What Is the What
Nov 2007 · Sold by Vintage
4.4star
81 reviews
Ebook
480
Pages
family_home
Eligible
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About this ebook
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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.
“A testament to the triumph of hope over experience, human resilience over tragedy and disaster.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
"An absolute classic.... Compelling, important, and vital to the understanding of the politics and emotional consequences of oppression." —People
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.
“A testament to the triumph of hope over experience, human resilience over tragedy and disaster.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
"An absolute classic.... Compelling, important, and vital to the understanding of the politics and emotional consequences of oppression." —People
Ratings and reviews
4.4
81 reviews
A Google user
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January 25, 2014
This is a must-read. Everyone should know the tragedy that befell the people of South Sudan, the walking boys, how great and extreme the cost of their freedom was
1 person found this review helpful
A Google user
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November 20, 2012
The most touching but heart breaking book I've read. Dave Eggers truly sheds light on the Lost Boys with this inspirational novel, full of crazy and seemingly impossible twists of fate blended with humor, joy, sadness, and loss all at the same time. I highly reccomend the tale of Valentino Achack Deng to anybody.
Roberto Campos
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April 4, 2014
It's long, but you can't put it down. The author has a majestic way with words. Absolutely amazing. A quarter of the way through this book, I liked the author's way of expressing himself so much that I went and bought 2 more of his books.
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
DAVE EGGERS is the author of many books, among them The Circle, The Eyes and the Impossible, The Monk of Mokha, A Hologram for the King, What Is the What, and The Museum of Rain. He is the cofounder of 826 Valencia, a youth writing and tutoring center which has inspired dozens of similar nonprofit organizations around the world, and the founder of McSweeney's, an independent publisher. He has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award, and is the recipient of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Education, and the American Book Award.
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