What Is The What

Dave Eggers has chronicled a remarkable story of suffering and survival in his latest novel, What Is The What, based on the life of a Sudanese Lost Boy named Valentiono Achak Deng. Eggers writes from the point of view of Deng humanizing his story in a way that makes it emotionally accessible to the reader in a straight forward narrative manner-unlike his postmodern tricks in his earlier works. But this book serves, as more than the story of one man it is a thorough examination of life, death, grief, the existence of god, good and evil, love and friendship. Furthermore, it provides illumination about the struggles of North Eastern Africa and its tribalism, politics. The narrative starts as Deng is robbed, beaten, and tied up by African Americans in Atlanta. His story is told in a series of flashbacks addressed to people he encounters in the robbery, at the hospital, and at work the next day. His story is a tragic story of suffering and heartbreak. His village is attacked by Arabic murahaleen (militia on horseback) and he flees and joins a band of boys who flee and encounter all sorts of dangerous obstacles on their journey by foot to Ethiopia and finally Kenya, where he will spend more than a total of 10 years living a subsistent existence in a refugee villages separated from his family. Along the way to these so-called safe zones he faces threats from enemy soldiers, liberation rebels whose rough treatment of the child soldiers often leads to death or injury, hyenas and lions who feast on some of the boys, as well as fighting off disease and starvation. He suffers through the death of many people close to him and faces many hardships and setbacks as he attempts to establish a steady, normal and struggle free life in a peaceful country. His hardships and troubles do not end when reach America a strange land for which he is ill prepared to navigate, all throughout his life he is dependent on the help of others as he struggles for autonomy. The amount of human suffering and death that he had witnessed would be challenging enough, by coupled with his own suffering and hardship, it is more than one human being should ever have to experience-not to be moved by such an extraordinary tale is to be not human. There were many instances where I was nearly moved to tears by the powerful losses and injustice that Deng had to endure. Buy the book, it is something everyone needs to read and your own problems will seem insignificant and petty, and the proceeds go to The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation, which distributes funds to Sudanese refugees in America; to rebuilding southern Sudan; to organizations working for peace and humanitarian relief in Dafur; and to the college education of Valentino Achak Deng. I am moved to make a separate contribution in addition to my purchase of the book. If you feel so inclined you can also do so here.

Comments

[Kraig]

Pat, I grabbed this before I went to Cabo and finished it there. Great book that taught me a ton about the conflict. Eggers really makes you feel for Achak (Valentino), who seems to always find a way to survive while the loved ones around him meet untimely and horrific deaths. It was difficult to find the book here in Seattle and on Amazon. I tried to pick up Wallace's "Consider the Lobster" but it was also sold out so I instead grabbed "Infinite Jest". Just started it but it is interesting already.

[MC]

sI'm glad you read it, but, wow, Infinte Jest that's a doorstop, I admiree your resolve, I think you should read his other books of essays, A Supposedly Fun Thing I'l lNever Do Again (at least I think that's the title), instead. But hey, you've already started-good luck!