Amusing, Timely, and surprisingly Moving
It is a satire, make no mistake, but it's subject matter is extremely timely. The entire time I was reading the book, I kept thinking "this would make a fantastic movie!" If you have seen (or have a chance to see) the 1979 movie "The In-Laws" with Peter Falk and Alan Arkin, you will know what I mean. The protagonists play it straight, though the author clearly has his tongue in his cheek the entire time. When you are crafting a satire involving ISIS and many, many beheadings, it is a fine line that must be walked. The author does so admirably well. Because the reality of the events in the book are, sadly, a part of our reality, it could be upsetting to some despite its positioning as a satire. If you are able to make the necessary compartmentalization, this is a great read. Some of the points seemed overdone (to me), like beating a dead horse; however overall it was a fun and entertaining read