What Is the What

What Is the What chronicles the real-life story of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese refugee who survived the destruction of his village during the Second Sudanese Civil War. Based on extensive interviews, Dave Eggers transforms Deng's experiences into a novel that preserves the truth while employing literary techniques to convey the full impact of events. The narrative follows young Achak as he flees his demolished village and joins thousands of other displaced children known as the Lost Boys of Sudan. His journey takes him through hundreds of miles of hostile terrain to refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, where he spends over a decade of his youth. The book moves between Achak's past in Sudan and his present life as an immigrant in Atlanta, creating a complex portrait of survival and adaptation. Through Achak's voice, readers witness both the brutal realities of war and displacement, and the persistent strength of human resilience. This work transcends standard biographical writing by examining fundamental questions about faith, identity, and the human capacity to endure. The title itself references a Dinka creation myth, serving as a lens through which to contemplate destiny and meaning in the face of seemingly senseless suffering.

Readers note the emotional impact of Valentino Achak Deng's story and appreciate how Eggers captured his voice while maintaining journalistic distance. Many highlight the effective blend of autobiography and novel formats. Readers liked: - The clear, straightforward writing style - Educational value about Sudan's history and refugee experience - The balance of hope and hardship in the narrative - How present-day scenes connect to past events Readers disliked: - The non-linear timeline can be confusing - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few felt uncertain about the fiction/nonfiction boundary Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (44,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (760+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Made me understand the refugee crisis in a way news never could." Critical review: "The narrative structure, while ambitious, sometimes interrupts the emotional flow of the story." - Goodreads reviewer

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☆ The "Lost Boys" were over 20,000 young Sudanese boys who were displaced or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005), walking thousands of miles across three countries to reach safety. ☆ Valentino Achak Deng first met Dave Eggers through a non-profit organization in 2003, and they spent three years collaborating on the book through extensive interviews and fact-checking. ☆ The book's title comes from a Dinka creation myth about God offering the first man either cattle or "the What" - a choice between the known and the unknown, material wealth versus mystery. ☆ Though marketed as a novel, the book is considered "fictionalized autobiography" - a genre-bending approach Eggers chose to protect people's privacy while maintaining the story's emotional truth. ☆ After the book's success, Deng established the VAD Foundation, which built the first secondary school in his hometown of Marial Bai, South Sudan, providing education to hundreds of students.