What Is the What
Recently a colleague of mine read "What Is the What" and recommended the book very highly. It is the fictionalized autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng and the story of his life during the civil war in the Sudan during the 1980s and 90s. It is a poignant and compelling tale of being tossed about by the wars and having to leave his native village of Marial Bai and go to camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. Ultimately he is able to make his way to the United States but his transition to life in this country also has some surprises for him.
The book was written by Dave Eggers and is by turns funny, bleak, lyrical and ultimately an improbable tale of survival in the face of overwhelming odds. The title comes from a Dinka creation myth. Deng has a website should you want to learn more about him and life in the Sudan: http://www.valentinoachakdeng.com/