A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah Reaction

            It would be easy to read this book and say: guns are horrible, drugs are horrible, the UN is terrible, African government is terrible…. But the book resounds so far beyond the brutality of the world. Beah writes in a way that gives hope and respect for all of humanity. Through all the brutality and terror he saw, his tone remains uplifting and forgiving. He does not offer blame or attack any particular reason for the atrocities he experienced in Sierra Leone. Instead, he offers his story. He gives us an in depth look at the thoughts of a small boy who knew nothing beyond the violent ways that were offered to him as security from hunger and loneliness.

            One thing I was happy to read in Beah’s account was the lack of guilt. It would be easy for a young man to realize the atrocities he had committed were nigh unforgivable and hate himself forever. This is not the case in Beah’s account. His rehabilitation was clearly centered on helping him understand that he was not in control of his actions as a child controlled by cocaine and what can only be described as violence addiction. It is uplifting to read an account of rehab from hatred and evil. It contrasts the worst humans on earth with the most benevolent.

            Heartbreaking to read was the hatred that swept the country even after Beah’s rehabilitation. To have the evil and the senseless killing enter into the peace and societal normalcy that he found in the city was gut wrenching. It was hard to read about him as a child, but as a college student it was even harder to hear about how he could not escape the torment of his past even as he began to enter adulthood.

            Memoirs are one of the most difficult works to critique. It’s hard to know what is or isn’t true or what may have been embellished. One thing Beah does well is placing vague language and locale to his story. However, I find it hard to believe that he could remember his thoughts and emotions from his time as a cocaine riddled adolescent. Embellishing the thoughts of his younger self made for an amazing read, but from a believability standpoint it seemed exaggerated.

            Another criticism I have read is the end of the book leaved the reader with relatively extreme questions about his journey.  The fault here probably lies with an editor, but The gap in the narrative between Guinea and America is shocking. It’s difficult to know exactly how a young man should end his memoir, but it was frustrating to view a blank page after spending over 200 in stitches over what was going to happen. Overall the book is entirely unforgettable and has opened my eyes to a world I can never un-see.  I feel uplifted and hopeful after reading such passion and human spirit. It is a euphoria that accompanies both great art and great truth which is what a book should be.