Radiance Of Tomorrow - Tapa dura

Praise for "A Long Way Gone
"
"Everyone in the world should read this book. Not just because it contains an amazing story, or because it's our moral, bleeding-heart duty, or because it's clearly written. We should read it to learn about the world and about what it means to be human." --"The Washington Post"

"A breathtaking and unselfpitying account of how a gentle spirit survives a childhood from which all innocence has suddenly been sucked out. It's a truly riveting memoir." --"Time"

"In his 2007 memoir, A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah writes of those waiting for war to invade their lives: "Families who had walked hundreds of miles told how relatives had been killed and their houses burned. Some people felt sorry for them and offered them places to stay, but most of the refugees refused, because they said the war would eventually reach their town." The decade-long war in Sierra Leone between government forces and Liberian-funded rebels did eventually reach Beah's and other towns, and he was swept up in the conflict as a child soldier, a story he vividly recounts in his memoir. This time Beah has written an actual novel--his first--not about the war itself, but about its aftermath. What happens when those who have committed atrocities or have been the victims of them return to what is left of their homes? We get our answer via several residents of the devastated Sierra Leonean town of Imperi, where an older couple, Mama Kadie and Pa Moiwa, and a young schoolteacher named Bockarie are among the first to return. Recalling the Friday afternoon the town was attacked, they remember the rocket-propelled grenades that brought down the chief's compound, heralding a new order while "killing many people, whose flesh sizzled from the explosions." Those who escaped, and eventually made it through the war in good enough shape to return, considered themselves lucky, save for the survivor's guilt that forced them to seek comfort, even in the most horrifying places. Looking at the piles of human bones that still litter the town, Mama Kadie imagines that she might be able to identify the remains of her grandchildren among them. The pain of not knowing whether or not they had survived the war is too much to bear and she wants some finality. The town eventually falls into some kind of routine. Other survivors flood in from refugee camps in neighboring countries. Burned houses are rebuilt and a school is opened, allowing Bockarie to teach there. The notion that the

"Written with the moral urgency of a parable and the searing precision of a firsthand account . . . There is an allegorical richness to Beah's storytelling and a remarkable humanity to his characters. We see tragedy arriving not through the big wallops of war, but rather in corrosive increments." --Sara Corbett, "The New York Times Book Review"

"In his 2007 memoir, "A Long Way Gone," Ishmael Beah writes of those waiting for war to invade their lives: "Families who had walked hundreds of miles told how relatives had been killed and their houses burned. Some people felt sorry for them and offered them places to stay, but most of the refugees refused, because they said the war would eventually reach their town." The decade-long war in Sierra Leone between government forces and Liberian-funded rebels did eventually reach Beah's and other towns, and he was swept up in the conflict as a child soldier, a story he vividly recounts in his memoir. This time Beah has written an actual novel--his first--not about the war itself, but about its aftermath. What happens when those who have committed atrocities or have been the victims of them return to what is left of their homes? We get our answer via several residents of the devastated Sierra Leonean town of Imperi, where an older couple, Mama Kadie and Pa Moiwa, and a young schoolteacher named Bockarie are among the first to return. Recalling the Friday afternoon the town was attacked, they remember the rocket-propelled grenades that brought down the chief's compound, heralding a new order while "killing many people, whose flesh sizzled from the explosions." Those who escaped, and eventually made it through the war in good enough shape to return, considered themselves lucky, save for the survivor's guilt that forced them to seek comfort, even in the most horrifying places. Looking at the piles of human bones that still litter the town, Mama Kadie imagines that she might be able to identify the remains of her grandchildren among them. The pain of not knowing whether or not they had survived the war is too much to bear and she wants some finality. The town eventually falls into some kind of routine. Other survivors flood in from refugee camps in neighboring countries. Burned houses are rebuilt and a school is opened, allowing Bockarie to teach there. The notion that the town might return to its old, familiar ways soon vanishes, however, when a mining company, in search of rutile--used as a pigment in paint, plastic, and food--sets up shop, polluting the town's waterways. Bockarie's best friend also dies a senseless death while working at the mine. Bockarie eventually decides to return with his friend's wife to her hometown, only to find life even more unbearable there, in the shadow of a diamond mine. This leaves only Freetown, with its Chinese-run hotels, drug runners, and "false life" Europe- and U.S.-based returnees, who missed the war all together. This part of the novel leaves us wondering what might happen next to some characters to whom we've grown attached. However, as Beah reminds us on the book's final page, "It is the end, or maybe the beginning of another story.... Every story is a birth." In Radiance of Tomorrow, Beah has produced a formidable and memorable novel--a story of resilience and survival, and, ultimately, rebirth." --Edwidge Danticat, "Publishers Weekly""UNICEF Ambassador Beah writes lyrically and passionately about ugly realities as well as about the beauty and dignity of traditional ways." --"Kirkus Reviews" (starred review) "In 2007, Beah woke us from our slumbers with "A Long Way Gone" . . . Here, in his first novel . . . our heroes (like Beah himself) stay radiant to the end." --"Library Journal "

Praise for "A Long Way Gone
"
"Everyone in the world should read this book. Not just because it contains an amazing story, or because it's our moral, bleeding-heart duty, or because it's clearly written. We should read it to learn about the world and about what it means to be human." --"The Washington Post"

"A breathtaking and unselfpitying account of how a gentle spirit survives a childhood from which all innocence has suddenly been sucked out. It's a truly riveting memoir." --"Time"

Praise for "A Long Way Gone

Written with the moral urgency of a parable and the searing precision of a firsthand account . . . There is an allegorical richness to Beah's storytelling and a remarkable humanity to his characters. We see tragedy arriving not through the big wallops of war, but rather in corrosive increments. "Sara Corbett, The New York Times Book Review"

In his 2007 memoir, "A Long Way Gone," Ishmael Beah writes of those waiting for war to invade their lives: "Families who had walked hundreds of miles told how relatives had been killed and their houses burned. Some people felt sorry for them and offered them places to stay, but most of the refugees refused, because they said the war would eventually reach their town." The decade-long war in Sierra Leone between government forces and Liberian-funded rebels did eventually reach Beah's and other towns, and he was swept up in the conflict as a child soldier, a story he vividly recounts in his memoir. This time Beah has written an actual novel--his first--not about the war itself, but about its aftermath. What happens when those who have committed atrocities or have been the victims of them return to what is left of their homes? We get our answer via several residents of the devastated Sierra Leonean town of Imperi, where an older couple, Mama Kadie and Pa Moiwa, and a young schoolteacher named Bockarie are among the first to return. Recalling the Friday afternoon the town was attacked, they remember the rocket-propelled grenades that brought down the chief's compound, heralding a new order while "killing many people, whose flesh sizzled from the explosions." Those who escaped, and eventually made it through the war in good enough shape to return, considered themselves lucky, save for the survivor's guilt that forced them to seek comfort, even in the most horrifying places. Looking at the piles of human bones that still litter the town, Mama Kadie imagines that she might be able to identify the remains of her grandchildren among them. The pain of not knowing whether or not they had survived the war is too much to bear and she wants some finality. The town eventually falls into some kind of routine. Other survivors flood in from refugee camps in neighboring countries. Burned houses are rebuilt and a school is opened, allowing Bockarie to teach there. The notion that the town might return to its old, familiar ways soon vanishes, however, when a mining company, in search of rutile--used as a pigment in paint, plastic, and food--sets up shop, polluting the town's waterways. Bockarie's best friend also dies a senseless death while working at the mine. Bockarie eventually decides to return with his friend's wife to her hometown, only to find life even more unbearable there, in the shadow of a diamond mine. This leaves only Freetown, with its Chinese-run hotels, drug runners, and "false life" Europe- and U.S.-based returnees, who missed the war all together. This part of the novel leaves us wondering what might happen next to some characters to whom we've grown attached. However, as Beah reminds us on the book's final page, "It is the end, or maybe the beginning of another story.... Every story is a birth." In Radiance of Tomorrow, Beah has produced a formidable and memorable novel--a story of resilience and survival, and, ultimately, rebirth. "Edwid"

UNICEF Ambassador Beah writes lyrically and passionately about ugly realities as well as about the beauty and dignity of traditional ways. "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"

In 2007, Beah woke us from our slumbers with "A Long Way Gone" . . . Here, in his first novel . . . our heroes (like Beah himself) stay radiant to the end. "Library Journal"

Everyone in the world should read this book. Not just because it contains an amazing story, or because it's our moral, bleeding-heart duty, or because it's clearly written. We should read it to learn about the world and about what it means to be human. "The Washington Post on A Long Way Gone"

A breathtaking and unselfpitying account of how a gentle spirit survives a childhood from which all innocence has suddenly been sucked out. It's a truly riveting memoir. "Time on A Long Way Gone""

Written with the moral urgency of a parable and the searing precision of a firsthand account . . . There is an allegorical richness to Beah's storytelling and a remarkable humanity to his characters. We see tragedy arriving not through the big wallops of war, but rather in corrosive increments. Sara Corbett, The New York Times Book Review

In his 2007 memoir, A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah writes of those waiting for war to invade their lives: "Families who had walked hundreds of miles told how relatives had been killed and their houses burned. Some people felt sorry for them and offered them places to stay, but most of the refugees refused, because they said the war would eventually reach their town." The decade-long war in Sierra Leone between government forces and Liberian-funded rebels did eventually reach Beah's and other towns, and he was swept up in the conflict as a child soldier, a story he vividly recounts in his memoir. This time Beah has written an actual novel--his first--not about the war itself, but about its aftermath. What happens when those who have committed atrocities or have been the victims of them return to what is left of their homes? We get our answer via several residents of the devastated Sierra Leonean town of Imperi, where an older couple, Mama Kadie and Pa Moiwa, and a young schoolteacher named Bockarie are among the first to return. Recalling the Friday afternoon the town was attacked, they remember the rocket-propelled grenades that brought down the chief's compound, heralding a new order while "killing many people, whose flesh sizzled from the explosions." Those who escaped, and eventually made it through the war in good enough shape to return, considered themselves lucky, save for the survivor's guilt that forced them to seek comfort, even in the most horrifying places. Looking at the piles of human bones that still litter the town, Mama Kadie imagines that she might be able to identify the remains of her grandchildren among them. The pain of not knowing whether or not they had survived the war is too much to bear and she wants some finality. The town eventually falls into some kind of routine. Other survivors flood in from refugee camps in neighboring countries. Burned houses are rebuilt and a school is opened, allowing Bockarie to teach there. The notion that the town might return to its old, familiar ways soon vanishes, however, when a mining company, in search of rutile--used as a pigment in paint, plastic, and food--sets up shop, polluting the town's waterways. Bockarie's best friend also dies a senseless death while working at the mine. Bockarie eventually decides to return with his friend's wife to her hometown, only to find life even more unbearable there, in the shadow of a diamond mine. This leaves only Freetown, with its Chinese-run hotels, drug runners, and "false life" Europe- and U.S.-based returnees, who missed the war all together. This part of the novel leaves us wondering what might happen next to some characters to whom we've grown attached. However, as Beah reminds us on the book's final page, "It is the end, or maybe the beginning of another story.... Every story is a birth." In Radiance of Tomorrow, Beah has produced a formidable and memorable novel--a story of resilience and survival, and, ultimately, rebirth. Edwid

UNICEF Ambassador Beah writes lyrically and passionately about ugly realities as well as about the beauty and dignity of traditional ways. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

In 2007, Beah woke us from our slumbers with A Long Way Gone . . . Here, in his first novel . . . our heroes (like Beah himself) stay radiant to the end. Library Journal

Everyone in the world should read this book. Not just because it contains an amazing story, or because it's our moral, bleeding-heart duty, or because it's clearly written. We should read it to learn about the world and about what it means to be human. The Washington Post on A Long Way Gone

A breathtaking and unselfpitying account of how a gentle spirit survives a childhood from which all innocence has suddenly been sucked out. It's a truly riveting memoir. Time on A Long Way Gone

A haunting, beautiful first novel by the bestselling author of A Long Way Gone


When Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone was published in 2007, it soared to the top of bestseller lists, becoming an instant classic: a harrowing account of Sierra Leone's civil war and the fate of child soldiers that "everyone in the world should read" (The Washington Post). Now Beah, whom Dave Eggers has called "arguably the most read African writer in contemporary literature," has returned with his first novel, an affecting, tender parable about postwar life in Sierra Leone.
At the center of Radiance of Tomorrow are Benjamin and Bockarie, two longtime friends who return to their hometown, Imperi, after the civil war. The village is in ruins, the ground covered in bones. As more villagers begin to come back, Benjamin and Bockarie try to forge a new community by taking up their former posts as teachers, but they're beset by obstacles: a scarcity of food; a rash of murders, thievery, rape, and retaliation; and the depredations of a foreign mining company intent on sullying the town's water supply and blocking its paths with electric wires. As Benjamin and Bockarie search for a way to restore order, they're forced to reckon with the uncertainty of their past and future alike.
With the gentle lyricism of a dream and the moral clarity of a fable, Radiance of Tomorrow is a powerful novel about preserving what means the most to us, even in uncertain times.
Named one of the Christian Science Monitor's best fiction books of 2014