What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng (Vintage) |
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Dave Eggers
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Pages: 560 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0307385906
Pub: Vintage Books USA
Pub date: 2007-10-09
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 61812
Reader Reviews:
A truly IMPORTANT book (0/0 people found this helpful)
Dave Eggers What is the What is a fantastic book which gives you an insight of the political situation and the brutal civil war of Sudan. The story of Valentino Achak Deng, a southern sudanese Dinka boy and his journey to peace and freedom is soul-wrenching. You really get to know the character and you don't want to let go of him once you've turned the last page. A gifted book, a great writer and a courageous Valentino Achak Deng.
Stunning and shaming (0/0 people found this helpful)
What is the what by Dave Eggers is a tale of epic suffering told through the eyes of a young Sudanese boy who sees his way of life violently destroyed and together with thousands of others must face an odyssey from danger to danger and refugee camp to refugee camp until finally he arrives in the "Promised Land" of the USA, where, of course, other, different problems await. Has this amazing book slipped under the radar here in the UK, or what? 132 reviews on Amazon USA, and only three here??
Another book that will make you feel ashamed to be human, of course, as part of a race that will, for example, casually massacre defenceless villages and throw children down wells in order to clear a place for oil drilling, but Eggers, apparently working together with the real-life central character, manages to establish a beautiful narrative tone, combining charm and innocence with the heart-breaking sadness, and providing moments of warm friendship and comedy amidst the almost unbelievable cruelty and wretchedness of his everyday life. It's a tremendous achievement, though I often felt like closing it up and hiding it under a pile of cushions somewhere to avoid considering the world we've created.
what is the what is what we've been waiting for (13/15 people found this helpful)
i have enjoyed reading this book very much, not only is it very informative, but it manages to describe the plight of human beings and the way refugees and immigres behave and are treated. It is an epic story of our times, I doubt that any immigrant or person who has gone through hard times at their own country would not be able to empathise! a very good read, and also although the book tackles some depressing and gloomy events, it retains its sense of humour and lightness of touch.
Heartbreaking and Staggering. Possibly genius at last... (4/4 people found this helpful)
Perhaps in telling the story of Sudanese Lost Boy, Valentino Achak Deng, who has seen things no one should ever see, Eggers has stumbled upon a way to truly break our hearts and inform them without being self-conscious or tragically hip. This is a tough and beautiful read, especially given the fresh horrors befalling the people of Sudan in the current conflict.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)