Zohal

[1]

I have six more chapters to read!! A long way gone by Ishmael Beah is truly and inspiring story. I absolutely love it and will probably recommend it. Anyone who reads this won’t regret it. This is my first journal entry and so I will start from the beginning.  Even before given the book, when the book was described in the presentation I wanted to read it bad. One always hears story such as these but not in full description so it doesn’t seem like a big deal when there is so much behind a brief story.

 The page before chapter one, was a definite hook. High school boys tend to like the whole war scenario, just like in the games but no one actually understands these situations unless real experience. I sort of felt bad for him because it seemed like one of those awkward situations, where you do not want to talk about certain issues.  I really like how there is a map of Beah’s journey because when reading, well for myself, I find that you don’t really notice how far one travels until you see a map such as in the book.  

“I had heard from adults that this was a revolutionary war, a liberation of the people from corrupt government. But what kind of liberation movement shoots innocent civilians, children, that little girl?”

—            Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

To be honest I haven’t been all up to date with the book and even in the blog but the deeper the book goes the more I want to read it. So much happened in such a short time though, I don’t mind it but I kind of wish it did not move that fast. Beah’s story is so sad and he was surely a strong boy because I could never keep going, I think I would give up :\ 

You really do realize when reading this book that I have a great life, yet I do complain a lot for the smallest things even though they have much more troubles that I could never imagine. Beah lost his family, his childhood and basically the rest of his life, its amazing on how he's continuing 

Well , really loving the book and I guess that's all for this entry . Ahh can’t wait to finish it!

[ Zohal Issaky ]

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[2]

Continuing reading the book, I’m loving it even more!  

I can’t imagine how hard it is on Beah when he had gotten separated from his family and especially his brother.  Being alone, always scared and hungry can be unimaginably tough. The way Beah describes himself being alone in the first parts of chapter eight is simply written but so deep and sad.  Just like the third sentence which would be an example “I felt as if somebody was after me. Often, my shadow would scare me and cause me to run for miles.” So simply said but for me I felt touched, if that’s a good word to use :P , you get more of the real feelings of how one like Beah would feel.   

 

i put my head down 
and i deamt you were here with me 
by the ol’ tree, 
where no one could care then
the sun belched upon me

You were no longer here

I do feel like there was foreshadowing when Saidu said “Every time people come at us with the intention of killing us, I close my eyes and wait for death. Even though I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me dies. Very soon I will completely die and all that will be left is my empty body walking with you. It will be quieter that I am.” Really sad line from Saidu. Even though I know he dies, this line does have a feeling that something will happen to him hence the “very soon…”part. It is extremely sad for all these young boys and girls like Saidu, die such a sad death.

Further along into the chapters, you can also see how much everyone is frightened and there is no trust between people who would regularly not be scared of a bunch of young boys. The horrible acts of the rebels messed up so many.  It was really nice though, to see the old man who unfortunately died L and then the fisher man helping the seven boys. Even with all the horrid war going on there are some people who are kind enough to help which is extremely nice because everyone else was pretty mean but it wasn’t their fault since they were so terrified to trust anyone.    

[Zohal Issaky]

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[3] Monday, May 9th, 2011 9:40 AM

I have finished chapter nineteen and its amazing how Ishmael Beah has changed soo much.

I feel so bad for Ishmael Beah though, he lost so much. When he's getting better he does constantly try to remember his childhood but its so painful that he just can't. Around the end of chapter 16 , Ishmael speaks of wrapping up in the a ball like position and rocking, trying to remember his childhood… It made me realize so much about how difficult it would've been for him to write this book. To share a story he didn't want to as felt throughout the book. To re-live, and admit all of the horror he went through and participated in.

The rehabilitation seems short when reading but you could feel how brainwashed and how long it would take just to get better, even a little. One can also get the sense of how brainwashed they had gotten by calling older people who are trying to help them and that one should respect somewhat by beating them and Beah mentioned how it made him angry when they told them to do something. I keep mentioning his childhood, but it is important because that is what makes a person as they grow. All the memories if they're good the happy emotions affect the child, makes them happy. If they're constantly abused or brainwashed like Beah they would be a really negative child.

It is also so great to see how much people want to help these kids like Esther and Leslie. They truly wanted the kids to get better not because it was their job but because they knew it was the right thing to do. I also spoke about trust in my last post and I want to bring it up again because you could also tell how hard Beah had in trusting Esther, Leslie and his Uncle Tommy 's family. I love Uncle Tommy, so sweet, gentle and caring. It's great to see so much hope for Beah to continue on, instead of giving up.

[Zohal Issaky]

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[4]

Ishmael Beah's story is truly amazing and extremely inspiring !

He surely must realize, and for anyone who has read this, understands how lucky he is to be alive.

For UNICEF to have gone to their group instead of another is just lucky. There are a lot of controversial things with groups that happen but groups like UNICEF are extremely helpful/good since they are the ones helping children, just like Beah. It may or may not be noticed but I find it brings out groups like UNICEF and the fact that we fortunate people should help people our age by supporting these groups.

I find it soo sad that uncle Tommy died :( He was such a happy guy, so supportive and kind.

It was also sad that Freetown got attacked. It was a place that was safe enough for him to get better but that got attacked just like the other villages. It also must have had affected Beah too, the gun shots and screams just the same sounds when he was a soldier.

Beah going to America is a nice yet sad fresh start. He leaves everything behind. Even though he just met his uncles family and all his friends he leaves, but that's part of growing sometimes right? Its great that he has the chance of education now and a much better life than he has had. I still feel so bad for him that he has missed so much from his childhood. Especially his family. I know I could never, ever, ever, ever and ever x100 live without any of my family members. Having a brother that was just like a friend to Beah, the memories must be so hurtful to think of. Plus having both parents gone who are like pillars of support to one can hurt so much. I remember when I was younger I hated the fact that my mom went to places for a long time because I would miss her and this makes me realize how grateful I should be to be in a place where there is no war and where families don't get torn apart.

One hears so much about this conflict that has happened but now I know what it feels like and how horrible it was. Ishmael Beah's story gets into ones soul, literally. It makes you feel grateful and realize how easily we are persuaded. I am so glad I chose this book.

"Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow" – Albert Einstein

[ Zohal Issaky ]