by Dave Eggers
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Product Description
What Is the What is the epic novel based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng who, along with thousands of other children--the so-called Lost Boys--was forced to leave his village in Sudan at the age of seven and trek hundreds of miles by foot, pursued by militias, government bombers, and wild animals, crossing the deserts of three countries to find freedom. When he finally is resettled in the United States, he finds a life full of promise, but also heartache and myriad new challenges. Moving, suspenseful, and unexpectedly funny, What Is the What is an astonishing novel that illuminates the lives of millions through one extraordinary man.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Absolutely Amazing, 2008-08-25
This is one of the most compelling books I've read in years. I picked this up after having watched the documentary, God Grew Tired of Us (also highly recommended) and, while I realize that the story of the Lost Boys has been told and retold, it hasn't been portrayed in such a moving and heartfelt way as in Egger's book. It is both funny and sad, deflating yet inspirational.
If you are already familiar with the Lost Boys' stories, you will find this book enlightening. It is sufficiently detailed to help the reader understand the types of atrocities these children endured during their time in Sudan and their struggles once reaching the US - in a way that the documentaries are not able to fully convey. If you are not already familiar with them, I think you will find the book moving and inspirational nonetheless. More than just telling the amazing story of a group of boys, it highlights the role of the Western world in developing countries, the impact that US charitable organizaitons can have on the lives of the less fortunate and the issues with which many African countries have struggled for centuries.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
 Easy to read entree into important topic, 2008-08-20
If you don't want to have to work too hard to learn some basic facts about Sudan and the African refugee experience, this book provides a great entrée. Plus, if you buy the book, all of the proceeds go to the foundation that is building a school in protagonist Achuk Deng's home village in southern Sudan. Given the successful marketing campaign behind the book - it was prominently displayed in every single airport bookshop that I visited during a recent trip, including in countries where English is not the official language - it would appear that the proceeds may be substantial. Deng's story is horrific, but yet it is inspiring to see what the human spirit can endure and still survive. As other reviewers have commented, this would make for a good high school text, especially since the publisher has made available a handy reader's guide and other helpful resources. (The website www.valentinoachakdeng.org has book resources, photos and information on the real-life Deng and his projects.)
Although fewer pages are devoted to it, we also get some sense of the difficulties faced by Sudanese refugees in assimilating into U.S. culture. Like many immigrants, the protagonist looks forward to streets paved with gold, only to face minimum-wage work, crime, racism, and formidable barriers to success at every turn.
I gave it four stars because, like other Amazon reviewers, I found the mixing of fact and fiction troubling. Why was this necessary, I kept wondering. What is real, and what is not? Wouldn't Deng's real-life experiences have been more compelling? And how can something be labeled an "autobiography" when it is written in the voice of a completely different person with a vastly different life experience? Indeed, Deng's name does not even appear on the front cover.
Especially since the book was fictionalized, I wondered why it had to open with a robbery at the hands of two African Americans in Atlanta, and why that had to occupy the whole first half. I especially disbelieved the emotional tenor of the novel; it was too light and upbeat considering the real Deng's struggles with crippling despondency. Also too contrived and artificial was the device through which Eggers chose to tell this story - as a series of imaginary conversations with Americans that Deng encountered.
This novel did spark my interest in reading the nonfictionalized autobiographies of other Sudanese "Lost Boys." (Stephen Balbach's Amazon review lists several.) In the end, anything that generates greater awareness and interest in the plight of the Sudanese is a good thing, and hopefully it will translate into more practical assistance for those who so desperately need it.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
I laughed until I cried..., 2008-08-16
There were many points were I laughed until I cried and then cried until I had to close the book- so engaging, entertaining, and unbelievable. A sad but remarkable story that defines the strength of the human spirit.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
WONDERFUL, 2008-08-10
A beautifully written, deeply touching story. Should be required reading for high school kids as there are lessons in humanity, history, war, race relations, and love.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Thoroughly enjoyable, beautifully written book, 2008-08-05
I enjoy historical fiction, and fortunately, came across this wonderful book. I'm not sure which is more compelling: Valentino Achak Deng's story or Dave Eggers' writing. Embarrassingly, I did not know much about the plight of the Sudanese; I thank Valentino and Dave for bringing the story to light for me in such an eloquent and (guiltily, I say) enjoyable fashion. If you're interested in learning more about Sudan, I recommend Valentino's informative website: [...]
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