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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I had some unease about this book - white/male author writing the "autobiography" of a refugee, Valentino Achak Deng. Nonetheless, he somehow manages to write a really compelling story that avoids exoticizing or romanticizing Valentino's life. It's surprisingly uplifting, crafted in a way so that the reader isn't hit with tragedy upon tragedy. But I can't help but wonder if the general spirit of optimism is the outlook of Valentino, or if Eggers imposed it on him, feeling justified in doing so because he overcame his own tragedies? Good background into understanding the current political situation in the Sudan.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It took me a good while to get through this book, maybe because of the heavy subject matter. It was recommended by a friend who got chills and serious emotional reaction to parts of the book. I didn't have the same reactions, but I was glad to have read it. I learned a great deal about the experiences of the Lost Boys.
I loved this book. I love the point of view and I loved the description. i want more books like this. I want more Dave Eggers
This was a really good listen! I love the way that the author told the story though the main character explaining pieces of his past subconsciously to those he encounters in his present day. Also it taught me a lot about the Sudanese civil war and prompted me to do more research on the topic!
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Trigger warning - lots of death and sadness. But very eye opening to the refugee experience
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
long but worth it! The book follows the real-life story of Valentino Achak Deng, a lost boy who escapes the conflict in Sudan and, over many years, eventually ends up in Atlanta. It is a fictional biography, where creative liberties are taken to construct the story you read here. But if I had to, and from what I gathered, only the dialogue appears to be fiction, all the events were real. It's a brutal story, that like Valentino's life, is violent and, for me, makes clear that there are no victors in war, only survivors. It's a long book, and I believe some parts could be removed, but if you can move past that, you're in for a life story that is inspiring by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War
Much of what you will read is graphic, the Sudanese civil war as described and explained in the book, I would consider falls under genocide and modern-day slavery. You will also encounter graphic scenes of war. You have been warned
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Abandoning this book after a few hours of reading. Sudan sucks, I get it. Very complicated. Hard to know who the good guys and who are the bad guys. Next book, please.