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Jeff 's Reviews > What Is the What
What Is the What
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“Valentino, I just don’t know what God has against you”.
These words were directed at the subject of this novel/biography and are pretty much a motif that runs throughout most of this book.
This is one man’s true story of the Lost Boys of the Sudan. Valentino Achak Deng, at age seven, and thousands of boys just like him, endured all manner of hardship as they fled their homes as civil war (beginning in 1983) devastated their country. Their journey from refugee camp to refugee camp is fraught with the most horrific events you could imagine.
This book is a testament to not only how cruel man can be to his fellow man, but also to Deng’s faith and perseverance. Calling this book sad or heartbreaking seems trite. Repeating a litany of hardships these boys endured would render them trivial. It’s inconceivable for me to imagine my own son at age seven (seven!?!) making this type of journey. There is also a parallel story of Deng’s robbery and assault while in this county. With everything this man has experienced, Deng was able to transcend these events and find purpose and meaning in his life.
Although it says “novel” on the spine, as Dave Egger’s subject states, his earlier life had to be “fictionalized” to condense the story and fold characters into one another for narrative flow.
This is not a book to read in order to be “entertained” but as an eye-opener or wake up call to what can go wrong in this world and a rallying cry to do something about it.
Proceeds of the sale of this book go towards funding of a nonprofit organization to increase access to education in South Sudan. This is the web site:
http://www.valentinoachakdeng.org/
The website also has a reader’s guide to the book.
These words were directed at the subject of this novel/biography and are pretty much a motif that runs throughout most of this book.
This is one man’s true story of the Lost Boys of the Sudan. Valentino Achak Deng, at age seven, and thousands of boys just like him, endured all manner of hardship as they fled their homes as civil war (beginning in 1983) devastated their country. Their journey from refugee camp to refugee camp is fraught with the most horrific events you could imagine.
This book is a testament to not only how cruel man can be to his fellow man, but also to Deng’s faith and perseverance. Calling this book sad or heartbreaking seems trite. Repeating a litany of hardships these boys endured would render them trivial. It’s inconceivable for me to imagine my own son at age seven (seven!?!) making this type of journey. There is also a parallel story of Deng’s robbery and assault while in this county. With everything this man has experienced, Deng was able to transcend these events and find purpose and meaning in his life.
Although it says “novel” on the spine, as Dave Egger’s subject states, his earlier life had to be “fictionalized” to condense the story and fold characters into one another for narrative flow.
This is not a book to read in order to be “entertained” but as an eye-opener or wake up call to what can go wrong in this world and a rallying cry to do something about it.
Proceeds of the sale of this book go towards funding of a nonprofit organization to increase access to education in South Sudan. This is the web site:
http://www.valentinoachakdeng.org/
The website also has a reader’s guide to the book.
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Reading Progress
December 2, 2013
– Shelved
January 6, 2014
–
Started Reading
January 8, 2014
–
9.29%
""The pain is not great, but the symbolism is disagreeable" - main character, after getting a phone book dropped on his face. If ever there was a book on a cultural divide, it's this one."
page
50
January 13, 2014
–
21.56%
""Humans are divided between those who can still look through the eyes of youth and those who cannot." Amen."
page
116
January 17, 2014
–
54.28%
""Valentino, I just don't know what God has against you". This poor man just can't catch a break. It's been awhile since I shed a tear reading a book..."
page
292
January 27, 2014
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)
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message 1:
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Rowena
(new)
Jan 27, 2014 12:11PM
I'm so nervous about reading books like this but this looks like a must-read book. Thanks for the review:)
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Rowena, It isn't totally gloomy. There are some lighter (usually of the fish out of water variety) and tender moments as well. I found it a very rewarding experience.
I couldn't get past the first 30 pages...I like Eggers but I just wasn't digging this at all, though I wanted to...
Gavin wrote: "I couldn't get past the first 30 pages...I like Eggers but I just wasn't digging this at all, though I wanted to..."It's a sad, sad book.
Sad doesn't bother me, it was the narrative tone I think. Either way, Eggers isn't exactly known for being the Bobby McFerrin of writing.
