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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “"-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...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Only a few more pages to go. What is the What is about the Lost Boys of Sudan. For more like this read A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah which is the autobiography of a boy soldier in Sierre Leone.'' |
Newest Reviews
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“An incredible life story of a refugee of Sudan written through Dave Eggers in Valentino Achek Deng's distinctive voice. ”
Elias E wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Without a doubt, this is my favorite Eggers book.”
Ed wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Fantastic. Anyone with an opinion on refugees (and who doesnt?) should read this. I really felt as if I am walking in someone elses shoes. Still only halfway through.”
Tim N wrote this review Sunday, October 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really enjoyed listening to this book about a Sudanese refugee who experienced the Sudanese civil wars, where the author provides a horrific account of the brutal tragedies. This is a semi biographical story, but it reads as though every part of it is real. The main character, Valentino Achak Deng, at age 8, is exiled from his village in southern Sudan and eventually “joins” thousands of other “Lost Boys’ who were also exiled form their villages. They walk forever in their quest to reach a place that would be permanent. For the first time, I read an accurate account of what a refugee camp is like. I read about one in "Infidel" but it was a period of a couple days. Valentino was in the ‘temporary’ Ethiopian refugee camp for 10 years, after which he does end up in Atlanta – and that is another story. If you listen to this book by audio, you won’t be disappointed. It’s excellent.”
Starlet wrote this review Friday, October 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Only a few more pages to go. What is the What is about the Lost Boys of Sudan. For more like this read A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah which is the autobiography of a boy soldier in Sierre Leone.''
Beth D wrote this review 7 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Only a few more pages to go. What is the What is about the Lost Boys of Sudan. For more like this read A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah which is the autobiography of a boy soldier in Sierre Leone.
I finally finished this book today after many weeks of hiatus. I found the cultural, historical and political materials to be quite eye opening as I knew little about the subject matter before I started. ”“Written as a novel, but based on Achak's real experiences, this was a horrifying but satisfying story of his life. He'd only lived six or seven years in his village in Sudan, but got away from all the fighting, killing, and pursuit, somehow. It was very moving (pun not intended) and will be a story not forgotten.”
Judy K wrote this review Sunday, October 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A powerful and engrossing book. ”
anoush wrote this review Thursday, October 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Terrible and wonderful! Terrible because of the awful things that happen to Valentino Achak Deng, and wonderful because he survives the nightmare (not unscathed) and because Dave Eggers' prose is outstanding.”
nliakos wrote this review Tuesday, September 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“this was interesting; not great but much better than i expected when i heard what dave eggers was up to. i found myself wondering why, if the story was true as is purported, eggers didn't just help the guy write it himself instead of interjecting himself into. yet i notice everyone was careful to type it as 'fiction' so maybe dave did more than transcribe...”
xlibris wrote this review Monday, September 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“What Is the What is indeed an 'extraordinary work of witness, and of art.'”
bunnychip9 wrote this review Monday, September 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
