lostinfrance 's review for:

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

3.0

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Ouch. This book was....brutal. And descriptive...and a bit graphic....but a good read. This is the kind of book you make yourself read because even though you know it will make you uncomfortable and sad, you also know it is an important read and one that will allow you to understand a part of the world (history) a little better. If I based this book on details/content...I would not have read this, but I chose this book because I wanted to learn more about the civil war in Sierra Leon and more about life as a child soldier (how does one process that form of life...how does one return to reality after). It helped that a colleague pushed me to read this book so I would better understand that part of the world.
This is the story of Ishmael, a young boy, who is separated from his family during one (of many) upheavals in Sierra Leon--- goes on a long journey and ends up fighting with the army to keep the rebels (RUF) at bay. It is also about his rehabilitation and his attempt to live a normal life with his family. Notice I say attempt...no spoilers. You know he must have survived this egregious ordeal...he wrote a book about it. This book was interesting, but definitely not my cup of tea. I ended up reading a second book before bed so I could avoid...graphic details before drifting off to sleep.
This is definitely the kind of book I would recommend students read--- and I would hand to a friend.
Read: if you want to learn more about countries in West Africa...or read if you enjoy memoirs.