A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beahnumber of voters: 9
percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
highest rating: 8.75
lowest rating: 6.5
average rating: 7.583
percentage of readers who enjoyed reading about the atrocities of war: 0
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There are all kinds of stories about war. Many of them are historical recounts. Some are political discourses. Still others are strategic assessments.
A Long Way Gone is none of these.
It is the story of a boy at war. It is the story of a war so recent that it is nearly present-day history. It is the story of Africa.
A Long Way Gone is not a perfect story. It is too long in places. It is repetitive in other places. It ends abruptly, leaving the reader wanting more but also leaving the reader a little disappointed.
But, on the other hand, this is the story of one life in one war, and both life and war are messy, unpredictable things.
A Long Way Gone is an eye-opening true story, eloquent yet simply written. We didn’t all love it, but even those who didn’t could appreciate the importance of its being told.
