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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
Couldn't put this book down. Absolutely unreal, very eye opening book. Would highly recommend.
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
It was hard to read too much at once because of the subject matter. However, it was a compelling story. My only frustration was that it was often moving time, and it wasn't necessarily made clear. It did read as though the actual author wrote it, which was refreshing.
I expected an ending that discussed a bit more about his post-war life, but it ended in a mostly satisfying manner. I'm frustrated with the last couple of pages as they were superfluous unless I'm missing something.
I expected an ending that discussed a bit more about his post-war life, but it ended in a mostly satisfying manner. I'm frustrated with the last couple of pages as they were superfluous unless I'm missing something.
Wow.
This book killed me, but I kind of knew it would going in. Any kind of autobiography of this sort is bound to be painful beyond words for anyone with basic human empathy. And it was well written to boot!
It ends a little awkwardly, but it makes sense in a thematic way.
This book killed me, but I kind of knew it would going in. Any kind of autobiography of this sort is bound to be painful beyond words for anyone with basic human empathy. And it was well written to boot!
It ends a little awkwardly, but it makes sense in a thematic way.
This book gave me a new perspective of the life and culture of Sierra Leone. Beah did a wonderful job of describing his culture and living life in Sierra Leone before the civil war began. It became tough to read but I’m glad I finished it. However, after finding out the events such as the fight at UNICEF had no records and the conflicting dates of the year Matru Jong was attacked, I question the intentions of the people behind this book. I hope that the publishers and editors did not exaggerate and milk Beah’s experience for shock value to make more money. Embellishments aside, if Beah himself did not go through all those experiences I can imagine many other young men did go through something similar, if not worse.
I appreciated this story because it was not overly gruesome although the author experienced many terrible things. It gave me hope that things in African war-torn countries (and others) can change, but what a long way there still is to go. As I was reading the book I was comparing dates of what was happening in Sierra Leone and what I was doing in my life. I am party mad (at myself) that I was so ignorant of the situation there as a high school and college student.
Gut Instinct Rating: 4
Engagement of Book: 3
Accomplishment/Delivery of Book: 5
Interest/Entertainment Level: 4
Audiobook Narration: 4.25
Overall: 4.05
Engagement of Book: 3
Accomplishment/Delivery of Book: 5
Interest/Entertainment Level: 4
Audiobook Narration: 4.25
Overall: 4.05
I heard him speak at one of our conferences. Very compelling. I wanted to read his book since then. Very compelling and sad.