Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Poignant and personal. A very educational novel about the Sudanese Civil War and the subsequent resettlement of Sudanese refugees. I enjoyed the narrative style and the narrator was easy to root for.
This is a well-written book about Valentino Achak Deng, a former Lost Boy of Sudan, and his incredible life. I think in this current climate many may view a white writer creating a semi autobiographical book about an African man’s journey from Sudan to America, and I would count myself in that group, at least until I read it. Honestly, I feel capable of writing my own story of my own life, but I would really like it if Dave Eggers would do it for me. I know it’s probably not the same thing, but Eggers is a talented writer whose choices in this novel were well-sculpted and edited. This could have been a rather straightforward book about a boy from a war torn country in Africa to America but Eggers uses some clever asynchronous story telling to add more depth and context to Deng’s hard story. And make no bones about it, Eggers comes short of being Deng in the ways a white man from the West can, but I also am thankful he used his cache of talent and privileged status to tell Deng’s story. I feel like I’m a better and more educated person because of these two collaborating on telling a story of a man who exists.
challenging
dark
hopeful
medium-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
I really reserve 5 stars for books that change the way I think/change my life, and Dave Eggers "What is the What?" certainly did that for me. The pasted together 'fictionalised' life story of Valentino Achak Deng, is one of pure heartbreak, survival and hope. A searing account of the life of a Sudanese refugee in America and his account of his 14 years spent as a refugee in Kenya, I was aware of Sudan and all of its troubles, however now I feel greatly educated to the Sudanese peoples plight and humbled by my wealthy life in comparison. This book just poured into my brain, made me cry on several occasions but also made me laugh and smile at the vivid descriptions of the people in his life. There is so many ways for a small boy to die in Sudan, and too many are described here, but an honest account couldnt be without them. An easy read, but a heartbreaking one, I urge you to give the gift of this book to yourself. It will change how you see the world and your life.
I love Dave Eggers and his writing style, and I enjoyed reading this book (if "enjoyed" can be said about a serious book like this). I also earned so much from this book. Eggers did a phenomenal job of portraying the experiences of the Sudanese refugees in a very compelling, empathic way. This is a book that needs to be read - we need to know about these issues.
If you'd like to feel miserable about yourself this is a fine book to get you there.
4/5 story, 3/5 book. I love reading novels about periods in history I am unfamiliar with. So so interesting to learn more about this. Didn't love the framework but still enjoyed.