A Long Way Gone Essay

A Long way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them said Ishmael. The Book A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy soldier was written by Ishmael Beah. The book is basically about a boy soldier, Ishmael Beah, and his trials and tabulations as a soldier to his rehabilitation at 16 years old to become a family boy. What are the effects on Ishmael from being a boy soldier, does Ishmael ever recover form war, and what are the effects this book had on me?

What are the effects on Ishmael from being a boy soldier? Well my belief is that he became cold from all the fighting and blood shed he has seen as a boy soldier. In the book, A Long way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Ishmael said Every time people come at us with the intention of killing us, I close my eyes and wait for death. Even thought I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me dies. Very soon I will completely die and all that will be left is my empty body walking with you. It will be quieter than I am. From the text it seems as if he doesnt care for life and will do anything to survive. But has Ishmael changed since leaving the army, has he ever recovered.

Has Ishmael become a normal person, someone that can fit into a functional society? From what has been told in the book Ishmael did not at first fit into society he was still dark and full of anger, ready to fight at a moments notice. But as time went on he noticed that the world is not made for anger that kids like him self can always change. To add on that point Ishmael said children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance. Well I can connect with this because I have seen people come through situations that look bleak but end up doing well and not letting the experience crush them. Also has the book changed me as a person, has it done anything for me.

This book has caused me to notice everyone has their own trials and tribulations; to go out and dont start to fall in to the problem, to let the problem take over and make you into a horrible person is not the route to go. We should all strive to be good in everything we do and if something occurs that is hurtful to us we should turn the other cheek and not try to give up.

Furthermore this book, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, is a very inspirational book it makes people want to strive and be the best they can be right now because anything can happen to disturbed live. When a problem comes your way dont give up and you have to persevere thought it and make it come true. Ishmael said I joined the army to avenge the deaths of my family and to survive, but I've come to learn that if I am going to take revenge, in that process I will kill another person whose family will want revenge; then revenge and revenge and revenge will never come to an end.