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Quote by Dave Eggers

Work

What is the What

What is the What is a work of fiction by Dave Eggers that recounts the experiences of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. The narrative alternates between Deng's harrowing journey as a child fleeing civil war in Sudan and his challenging life as a refugee in the United States. The book explores themes of survival, identity, and the search for meaning amidst displacement and trauma, drawing on Deng's real-life testimony to illuminate the broader humanitarian crisis. more

Author

Dave Eggers
Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers is an American writer, born on March 12, 1970. He is known for his unique narrative style and his focus on social issues. His notable works include 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius' and 'The Time Traveler's Wife'. more

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“I'm sad. Pressed down by sorrow. I'm angry. Pissed at God, if there is one, and the way things are. I'm scared. Confused by the whys. Why are we here? Is there, really, some intelligent design? Why do we cry for someone who leaves us if there's some Grand Pearly Gate in the sky? Why worry about how we build our lives if the ultimate ending for all is death, a single breath away? (358)”

“My needs were simple I didn't bother much with themes or felicitous phrases and skipped fine descriptions of weather, landscapes and interiors. I wanted characters I could believe in, and I wanted to be made curious about what was to happen to them. Generally, I preferred people to be falling in and out of love, but I didn't mind so much if they tried their hand at something else. It was vulgar to want it, but I liked someone to say 'Marry me' by the end.”

“Your assumptions about the lives of others are in direct relation to your naïve pomposity. Many people you believe to be rich are not rich. Many people you think have it easy worked hard for what they got. Many people who seem to be gliding right along have suffered and are suffering. Many people who appear to you to be old and stupidly saddled down with kids and cars and houses were once every bit as hip and pompous as you.”

“When you meet a man in the doorway of a Mexican restaurant who later kisses you while explaining that this kiss doesn’t “mean anything” because, much as he likes you, he is not interested in having a relationship with you or anyone right now, just laugh and kiss him back. Your daughter will have his sense of humor. Your son will have his eyes.”