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.It is hard to understand how much a young boy can live through and keep going. The main character actually has several different names as it changes as he moves through geography and life. (my favorite is Gone Far) No one raised in the western world can comprehend what the the "Lost boys of Sudan" went through to simply survive long enough to walk to refugee camps. I also don't think many of us realize the length of stay many refugees have in camps before they are accepted into the the US or other western countries. That anyone physically survived the walk through Sudan (the author actually watched as boys were plucked from the line of walkers and carried off by lions), then survived the nutritional and hygiene deprivations of refugee camps is amazing. All this without parents or siblings, just other boys.
Their arrival in the US is just another beginning of a difficult foreign walk. I heard of a local group in my home town, their sponsor would visit their apartment and re-explain what foods went in the refrigerator and what went in the cupboard. In the book, Achak marvels that his neighbor would rather call him on the phone then walk 2 doors down to speak with him. The efforts it takes to receive an education from the refugee camp to American colleges makes me feel a bit ashamed for the attitude many Americans take towards school. It also makes me wonder how many of the refugee students
in our district have significant PTSD. How do you learn your way around a new world with the legacy of war and refugee camps, to say nothing of poor perinatal and childhood nutrition?
Excellent book. I want to read it again immediately because it is so fascinating to me that a person could go through so many trials, much more than a lot of this world can't even imagine, and still have the outlook that Deng does. I didn't know much about what was going on in Sudan, and I hope this book raises awareness on the situation. It made me look at some of the things I have been complaining about and put in perspective just how fortunate I really am. I am glad I bought this book because this is not a one-time read. I love the concept of "the What," and it has given me much to think about as well.
Download Ebook What Is the What (Vintage) By Dave Eggers