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Friday’s Read it or Rant: an intro
March 21st, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
Welcome to the first installment of the Friday’s Read it or Rant. Looking for a nice light-hearted read? Perhaps something to read before bed? Something to inspire you? Make you feel anything other than depressed and kinda bored? Then A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah, is not the book for you.
The Husband picked this one up after reading a review in The Heifer newsletter, and thought it would be educational and inspiring. He read it first and said, “Make sure you take your Happy drugs before reading it.” This is basically the autobiography of a 12 year old, Sierra Leonean (Leonesse? Leionoite?) kid who wants to be the first famous rapper from his country. He and his other wannabe friends walk to a village twenty miles away to perform in a talent show. While they are gone, his village is attacked by rebels (the RUF, the Revolutionary United Front) and his family is missing. The next hundred or so pages are him hiding from rebels and the state soldiers. He is hungry. He is scared. He is lonely. He meets other hungry, scared, and lonely teenage boys. At some point they are overtaken by the state soldiers and given the choice to fight or die. They chose fight. They are all pumped full of narcotics and shown violent movies (I hear a good argument against violent movies and video games!). They are given guns bigger than they are and told to kill as many people as possible, women and children included. Eventually they are pretty much kidnapped by UNICEF and put in a rehab facility with other RUF boy soldiers. They, of course, all try to kill each other; the UN is confused about what they did wrong. They get rehabbed, kid goes to NYC, makes speeches, gets adopted, writes book.
So you would think that this would be an exciting book right? A tear jerker maybe? But no, it is BORING! And poorly written. It could be educational if someone was unaware of the epidemic of child soldiers in many African conflicts, or of the continued slaughter of innocents in civil wars around the globe, or the fact that this happened during the nineties, not decades ago…..the thing is….I already knew all of that, and the book was just not very interesting. Seriously… mad props to the kid. It is astonishing that he made it out alive, and I am sure he has a very bright future ahead of him as a diplomat or teacher, but not a writer. To sum up. Spend your $22.95 on a donation to UNICEF, Heifer, or Doctors without Borders, and read texts about world conflict, not A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah.
Filed under Read it or Rant, lexapro lexplains it |10 Responses to “Friday’s Read it or Rant: an intro”
I have to completely disagree with Hey You. I think that her education in Political Science with a focus on African nations has jaded her opinion of the book. I found it very well written by someone who does not claim to be an author. He did make it to the U.S. and while here finished medical school to become a doctor so that he could try to help make people’s lives better in Africa, a noble ambition. He is simply telling the story of his life. I didn’t expect a book that would keep me enthralled like John Grisham or Clive Cussler….I simply wanted to learn more about the horrendous things that some people are forced to endure to survive. Why you ask? Because I like to be reminded how BLESSED we are to live in a country where joining the military is VOLUNTARY and not forced. Just my opinion, for what it’s worth.
I have to say that if you are simply looking for a good read, this probably isn’t for you. But, if you want a book that will educate and fill you with compassion and empathy for others less fortunate, then you should most definitely read this book. I never learned about the atrocities committed in Africa like this, it’s not something they teach in public schools, and even in college it gets skipped because you’re only required to take European history, not African….a great disservice to the populace I assure you.
I could go on and on, but don’t take my word for it, check it out…..and yes, I know that sounds like Levar Burton from Reading Rainbow, and yes, it was my intent :-).
Yeah…I probably won’t be reading this. Doesn’t sound like my kinda book. Oh well…to each his own.
Okay, well. I usually listen to TheHusband’s book recommendations because I’m the one that started his life’s journey in the wonders of the printed word. So, just as soon as I find myself in a deliriously happy state of mind, I will read this book….ONCE he sends it my way. But, I will make sure to have a bon-bon book waiting in the wings.
Now, I just have to say something about HeyYou and TheHusband (aka–to me anyway–MySon1), what wonderfully gifted-with-the-writing-process these two book reviewers are! Of course, I am once again biased. But, I have had little opportunity to read what MySon1 has written and I am blessed to have a glimpse of what’s going on in that noble mind of his.
Well, again I digress…this is about the book not the reviewers. So, thanks for the warning of the hard realities in the book.
One more comment about the reviewers and their creator. Isn’t it marvelous how God chooses our mates, when we seek guidance, and finds our complete opposite? Could these two, who love each other so much, have more diverse opinions of the read than this?
Though my private reading time is nearly non-existence, it does make me want to explore this book. Yet, the last thing I need is another downer at present.
I look forward to a future review of a more positive read.
I will read some lighthearted stuff in the near future mmil! ShoeShe, I am surprised that you were not interested in this one…..was it a different ShoeShe Lynn Crawford who I went on all of those MUN trips with? Or did you just go for the liquor and shopping?
No. It is a ShoeShe who is tired of textbook-ish reading. I’ve seen it all…read it all…heard real Africans tell it all…basically, I’m ready for a pick-me-up, not a bring-me-down.
And another thing…I am offended by the liqour and shopping comment. I much preferred the flashing and Panty Palming. Plus, I was a writer…not a proper delegate…if you’ll recall. Though I did enjoy Spain.
Alas, I already know of the travesties bestowed upon those less fortunate than myself. I hardly need a book to recap all of that. I am still the same ShoeShe…just with happier interests.
hehehe panty palming. Poor Dr. Notrealnamewig. I sent him the link to this ya know and he replied!
Did he check it out, or did he just reply?
checked it out! He sent me an email about it! cool huh!? he was my favorite.