book worming

one of many things i look forward to doing on vacation (other experiencing the people and eating local food) is the act of escaping into the pages of a captivating book.

i had the pleasure of encountering many good reads over the span of my long vacation. here they are, in order of my favorites:
What is the What, by Dave Eggers
Water For Elephants, by Sara Gruen
A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini

i must admit, i am a sap when it comes to sad movies and books, and these are no exception. my boyfriend often wonders why i select these types of books when i know i am going to find myself in tears lamenting the tragedies of the characters on paper.

but what is the what was not just on paper, the events in this book are true accounts. the pain and suffering was very real and incredibly well recounted. local bay area author dave eggers collaborated with valentino achak deng to tell the story of this sudanese man; from his separation from his family as a boy to his walk from sudan to ethiopia with the "lost boys", to his long awaited arrival to the united states. the last page of the book i felt relived to have finished the epic memoir, but also sad to no longer be a part of valentino's life.

but wait, there IS more...there is a foundation where one can be a part of all the great initiatives that valentino is involved with. so the memoir continues, in a different medium, with less tragedy and more hope - but still the memory of a brilliant story of a young man in very real situations.
http://www.valentinoachakdeng.org/