Review of THE SHOT by Sarah Sultoon

 4 Stars

Though set at the beginning of the 21^st century in London, South Asia, the Middle East, and Northeast Africa, this book is very topical especially because of the war in Ukraine. 

The book focuses on two characters who work for the same news organization based in London.  Samira (Sami) Nassar is a young, inexperienced graphics producer working the nightshift who aspires to become a field journalist.  Kris is the network’s star cameraman who has been to various combat zones.  Because Sami can speak some Arabic, she finds herself paired with Kris and sent to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Sudan.  Sami quickly proves to have an instinct for stories which show the impact of war on ordinary people in the war-torn regions.  She sees first-hand the darkness of war but fails to see its impact on those with whom she works. 

Chapters alternate between Sami (first-person narration) and Kris (third-person narration).  The two are very different personalities.  Sami is idealistic, believing she can make a difference in the world by “giving voice to the voiceless, holding power to account, [and] shining a light into the darkness.”  Ambitious, she is anxious to prove herself.  Kris, the seasoned photojournalist, is cynical about what journalists can accomplish but finds himself unable to adjust to life away from combat zones.  Even after being injured, he yearns to return to conflict regions.  What Sami and Kris share are childhood traumas; though different in nature, these traumas become strong motivators which explain their choices. 

The novel is not an easy read because it depicts the horrors of war, especially its impact on civilians.  Bibi, Ahmed, and Yousra, three people Sami interviews, have stories of overwhelming loss which cannot but move the reader to tears.  But the book also focuses on the emotional damage suffered by war correspondents in the face of what they see and their helplessness to help the victims.  People can turn off the news, but Kris says, “’I can’t turn it off.  I can never fucking turn it off . . . I can’t even turn it down.’” 

The book suggests that the news industry is not always supportive of those who witness horrors while gathering news.  For example, journalists risk their lives to bring viewers images and stories of people’s suffering “only for the paymasters to look away when they brought home the evidence.”  Kris speaks of a tragedy he recorded:  “We told everyone about that, the world even screamed bloody murder, but nobody did a damn thing about it, not a one.  And the business made more money off my pictures than went to the relief effort.”  The author suggests that news companies want impactful stories without recognizing the cost to the people collecting those stories.  Since Sarah Sultoon is an award-winning journalist and international news executive at CNN with extensive experience in conflict zones, her perspective is enlightening. 

My interest never wavered.  The plot has considerable action and suspense.  Often I experienced a feeling that something was not right, but I didn’t always pay sufficient attention and so I was shocked by what is revealed near the end.  Of course, thinking back, I realize I shouldn’t have been because there are hints.  I think a re-reading would emphasize the author’s masterful subtlety. 

Promotional material for the book claims “You'll never look at a news report in the same way again.”  I agree.  When I look at war footage, I’ll be thinking of more victims than just those pictured.  This is a thought-provoking book which I highly recommend to book clubs because there is so much to discuss.  The book even ends with an invitation to the reader:  “But who is really to blame?  Where does the true fault lie?  You decide.  You’ve got all the facts now.”  I will be giving these questions more thought, but I do know for certain that this is one excellent book.