I was impressed with A Long Way Gone. I didn't know what to
expect while reading it. It's hard to imagine how this world exists within my
own. I had known about child soldier in Africa for a long time but I never gave
the matter extensive thought because it was painful. While reading the book I
thought of it as fiction so I could not dwell on the horror of reality.
Ishmael's transformation is unique in the sense that he begins as a normal
innocent kid, to a survivor, to a murderer, and then returns as a recovering
victim. I just can't imagine how someone can recover from the guilt. I used the
term "murderer" and wondered if "soldier" would be a better
fit. I think that real soldier don't kill noncombatants. But then I remember
Hiroshima, the Vietnam war, and even the current wars. War has a tendency to
complicate everything. I think the appeal of this memoir besides the compelling
story is the moral dilemma readers contemplate: "What would I have done in
this situation." Fight. Die. Run. Kill. The answer is unknown. The pacing
of the book is excellent. Every time Ishmael found the safety of a village or
jungle, the RUF wasn't far behind. The novel also has brief moments of kindness
that lightens the tone. These subtle acts of kindness is part of the theme that
is hope. Ishmael came back from a hellish experience. Although he will never be
the same, Ishmael survived. And that is a comforting thought.
No comments:
Post a Comment