The Alice Network

Storyline: 1 Stars

Honestly, this was one of the worst books that I read this year. It wasn’t because the premesis was bad; I think that women spies did great things in the World Wars and I believe that their contribution often goes unnoted.

The book was the problem. The women were silly and naive and I didn’t really get the feeling that they understood the seriousness of the war or the seriousness of what was going on. I thought that the “present day” story really contributed nothing to the storyline. I don’t understand what the point was of having multiple POVs, especially when one was in first person and one was in third person.

I have read so many great historical fiction novels based on true stories, and this did not remotely match any of them. There are much better stories than this one. Don’t waste your time–especially not over 500 pages worth of time.

Parental Guidance: 45% Recommend

Not only did The Alice Network not have a great story or writing, it was not appropriate. When I read a historical war fiction novel, I expect violence and even some swearing, but I don’t expect unnecessary adultery and drinking while pregnant. Those are just a few of the odd things that happened that made no sense, and really sets a poor example. The adultery is seen as “okay” since the spouse was apparently “crazy”. And the drinking while pregnant was considered okay because they didn’t know it was bad. But come on, it can’t be good. I would recommend this book 45% of the time, which is pretty low for a historical fiction novel.

There was frequent swearing, although not as much as some books. The “f*ck” word was used, along with other swear words and derogatory language. There was excessive drinking; almost every character was drunk and violent at some point.

There was a decent amount of violence, but most if it was not very graphic. The most disturbing part of the book was the romantic and s*xual relationships portrayed. The intimate scenes were not necessary painted in detail, but there was enough to be disgusted by. It was pretty gross and I would not recommend the book for that reason, especially since a character has an intimate relationship for the purpose of getting information.

Read Book Chat

Spoilers Ahead

I really didn’t like The Alice Network which was such a disappointment because I wanted to like it! It just fell flat. The book did not do justice to the real Alice Network.

First, I didn’t understand why there was a first person and third person POV. I understand that one was supposed to be told as a “story”, but then at the end of the book, it’s no longer a story, Eve is in the present day and it’s still in the third person. It bothered me.

I hated all of the romantic relationships. I didn’t even like Finn because there was no chemistry and no reason for me to like him except that he was a man who existed. I really disliked how Eve was so willing and didn’t see the problem with her body being used for information. Plus, it seemed like that part did not do her any real trauma. I really don’t like books that portray disturbing and traumatizing s*xual relationships like they are nothing. Sure, Even hates Rene because of her hands and the betrayal, but it doesn’t seem like she has any scars for the others things he did to her. For Eve becoming a spy as innocent as she was, I would imagine it being more traumatizing. I know it would have been for me! And then Cameron . . . adultery is not okay! I am sick of seeing it rationalized if that other spouse isn’t “perfect”. It bothered me. Then there’s Charlie sleeping around because she’s grieving, but she seemed like a whiner. I just did not appreciate how romantic relationships were portrayed.

I didn’t care about Charlie. I didn’t care that her brother died, but I think that’s because there was no backstory or reason to care. Charlie was written poorly, and at the end when she didn’t find Rose alive, I really didn’t care. I know that I was supposed to care, but the writing of characters was so poor that in those moments I knew it was fictional so I really did not have to care. I dreaded reading Charlie’s storyline. Yet, she somehow got her perfect life because Eve hired the perfect driver.

I could go on and on. All the clique baby naming. I rolled my eyes when Cameron named her child after Eve. Really? He one day told his wife, “I want to name our baby Eve after this great woman I know”. And then he neglects to tell her that they are naming their child after the woman he cheated on his wife with! Then of course Rose’s baby was named after Charlie, because what person doesn’t name their baby after their best friend from age eleven, and then of course Charlie names her baby after both Rose and Eve. Wow, how cute. No, just annoying.

More about Charlie . . . because she was such a “Little Problem”. I could not stand her calling her pregnancy that. At one point she even abbreviated it to the “L.P.” Ugh. And then all the weird math analogies. I’m sorry, I love excel spreadsheets, but I don’t look at social situations and think of the perfect excel formula that fits the situation.

There’s more. There’s more that I could rant about this book, but I won’t. Maybe you’ll like it. I just could not get past all the aforementioned “little problems”.