We Are Now Beginning Our Descent

by James Meek
We Are Now Beginning Our Descent  
published March 2008 by Canongate Books Ltd
binding Hardcover
isbn 184195988X   (isbn13: 9781841959887)
pages 302
description From the author of the best-selling, universally acclaimed The People’s Act of Love comes the incisive and timeless story of a globe-trotting...more
date added
10-22-07



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Ollie
Ollie rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
03/29/08

Read in March, 2008
recommends it for: bitter journalists and paperback writers
Anyone expecting a great follow up to James Meek's brilliant The People's Act of Love is in for a disappointment. Like his previous novel, this one revolves around war - this time, though, he tells the story of a journalist stationed in Afghanistan, Adam Kellas, who falls in love with hard-to-peg Astrid, another journalist. The novel then traces Adam's search for Astrid in America as his personal and professional life falls apart.

Meek's experience as a Guardian journalist during Ame...more
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Brian
Brian rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/11/08

bookshelves: fiction
Read in July, 2008
When I finished reading this novel, I couldn't help think back to the uproar over Bill Maher's comments that got him fired right after 9/11. He said Americans are cowards because we dropped bombs from 10,000 feet and consequently did not have to deal with the human toll those bombs left behind.

James Meek provides a gloomy picture of two war correspondents and how their lives came together and separated after the invasion in Afghanistan in 2001. Through the eyes of Adam Kallas, the reader is ...more
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Lynne
Lynne rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
01/27/08

Read in January, 2008
SO - WAY - different from People's Act of Love in setting and feel, Descent is another powerful meditation from Meek on the irrevocable damages of war; in this case, how journalists are affected by being supposedly objective observers of the daily horror and carnage of war zones. What are the ethical stance and the responsiblities of reporters? Is true objectivity possible or even desirable? What happens to humans when they become hardened to violence? Do they become, at some level, monsters...more
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Doogyjim
Doogyjim rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
01/28/08

Read in January, 2008
I was eagerly looking forward to this as I'd enjoyed The People's Act of Love, mainly for the gripping originality and strength of its story but this new novel came as a disappointment.

Evidently based on Meek's experiences in Afghanistan, it seems flawless in its detailing of place and atmosphere and there's a terrific dinner party sequence where Kellas, the protagonist breaks down nd lets rip at its smug guests. But the narrative, ultimately a rather unconvincing love story, is a bit thin...more
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Dan
Dan rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
05/28/08

Read in May, 2008
I've filed my review with the Austin Chronicle, and have to confess that I did not know about author Meek before picking up this novel. It's a swirling, interesting take on writing and war craft in the Age of Terrorism. Key to the understanding that I came up with is the idea that regardless of the political stakes, Westerners and foreigners to the conflicts of the Middle East are still living their lives, drinking, fighting, filled with jealousy and trying to create art.

So, yes, I liked i...more
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Stewart
Stewart rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/17/08

bookshelves: scottish
Read in March, 2008
"With the current political climate involving efforts to bring “the American way” to nations such as Afghanistan and Iraq, Meek is perhaps right that culture has begun its downward flight. But We Are Now Beginning Our Descent is not the novel to combat it, being a lesser novel to Meek’s previous effort."

Read my full review here.
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Michael
Michael rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/02/08

bookshelves: 2008, generalfiction
Read in May, 2008
Not sure why I liked this book as much as I did. The novel had no plot to speak of (quite a departure from Meek's last novel, "The People's Act of Love") and the dialogue was strange and stilted in some spots. But there was also a sly sense of humor at work, and a lot of skill in the way the characters were drawn.
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Donster
Like others here, I was expecting something of the quality of The People's Act of Love and was disappointed. The book is well written; there just isn't much of a story here and what there is just isn't that interesting.
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Andrea
Andrea rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
10/24/07

Read in September, 2007
recommends it for: men
A real man's book, a tale of a journalist's time in Afghanistan, then back home in England. There's a bit of a love story too, told in a way only a man can.
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Ian
Ian is currently reading it
08/07/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
I read The People's Act of Love in 2006 and really enjoyed it, so hopefully this will be as good.
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Alissa
Alissa rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
07/14/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
This book is making me loose my dinner.
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Kit
Kit rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/10/08

Read in April, 2008
TK
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Preeti
Preeti marked it as to-read
08/08/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Rendi
Rendi marked it as to-read
05/18/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Charlene
Charlene marked it as to-read (review of isbn 0002008564)
11/28/07

bookshelves: tlw, to-read
 

Roderick
Roderick marked it as to-read
07/21/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Anne
Anne marked it as to-read (review of isbn 0002008564)
03/23/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Katelyn
Katelyn marked it as to-read
07/01/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Michael
Michael marked it as to-read (review of isbn 1847671764)
03/27/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Rachael
Rachael marked it as to-read
03/30/08

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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 2.81 (21 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 2.85 (20 ratings)
number of reviews: 12






other editions

We Are Now Beginning Our Descent (Hardcover)
We Are Now Beginning Our Descent (Paperback)
We Are Now Beginning Our Descent (Hardcover)