by Uzodinma Iweala
In this mesmerizing debut novel by Uzodinma Iweala, a sensitive young boy named Agu gets recruited by a unit of guerrilla soldiers to fight in the civil war engulfing their unnamed West African nation. Having witnessed the violent death of his father at the hands of militants and the abrupt departures of his mother and sister, Agu is effectively an orphan—unmoored from his family and the comforts of his domestic life—and vulnerable to the uncommon interest his authoritative new commander takes in him.
taken from:www.harperacademic.com/index.aspReview:
Although, this book was more like a novella, it took me a few days to read it in its entirety. I loved most parts, but hated many, due to the graphic nature of the human beast. The title is perfect and the voice that came out in this story is like none I have ever read before. A few years ago, I heard Iweala twice read a chapter from this book and while I was reading, his voice resonated in my head. I myself tried to read out loud a few times, but could not do justice to the accent. I cannot believe that this is a first novel and that the author submitted this as a thesis paper. After sitting on my nightstand for well over a year, I am so glad that I finally got to this remarkable piece of literature.
Reading Guide: Beasts of No Nation
