Discussions about Dave Eggers: What Is the What

tapbirds said:

“"-God said, 'You can either have these cattle, as my gift to you, or you can have the What.' My father waited for the necessary response. – But . . . Sadiq said, helping out, What is the What?" "My father shrugged. – We don't know. No one knows." This colorful Dinka creation story provides the title and theme to the spell-binding Sudanese refugee story of Valentino Achak Deng, as recounted by Dave Eggers. It includes stories of crocodile-infested river crossings into Ethiopia, nighttime horrors of hearing lions eating Lost Boys of Sudan while trying to escape Sudanese attacks and atrocities. It also tells of crowded life in a dusty refugee Kenyan camp, sponsored by the UN and helped with aid from countries like Japan and the United States. Ultimately it is a riveting story of survival and hope, contrasted by the protagonist’s challenges experienced in his newly adopted home in Atlanta. I highly recommend this book, it is truly an eye-opener!”

posted Monday, May 26 2008

seattle reader said:

“A Long Way Gone is another account of a child soldier--very well done.”

posted Saturday, May 17 2008

anubha said:

“This book turned me inside out. Wonderfully written. Achak, whose story this is, comes across very much like my son or daughter would, demanding from the world and looking for a decent life and education so that he can take care of himself. This is indeed one of the greatest learnings for me from this book. That these lost boys & girls of Sudan are no different at all from our sons and daughters and yet the things they are going through is unimaginable, horrifying is actually a mild term to use for the experiences detailed in this book. I did not sleep many a night due to nightmares after reading such parts. One has heard and read a lot about Africa, particularly Sudan & Darfur & Somalia & Ethiopia but this book is definitely too close for comfort anymore. What those 10, 11 & 12 year old Lost Boys of Sudan boys have gone through and are still going through is an absolute shame on humankind. How can we be the superior race on Earth if we allow this to happen to the children of our world. I hope that more people read this book and realise that every child we employ in the developing world, ostensibly to give him / her a life is actually loosing their life in bondage to us. The only way we can help is by enlightening as many as we know that children should be with their parents and at school. No amount of rationalising can justify employing a child in any field! Dear Lord, help Africa stop this dessimation of its children & people. ”

posted Wednesday, December 5 2007

imara h said:

“In the middle of this book right now. The thing that comes across most clearly to me is the universality of childhood ideas, aspirations and experiences. No one can read this book and not come to the realization that the people we see on the 6 oclock news and in much touted phote essays are absolutely no different from us. Their experiences could just as easily be our experiences given certain circumstances. I thank Dave Eggers for making the "Lost Boys of Sudan" my grandsons. This book is a call to each of us to honor the humanity in all people and to work to create a world where no child would ever have to suffer such an existence.”

posted Saturday, November 17 2007

joitske h said:

“Great book! Finally an insight account of people in refugee camps”

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What is the What

by Dave Eggers

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