What Is the What

By: Dave Eggers

Narrated by: Dion Graham

Length: 20 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

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

©2006 Dave Eggers (P)2007 BBC Audiobooks America

Critic reviews

"Engrossing." ( Publishers Weekly)

Gutwrenching, poetic, beautiful

I've been grabbing every Eggers book I can get my hands on since I came across "A Heartbreaking Work...." This displays Eggers story telling ability on a grand, not-so-self-absorbed level. I was inspired. And the reading is one of the best readings I've ever listened to, Dion Graham really brought the story of Atchuk Deng to life.

an amzing jouney

This is so well written and the narrator is fabulous. African accented English makes it all believable. If you want background on the problems of Sudan, this is the book for you.

Excellent Book, Excellent Reader

Not only is Eggers' book an engaging piece of fiction/nonfiction, the incredibly skillful reader does it justice with every word and change of voice.

Worth the Trouble

This is a great story even though it's not told perfectly. English is not the first language of the author, and sometimes the story falters when he tries to be literary rather than just telling the story. But the story itself is so interesting and informative that I highly recommend it. The Sudan story is the may turn out to be the world story in a microcosm.

Bleak but interesting picture of the upheaval in Sudan

Let me just say first: I really like this book. I will also say that it was difficult to listen to, because it is so dark and relatively hopeless. Terrible things happen to the narrator almost constantly. However, I appreciated the description of how Sudan came to be Sudan. It was an interesting history lesson. The reader was above excellent. The bottom line is – – I enjoyed the book, but couldn't listen to it for long stretches, without taking some kind of break (listening to music, or whatever).

Waaaay better than I thought it would be

Great story. Amazing narration. I felt like I was learning about some very important tragic events, of which I knew very little, and at the same time being very entertained. Valentino's life was truly inspiring. His story had me listening attentively to find out what would happen next. I don't know how long it was but it did not matter. It never got boring.
This is the only review I have ever written and that is only because I was so impressed with this book. I bought it and let it sit in my library for months without giving it a listen because I wasn't sure it would be that interesting
Don't make the same mistake I did. Give this book listen. It is a great book

A modern day Divine Comedy?

The story is so hard to hear because of the immense, bitter and seemingly endless sources of suffering the young boy had to face. One doesn't want to know how brutal and inhumane humans can be. And yet, what comes through overall in this tale is the abiding kindness and support that Valentino/Dominic experiences again and again throughout his ordeal as a Lost Boy of Sudan. He is moral, faithful, enduring, and helpful whenever possible--he has an incredible will to rise above his limitations. Toward the end of the book, as I was contemplating the continuing horrors and hardships contrasted with Valentino/Dominic's attitude of thankful appreciation for others, for life, for God--it occurred to me that this story was a modern day Divine Comedy (yes, Dante). Even the language, though not poetry, is crafted and inspiring. I think I am a better person from listening to this book. I had to get out the world atlas to find Sudan and other African countries--how little I have been paying attention to the plight of refugees that I didn't even know where the places are that are in turmoil! So I am educating myself and caring more about others. May this book be a blessing to you as well.

The absurdity of it all is fascinating

The cultural impact this story gives really moved me and brought enlightenment into historic times and places I have never been.

Beautiful

Having read the highly self-referential A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius a few months ago, I had no idea what to expect from Eggers in a novel about a Sudanese refugee. I couldn't imagine how the same writing style would work on that topic.

But Eggers plays it straight this time and simply tells a story. And it's a beautiful, moving story told with thoughtfulness, compassion, and a sense of humor. The narrative of the central character, Valentino, doesn't fail to convey the horrors of the Sudan conflict, but neither does it beat the reader over the head with tragedy. Valentino's calm voice instead makes East Africa (and the American experience of an African immigrant) real, impressing the reader with the fact that the Sudanese are as colorful, complex, and rich in their lives as anyone else. The fact that Valentino's both remarkably aware and astonishingly naive as a character makes him a fascinating witness to this turbulent history.

A wonderful book.

As far as the audio aspect of the novel goes, the reader did a great job with Valentino's accents and mannerisms, as well as those of Afro-American characters. The voices he does for some of the side characters were a little too cutesy for my liking, but it didn't drag down the overall listening experience.

An amazing and inspirational story

Every American needs to read or listen to this book. What a story of courage and determination! It has inspired me to do better in my life.