Comments on: Little Family by Ishmael Beah

By: Catherine

Catherine — Wed, 27 May 2020 19:11:40 +0000

In reply to Allison | Mind Joggle. I agree! Without putting a spoiler in here, the final scene left me going, "What? This can't be it..." It was beautifully written and he did a wonderful job with Khoudi.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 22 May 2020 19:25:59 +0000

In reply to susan. It's rough. Literally, because he had no education so the writing is not the best. Plus, the story is brutal.

By: Allison | Mind Joggle

Allison | Mind Joggle — Thu, 21 May 2020 17:28:07 +0000

I just finished this one and I loved it. My only complaint was that the ending felt a little rushed. It seemed like it would be a dark story, and it was in some ways, but I loved the characters’ hopefulness (alongside their practical cunning to survive) and their care for one another. I thought it was interesting that Beah followed Khoudi so closely, since so much of her story was about her coming into her own as a woman. He handled it quite well.

By: susan

susan — Tue, 19 May 2020 22:00:16 +0000

Yes I’m interested in this one, adding it to my TBR. I’ve heard good reviews. I did not read his well-known memoir … probably b/c I was chicken at the time … but sometime I’d like to.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Tue, 19 May 2020 14:33:31 +0000

In reply to Laila. It is. I hope I didn't make it sound darker than it is. It left me wistful- a young woman who just wants to be a young woman. There's no violence and it's a quick read, but it feels like a realistic portrait of life in these countries that have lived with political instability for generations.

By: Laila

Laila — Mon, 18 May 2020 17:46:56 +0000

Oh, this does sound good but I’m not sure I’m up to it now!