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Title:	What is the What
Authors:	Eggers, David
Genre:	Fiction
Pages:	475
Year:	2006
Language:	English
Description:	The heartrending story of Valentino Achak Deng who was chased from his village in southern Sudan by rebel invaders when he was six years old. He, along with thousands of other boys, made the dangerous and painful journey walking across Sudan into Ethiopia where he spent a decade in refugee camps. He was eventually resettled in the United States where as a 41 year old, he narrates his story. [Small font] Comments from Groups: High scoring read, despite length and harrowing detail. Dispassionate, almost childlike storytelling entranced us. Almost too informative but all agreed a story that needed to be heard. Auckland 063 Interesting and well worth reading. Some members didn't enjoy it..... googled further information - very interesting, thought provoking, very hard, sad life. Raumati Beach 003 Hard going and rather long, but worthwhile. Good discussion about the book, refugees and immigration. Wellington 016 Those who read it were deeply moved by the story and really enjoyed it. ... Picton 002
Categories:	Fiction, Culture/Ethnic/Racial, Africa, Small font

Reviews

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By: CHCH 422		2024-08-08 13:07:28

Well-written and story very familiar with a member of our group who has worked with many refugees. Many of the feelings felt by the refugees resonated with the experience of the protagonist. There was clever signposting happening through the book to what was coming next although there were a few surprises as well. Not many of our group read the book in its entirety although nearly everyone started it. Many found it too harrowing so didn't continue.

By: COOKS 001		2024-05-08 07:09:35

Interesting way of learning about the civil war and the divisions in the country esp. caused by religion, oil, and Sharia law. Most found it a compelling read. An alarming illustration on how society can devolve into chaos. All agreed that this personal narrative was far more compelling than an historical account.

By: DUNED 087		2024-01-24 12:55:39

As always, we had mixed reviews about this book. Two members loved it and couldn't put it down, one loathed it ( she thought the writing was 'pedestrian'), and the rest were ambivalent but interested in the Lost Boys and Sudan. We've started following our discussions with clips on YouTube that are related to the book. For 'What is the What', we watched current news clips about the ongoing crisis in South Sudan. We're finding this really adds to the discussion and everyone's enjoyment of the book and the night.

By: CART 001		2024-01-24 12:45:04

Quite a few didn't finish reading the book. Several found it too "depressing", and one didn't have time. Two of the group read to the end and enjoyed it, if that's the right word. Perhaps a challenging read in that it was a tragic read of man's inhumanity to man. We hadn't appreciated the plight of the Sudanese and it gave us pause to reflect.

By: ALEXA 003		2024-01-24 12:41:09

Great discussion generated on the Sudanese population and African history.

By: TAUR 030		2024-01-24 12:40:04

The book was quite a "heavy read".

By: WELL 060		2024-01-24 12:39:26

A lot of the group didn't finish the book - found it quite "bleak".

By: TIMAR 016		2024-01-24 12:38:47

All enjoyed it, taking their time to read it carefully. Strongly recommended.

By: CHCH 011		2024-01-24 12:37:47

No-one managed to read this. In the end it was too long, print was too small, and it was too depressing!!

By: OHOPE 001		2024-01-24 12:35:24

The book was long and repetitive which became very confusing. However reading this book has encouraged members to re inform themselves about Sudan, and the conflicts there. Generated a great deal of discussion.

By: AUCK 038		2024-01-24 12:32:58

Most people loved it.

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