War Babies: a Novel

But it was a war, make no mistake, and it had far-reaching personal consequences in countless families from all the countries involved. I learned that the book was initially serialized in two parts in slightly different form in a magazine. Maybe that was the problem.

War Child: A Novel - Stephen Gray - Google Книги

It just seemed too damn short. There wasn't enough background - or follow-through - to make me care for either of the book's protagonists. Well, I cared for poor Peter. It was Hillary that was problematic. I could never quite figure her out, and I couldn't bring myself to like her. And Fox, the British Sergeant-Major survivor of the prison camps, well, he just seemed like a sick, twisted pervert. No one would have liked him! I could kinda guess what it was all about - man's inhumanity to man; the cruelties of war, twisted psyches brought about by war, etc.

The Busch touch is there, certainly, with all of the usual preoccupations with the darker side of man. But the truth is, I was just glad to get to the end and be done with it.

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I liked parts of it - the human, vulnerable side of Peter, mostly - but it just didn't quite measure up to Busch's usual high standards. I thought that this book was going to be quite interesting when I started to read it, but it became a very confusing for me.

There is some sexual content within the book. When the characters started to talk about the lives of those involved in the Korean War, I wasn't able to keep up with what they were saying. As the story was ending, so many things were going on that I got lost. I read this book for my research project about the Korean War. I wouldn't really recommend this book. This book didn I thought that this book was going to be quite interesting when I started to read it, but it became a very confusing for me.

This book didn't really help me with the project. Dec 03, Meter added it. Didn't care for this book. Jan 06, Joanne rated it liked it. The book was quite interesting. I got to learn a lot about the Korea War. This book helped me on my researched project. Deidre rated it really liked it Aug 01, Daniel Mackey rated it really liked it Feb 07, Lailah rated it liked it Jun 06, Mike rated it liked it Aug 28, Robyn Ethell rated it really liked it Jan 16, Karen rated it liked it Apr 27, Jamie Roche rated it really liked it Mar 06, Efranken rated it it was amazing Feb 21, Serena rated it liked it Jan 16, He describes the pain, misery, and hardship that was his childhood and the recovery that led him to his life today.

This book had many great lessons such as the value of friendship, and the power of hope. The imagery was superb and aided in the delivery of the story. Symbolism and metaphors were also prominent throughout the book. However the word cho An eye opening first hand account of the war that ripped apart Sudan in the s. However the word choice was rather simple in my opinion. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories of war and memoirs.

I would not recommend it to anyone who cannot handle extreme violence and it is definitely not for children. Oct 05, Kaley rated it really liked it. This was such a great read! Tragic, but I love how it's a redemption story! There was some language issues for sure, but this book wasn't made for the faint of heart to begin with. At least the foul language isn't prevalent. It's books like these that make me want to be a better person and help my fellow man. Everyone in America needs to read this book and just see how priviledged we really are and stop complaining about absolutely nothing of worth.

Definitely an eye opener! Jan 25, Kathryn Aitken rated it really liked it. This is an important book to read. GO to his webiste and see how Emmanuel Jal is using his horrific experiences to create a positive change. He is an amazing public speaker If you have high school age children, contact your school to see about having him come and do a presentation for the students.

Feb 24, Lisa Shamchuk rated it really liked it Shelves: A moving story about a Lost Boy of Sudan who then uses music to help his country heal. Oct 09, Zachary Burgess rated it really liked it. Growing up in a Christian family in Sudan he was always running from war. Running from village to village with his family for most of his childhood, to escape government forces that wanted to kill or enslave all of the Christians in Sudan. The Arabs ran the country and believed that all Christians should be enslaved because Allah wanted that.

After many months of running from war Jal's mother was killed in one of the raids. This caused complete agony for Jal who loved his very much. After hearing the news Jal's father Babba sent away Jal to go to a "school" so that Jal could get an education and help out his country in the future. Jal was sent to Ethopia with many other boys through the desert of Sudan.

What Jal later came to find out was his dad had sent him to a refugee camp because he did not want Jal to be with him. Jal became one of the 10, Lost Boys of Sudan. At Pinyudu life was very hard because necessities like food and water were hard to find. Disease and starvation killed many boys at Pinyudu. Eventually Jal became a child soldier after enlisting in the army at a camp. He fought the Anuyuaks and some of the Ethiopians during their civil war but relized he would never be satisfied until he got to kill some of the jallabas Arabs.

Eventually Jal got his opportunity fighting in the battle at Joba in Southern Sudan. Jal's dream of killing the jallabas was what he wanted but his thought of war was totally different from reality. War was horrifying not glorious. The death was depressing and he didn't want imagine what death and being shot was like. After the battle Jal was again sent away on a long journey across the desert in Sudan. This time to get to the village of Waat where Riek Manchar lived. Over the long journey across the desert many of Jal's friends died of starvation. Jal almost died but his faith in God and his destiny he believed kept him alive.

In Waat he met a British Aid worker who wanted to help Jal get an education. Emma allowed Jal to come with her to Kenya to live at the Peace House and go to one of the best schools in Kenya. Here is when Jal's life started to turn around. Then Emma was killed in a car accident and Jal's life turned again for the worst. He stopped listening in school, he got into more fights, and worst of all the hate for the jallabas which had subsided with Emma around came back. Instead of giving up hope because he couldn't afford to go back to school he turned to music.

He started to right gospel music about Jesus and rap about his time in war. Eventually he gathered enough money and support to go to England where he studied. Although his life was almost thrown off the course it was on again when he got back to Sudan and relized he didn't have enough money to go back to England. Again he relied on music to keep him from falling back to his previous life. This time his music was a massive success making him famous around Africa.

Not only did his songs reach number 1 in Kenya, but he also gained fame in Sudan for writing about the struggles of the war. Now Jal is still going with his music because it helps him cope with the depressing moments of his life. He wraps to support himself and tell the story of his life and how we need to prevent these things from happening to other people. Jan 14, Robert rated it liked it Shelves: Incredible memoir of a young boy who fought as a child warrior in the Sudanese civil war, this work is both an unforgettable story of survival against staggering odds and a window into the mind of a child as he experiences the horrors or war - the death of his mother, his separation from his family, his training as a warrior.

The description of this brutal training by the Sudanese People's Liberation Army - how it transformed him into a hardened, revenge-seeking killer, un-feeling, emotionally d Incredible memoir of a young boy who fought as a child warrior in the Sudanese civil war, this work is both an unforgettable story of survival against staggering odds and a window into the mind of a child as he experiences the horrors or war - the death of his mother, his separation from his family, his training as a warrior.

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The description of this brutal training by the Sudanese People's Liberation Army - how it transformed him into a hardened, revenge-seeking killer, un-feeling, emotionally dead - is frank, psychologically true, heart-breaking. The fact that he lived to tell his story seems miraculous - that he survived his time as cannon fodder for the SPLA in their fight for independence from the Moslem north; survived brutal combat in the siege of Juba; survived the subsequent internecine conflict between rival factions of the SLMA; survived numerous near-deaths from starvation, from drowning, from thirst crossing the desert, from random violence.

That he did survive was due to sheer luck and to his own intelligence. She was charmed by the intelligence and character of the eleven year old, took him to safety in Kenya, adopted him, and helped him to recover from the trauma of war, helped him to recover his humanity. After her death, thrown out of her home, he lived on the streets of Nairobi, in the slums, surviving by his wits and his charm - meeting other 'child warriors' - sharing life with them - forming a music group that performed traditional songs to earn their food, a band that gradually became known throughout Kenya and then in Europe and throughout the Western World.

The author is now an internationally recognized Hip-Hop musician and a peace activist. His story, as the triumph of the human spirit, of human decency, over the severest adversities is inspiring. And any reader would wish him well - would wish him success in his peace activism - would wish for peace in South Sudan - but given conditions there, the hell that Jal himself describes in this book, conditions that persist even now that South Sudan has achieved independence from the north - given the tribal rivalries, the war's devastation, the hatred it engendered, the emotional and physical scars of the people, their poverty - given the total lack of security or effective government, and given the continuing border and oil disputes with Sudan, peace seems highly unlikely.

Certainly wishing for it, wishing for some miraculous change in the hearts and minds of the people, is futile. It will take much more - will take the involvement of the West, of the United Nations, of us, to provide the necessary developmental aid and most importantly to impose order, security - to safeguard life - to do so despite any qualms about 'lingering imperialism' or the 'sanctity of national sovereignty'. Course it is easier, less problematic, to turn away our eyes. Sep 26, Jeremiah rated it really liked it.

Emmanuel Jal's "War child" is a well written and descriptive autobiography. Jal tells the story of his vigorous childhood, and explains the horrors he experienced as a child soldier. Separated from his family, Jal spends most of his childhood fighting a war that's not his own. In his early years, he is rescued and raised by a European woman, lives on to tell his story to the world. Jal's very well describes how although he was seperated from his family, the war he was abducted into kept him from Emmanuel Jal's "War child" is a well written and descriptive autobiography.

Jal's very well describes how although he was seperated from his family, the war he was abducted into kept him from breaking down. Reviewer Sally Cervanak says how he wanted to "exact revenge on the [Arab Nemesis]" who took away his family. His determination was fueled by un-forgiveness and he wanted them to pay for what they did. The woman, Emma McClune, who rescues him is a unique character.

She teaches Jal a message contrary to what he learned growing up. She challenges him to live a more productive and peaceful life. Sally Cervanak says how "Emma McClune plays life by morals and not rules. Forgiveness is also a large part of the work. He had to learn to move from all the calamity he faced in his childhood. His home and village were torn apart and had no choice but to be forgotten. Sally Cervanak explains how he had to "forget his past, his home, and his family and fight for a future. Even after all the traumatizing events in his childhood, he had a vision of a place where family a can live happy, which he did not have as a luxury in his early life.

Sally says "what he envisioned is today part of reality," he travels the world sharing his dream in the latter chapters. The book is perfect for anyone with an open mind. No matter what their religion is, they can be deeply moved by Jal's story.

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A reader can learn so much from the struggles he went through. Sally Cervanak says "anybody who reads with an open mind will learn to love Jal. Jal wrote the book in a suspenseful manner, and at the end of every chapter, the reader is always thinking about what happens next. Reviewer Jacob Hantla says "I could not put the book down, reading the entire thing in just three days. Symbolism is a factor too, there were many who died in the war he grew up in. They had similar stories and were unable to live to tell them. I was affected by his ability to forgive the people of the unfair treatment he received as a child.

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Watching him grows up and becoming a loving person was a blessing. It encouraged me to always have a positive outlook on life, no matter what the circumstances are. Sep 30, Jordan Barnes rated it it was amazing. Recently, I finished reading the book, War Child: Jal has done three movies, written many books and has made numerous songs; all describing hardships and painful moments in life. All of his creations are aimed towards the youth, trying to reach out to them and saying that bad times come and go; but there is always a way to escape them.

The main character, Emmanuel Jal, was an eleven year old boy who lived in Sudan with his mom, dad, two sisters, and aunts Recently, I finished reading the book, War Child: The main character, Emmanuel Jal, was an eleven year old boy who lived in Sudan with his mom, dad, two sisters, and aunts.

In this story he is stuck between the Sudan civil war between the Arabs and Sudanese rebels, where he is constantly forced to flee their villages in search of safety. In order to help him succeed, his parents send him to school where he would be able to be away from the danger. Shortly after arriving he is informed that his mother was killed in a raid.

In order to avenge her, his dad joins the military to become a top commander, where he follow in his tracks and signs up for the red army which is an army made up of children. He goes through nine months of hell to only see a glimpse of the war he were was hoping to get revenge on the Arabs that were invading. After three months of mind destroying fighting, he decides he does not want to fight anymore. So he decides to go back to school where he became a leading pop artist in parts of Africa and the U. In writing this novel, Jal was trying to explain that your life may be hard, but if you make an attempt to better it that you will succeed.

He was using his book as an example trying to show readers that what he says is true. He has gone on many tours and talked to many people encouraging them to never give up on their goals and showing them how he never did, and how much he has succeeded. In the beginning of the story, it starts off slow but fast enough to keep you wondering what would happen next.

That was until I hit chapter three; it was like a bomb exploding with excitement, emotion, and entertainment. I believe Jal did and excellent job putting emotion into every one of his words. When you read this, you will literally feel the emotion he was feeling at that point. If I were to recommend this book to anyone, it would be people that like action, people going through a rough time in their lives and people that are looking for a good story.

For the people that like action is because this book is full of it. This book explains all of the war zones he had to pass through with blood, guts and adventure. People with rough times because this book can and will encourage you to keep moving on. It will inspire you to never give up, never quit until you reach your goal.

This is an amazing story; it is as simple as that, definitely worth reading. Nov 22, Cat rated it it was amazing. I judge most things by their flaws, as is probably obvious by now. It is incredibly easy to do so, but I cannot do so for this book. But their targets travel in well-guarded convoys. When contact finally occurs, the hunter quickly becomes the hunted.

When their dark secrets are exposed and the invisible thread of fate binds them even tighter, they find the strength and resilience to reach for their dreams. But after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, paranoia and suspicion threaten to destroy their lives, and a shocking act of betrayal changes everything.

Instead of being executed, Lev and Kolya are given a shot at saving their own lives by complying with an outrageous directive. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war…yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years. London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject.

Full-scale attacks had been driven back.

Now they were sending in just five men, each one a specialist in dealing death. Hieronymous Falk, a rising star on the cabaret scene, was arrested in a cafe and never heard from again. He was twenty years old. He was a German citizen. And he was black. Beyond the prison walls, the war rages. Inside, a man is found brutally murdered.

What follows is a searing portrait of Korea before their civil war, and a testimony to the redemptive power of poetry. Maximilien Aue has reinvented himself, many years after the war, as a middle-class family man and factory owner in France…Through the eyes of this cultivated yet monstrous man we experience in disturbingly precise detail the horrors of the Second World War and the Nazi genocide of the Jews.

And if she can—will she? Here they play at being soldiers in what seems to be complete isolation. At its heart is one day in a Japanese slave labour camp in August As the day builds to its horrific climax, Dorrigo Evans battles and fails in his quest to save the lives of his fellow POWs, a man is killed for no reason, and a love story unfolds.

War Child: A Child Soldier's Story

This is the story of four Londoners—three women and a young man with a past, drawn with absolute truth and intimacy. Though rumors of war circulate, she feels safe—the island is fortified, the airbases are ample, and the Filipino troops are well-trained. Filled with stunning parallels to today, The Postmistress is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war.

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