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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Just an astounding story. I love that it pulls no punches- Deng is honest about his heartbreak, his tough times in the US. He acknowledges perspective, an overall better situation, but that does little to eliminate the prejudice, violence, confusion he experiences in this supposed land of promise. As to his story of escape- it’s just absolutely insane. Idk if another writer or angle could have handled it all better, but I found Egger’s approach effective. An amazing book and an amazing, honest account of preserving. Would recommend reading to anyone and everyone.
Now *this* is a heartbreaking work of staggering genius. I would give it 18 stars if I could.
i guess i shouldn't expect an autobiography of a man who spent 20 years walking across africa/in refugee camps to be the most amazingly exciting book ever, but this really dragged in parts and made it tough for me to want to finish. i'm glad i did, and it was pretty good over all, but it's not exactly a page turner.
Did I ever tell you that I love Dave Eggers? I used to *love* Dave Eggers, and want to marry him. I've grown up now, and have a family of my own: Jake and Phantom. But I'll always carry a little candle for him. And I'll probably embarrass myself to him a few more times... Oh, I didn't tell you about the time I announced to him that I was infatuated with him? In front of a huge crowd at a book signing/reading event? Well, let's not go there.
I grew up knowing and hearing the stories of refugees through my mother's and sister's line of work, and, having recently taught ESOL to newcomer tweens, this story felt familiar. However, my interest wasn't diminished at al, because What Is The What is true and beautiful.
Dave Eggers was the vessel for Achek to tell his story in a way that Americans, particularly those who are foreign to the subject, would understand. The story reads like those I have grown up hearing; if it hadn't, I wouldn't give Eggers so much credit, because it would have seemed fake to me. But even though it's fictional, it's real. Props, Dave.
Dave Eggers was the vessel for Achek to tell his story in a way that Americans, particularly those who are foreign to the subject, would understand. The story reads like those I have grown up hearing; if it hadn't, I wouldn't give Eggers so much credit, because it would have seemed fake to me. But even though it's fictional, it's real. Props, Dave.
What a huge range of impressions of this book there are in the reviews! I'm not going to write anything about the plot because everybody else has written tons. I borrowed this book from a friend, and have several others who have read it too. We all work (or have worked) with refugees and so like to read books by and about the countries from which they've originated.
I've got a closer link as well - my partner is an Ethiopian refugee. Over the years that this book was set, he was a refugee living in Sudan, in Khartoum. That means he wasn't near southern Sudan, but I still felt some connection, and of course I was particularly interested in the small bits of Ethiopia despite them being negative in this book. My partner talks very rarely about his past. He says he's going to write his story, but he hasn't started yet and I'm not sure how to encourage him.
It's all so hard to comprehend, isn't it?! - the inhumanity of murder on such a mass scale. It's not a new phenomenon, but has happened over and over through the centuries (millennia). Yet still it's hard to comprehend.
I've got a closer link as well - my partner is an Ethiopian refugee. Over the years that this book was set, he was a refugee living in Sudan, in Khartoum. That means he wasn't near southern Sudan, but I still felt some connection, and of course I was particularly interested in the small bits of Ethiopia despite them being negative in this book. My partner talks very rarely about his past. He says he's going to write his story, but he hasn't started yet and I'm not sure how to encourage him.
It's all so hard to comprehend, isn't it?! - the inhumanity of murder on such a mass scale. It's not a new phenomenon, but has happened over and over through the centuries (millennia). Yet still it's hard to comprehend.
What is the What is a fictionalized story of one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. It's written by Eggers, but taken from the stories of Valentino Achak Deng.
Anyway, the story follows Achak as he escapes from his home village in Sudan as well as a story in the present about his life in the US.
Besides the fact that the story of his escape from the violence around him is incredible, I was fascinated by cultural perspective of Achak as he discussed his troubles adjusting to life in the US.
Anyway, the story follows Achak as he escapes from his home village in Sudan as well as a story in the present about his life in the US.
Besides the fact that the story of his escape from the violence around him is incredible, I was fascinated by cultural perspective of Achak as he discussed his troubles adjusting to life in the US.
This is a great way to learn about Sudan's history and civil war--through the eyes of one of its Lost Boys. Sudan's history is one of the most complex on the continent, and this book, even though technically a novel, does a great job of presenting the history and all of its intricacies that have brought Sudan to the present day.
Even more amazing is being able to witness through the eyes of the main character, the strength and resilience of what the Lost Boys, and many Sudanese have gone, and are currently, going through. In many ways, their story resonates in Northern Uganda, Eastern Congo, Somalia, etc.
Even more amazing is being able to witness through the eyes of the main character, the strength and resilience of what the Lost Boys, and many Sudanese have gone, and are currently, going through. In many ways, their story resonates in Northern Uganda, Eastern Congo, Somalia, etc.