God Grew Tired of Us: A Memoir

This is the amazing journey of John Bul Dau, one of the Lost Boys of the Sudan. He, along with tens of thousands of other children (mostly boys) was dispossessed during the civil war of the mid-1980s and became a "wanderer in the desert" for the better part of 15 years -- hungry, thirsty, often fearing for his life, living each day as if it would be his last. I cannot imagine being able to survive such a life -- let alone survive it with integrity and joy. It's the "joy" of it that truly has me in awe. A story not to be missed -- it is written with the simplicity of a child's heart, and with the wisdom of an old man's soul.

"Lost Boy" John Bul Dau’s harrowing experience surviving the brutal horrors of Sudanese civil war and his adjustment to life in modern America is chronicled in this inspiring memoir and featured in an award-winning documentary film of the same name. Movingly written, the book traces Dau’s journey through hunger, exhaustion, terror, and violence as he fled his homeland, dodging ambushes, massacres and attacks by wild animals.

Hard to say this, but several of the other Lost Boys memoirs were much more enjoyable. All tough to read and they've survived unimaginable horrors so who am I to judge, but this one managed to be overpoweringly righteous and made him unlikable.

This book is absolutely amazing. The author uses a very simple narrative voice to tell a story that is both riveting and terrible. The genocide in Sudan is physically so far from most of the people who will read the book, but John Bul Dau makes his life real to the reader. His story is one that incites awe and admiration for the human spirit, especially his.

I read this book about a year ago (Fall 2007). I found it to be very uplifting, despite the tribulations the author experienced when he was fleeing for his life and living in refugee camps. I borrowed the video from the library after I completed the book, and found more inspiration there. I recommend this book to all.