without any definite good or bad characters. The mysterious militia leader Derrick Reddon does not represent a perfect hero figure. He represents a full personality with good and bad qualities that emerge in his leadership and personal relationships. He leads with brutal efficiency but reveals his weakness when facing his suffering and Chase's unexpected kindness. The story featured unclear moral standards throughout, making me doubt the intentions of all its characters.

Understanding the alliances between different groups and their specific ideologies proved challenging because it required memorization work. Multiple references, such as “SLACR program,” “Fairchild Ballistix,” and “Russo-Syria,” helped build the story world but sometimes became too frequent to keep pace with the emotional developments of the story.

Despite being an unexpected narrative hook, the romantic relationship between Chase and Derrick often developed too quickly. The political turmoil between them created an undeniable bond, but their fast transition from cautious partners to deeper love needed further developmental complexity. The most powerful element of the book emerged when Derrick revealed his authentic emotions to Chase while maintaining his typically tough demeanor.

The technical execution of the novel stands out through its competent editing work. This lengthy and complex book showed no instances of typographical or grammatical flaws throughout its pages. The enormous level of care devoted to constructing this world as well as its narrative serves as proof of the meticulous approach. Through this approach, I was able to lose myself in the story because there were no interruptions that would break my concentration.

The book receives 5 stars out of 5. The book offers an intense reading experience that becomes intentionally disturbing at points but presents a strong and current narrative. This thought stands as a severe alert, which shows us the path we should work to stop from becoming reality. I strongly suggest this book to people who like reading dystopian literature that tackles challenging scenarios along with politically-involved thrillers featuring multi-dimensional protagonists whose stories remain vivid in readers' thoughts. People searching for escape should avoid this title. Readers who want to challenge their thinking through literature about the directions of our world must add "America: The Obliged" to their reading list

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America: The Obliged
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[Mark Lazarus]

The premise of a politically deteriorated future America, combined with morally complex characters and a gritty narrative, is definitely compelling. I’m particularly intrigued by the dynamic between Chase and Derrick, especially how the story explores vulnerability in the midst of chaos. The emotional and political tension seems like it would keep me hooked. While the heavy themes and unsettling atmosphere might be a lot to take in, I think it could be a worthwhile read for the thought-provoking experience it offers. I’d consider giving it a try.

[NetMassimo]

I'm not sure I feel like reading another dystopic novel but this one seems well developed, with shades of gray showing various aspects with this version of the USA, not very far aways from the current version. Thank you for your great review!