Long Way Gone

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Long Way Gone

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1elbakerone
Jun 9, 2008, 5:42 pm

Has anyone read A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier? It's been recommended to me by a bunch of people and is climbing its way up my TBR list. There's a huge waiting list for it at my library and I'm wondering if it's one I should just go out and buy. Any thoughts or suggestions?

2FionaCat
Jun 9, 2008, 10:09 pm

I read it and it was very good. It is unbelievable what children have to go through in some parts of the world ....

3oregonobsessionz
Jun 10, 2008, 1:09 am

The book was well received when originally published, but has become controversial due to allegations that some elements of the story do not match the facts on the ground. This Wikipedia article summarizes the controversy, and provides links to opinions pro and con.

4savedbyhisblood
Jun 11, 2008, 2:01 pm

I read the book. I am glad to have read it. I have a friend that has adopted a son from Sierra Leone. He was a child there during the war and although not exactly a child soldier, when asked about those years of his life he says that the rule of the day was kill or be killed. He still struggles with violent outbursts and reading the book has helped me to better understand him.
In regards to the credibility-I do not know how credible this specific story is but we all know that this stuff is happening and that when it comes to politics but especially war-there are always half truths and cover ups going on-more likely at the government or organization level than at the on ground observer being affected by it level. Just my 2 cents.
The book is worth a read and I ended up buying it to read it on my time frame.

5The_Bookish_Ms.B
Edited: Aug 4, 2008, 11:25 pm

I think A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier is definitely a book that should be on your TBR list. I recently finished reading the book, and I cannot say that I enjoyed the book. In saying that, it's not something to read for entertainment, but it is something to read if one is interested in becoming more aware of the world surrounding him or her. The memoir's graphic nature and heavy subject make the book haunting and a tough one to handle, but it's a reality that we all need to become aware of.

6savedbyhisblood
Aug 6, 2008, 8:10 pm

The author of this book, Ishmael Beah, was interviewed on ABC's Good Morning America yesterday I believe. Go here
http://www.abcnews.go.com/gma
Search for boy soldier if it isn't the front video.