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God Grew Tired of Us: A Memoir
by
John Bul Dau (Goodreads Author),
Michael S. Sweeney
"Lost Boy" John Bul Dau’s harrowing experience surviving the brutal horrors of Sudanese civil war and his adjustment to life in modern America is chronicled in this inspiring memoir and featured in an award-winning documentary film of the same name. Movingly written, the book traces Dau’s journey through hunger, exhaustion, terror, and violence as he fled his homeland, dod...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
January 22nd 2008
by National Geographic
(first published January 16th 2007)
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I heard about this book from NPR. It is the story of John Bul Dau, a lost boy from Sudan. Interwined is the history of the wars between the north and south of Sudan to provide a comprehensive understanding as to what takes place within the story. Also included are the quotes from the "friends" of John Bul Dau, both Duk Payuel, his childhood home in Sudan, in the surrounding countries where the lost boys stayed for periods of time, and in America, where John Bul Dau presently lives an...more
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Very interesting and thought provoking.
Its a kind of biography of John.
John is from Sudan.In his childhood at his 11th year or so,his village was bombed by Muslim militants and he ran for his life.Its all about his journey to save his life till he reached America as a refugee and established his living hood.
The story would move our heart..It just shows of the contrast..When he ran for the life,he was around 11yrs..1981..ethnic warfare started spreading Sudan completely.Hi...more
Its a kind of biography of John.
John is from Sudan.In his childhood at his 11th year or so,his village was bombed by Muslim militants and he ran for his life.Its all about his journey to save his life till he reached America as a refugee and established his living hood.
The story would move our heart..It just shows of the contrast..When he ran for the life,he was around 11yrs..1981..ethnic warfare started spreading Sudan completely.Hi...more
Roni
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Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Roni by:
Maureen Keene (my boss)
This is an amazing story of one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. It is amazing that things like this are still happening. It was an eye opener for me. There is a large population of Sudanese refugees in the Denver area. A family was recently baptized into my ward that fled the Sudan and Egypt. I was the mother's visiting teacher and the girls I got to know in Young Women's. I never really talked about the pain that they had to go through to get to America, but I was glad that I was aware of what...more
Having been friends with a 'Lost Boy' who didn't talk about his past, I enjoyed reading John's memoir because it gave me a feel for the similar events which brought my friend to Utah.
I also liked his perspective on the USA as a whole. So many of us take our freedom for granted and fail to accept responsibility for our success or lack there of. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in what is wrong and forget how many great people live here who freely give of their time, talents, and...more
I also liked his perspective on the USA as a whole. So many of us take our freedom for granted and fail to accept responsibility for our success or lack there of. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in what is wrong and forget how many great people live here who freely give of their time, talents, and...more
John Bul Dau's story of his journey as a Lost Boy and his life in America is a deeply moving, heartwarming and inspirational story. Although he endured many hardships, suffering horrors that I cannot even begin to imagine, he overcame all those obstacles and has done absolutely amazing things with his life. His optimism and outlook on life are so beautiful. His words are very profound. You come away viewing life differently and appreciating the life we have been given that is often taken for gra...more
My husband asks "Why do you always read those sad stories?" Maybe I do lean a little towards tragedy, but this book, as well as some of my others, I like to classify as survival. I enjoy reading about other peoples lives, especially when they overcome negative circumstances(in this case - horrific) and continue on to create or continue an amazing life. John Bul Dau did exactly that. We have so much to learn from people like John Bul Dau.
As a Lost Boy, after losing his family...more
As a Lost Boy, after losing his family...more
This is an amazing tale of the lost boys of Sudan told by a remarkable survivor of the carnage that swept through his homeland. It is a story of the strength of the human spirit. It is truly inspirational.
As the author of a spiritually-themed novel, I am always on the outlook for books that provide food for my soul. This one certainly did it for me! It is an amazing journey of a thirteen year-old boy who loses his family when he has to escape from the ravages of civil war. Following ...more
As the author of a spiritually-themed novel, I am always on the outlook for books that provide food for my soul. This one certainly did it for me! It is an amazing journey of a thirteen year-old boy who loses his family when he has to escape from the ravages of civil war. Following ...more
This is an incredible story of survival and perseverance of a young man, beginning at age 13, when his village in Sudan was overrun by his nation's civil war.
Although I had heard of the Lost Boys and the civil war in the Sudan, I had no idea of the background of the war. After independence came to Sudan in the 1950's, the Muslim population of the north tried to overrun the Christian population of the south. In 1973 the north declared Islam to be the state religion, and in 1983 th...more
Although I had heard of the Lost Boys and the civil war in the Sudan, I had no idea of the background of the war. After independence came to Sudan in the 1950's, the Muslim population of the north tried to overrun the Christian population of the south. In 1973 the north declared Islam to be the state religion, and in 1983 th...more
An excellent book by one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. It begins when John is just 12 and his village is attacked. He is fortunate to escape with his life but spends years escaping to safe spots and survives horrendous conditions. Eventually John makes his way to the United States where he now lives and runs the John Dau Sudan Foundation to help others in Sudan. It is evident from the book that Mr. Dau loves his new country, but loves his Dinka heritage as well. He has praise for America and Am...more
This book is one of the best books I've ever read. Two summers ago, in summer school, there were a couple students who had come to the US from Sudan. One of these youngsters was having a very hard time from all she had seen and adjusting to this new home and culture. I had previously heard of the Lost Boys, but never really heard much. I started researching a little and reading about this part of the world. I rented the movie documentary of the same title, but reading John's story was even m...more
Excellent memoir!
From back cover:
"John Bul Dau is a hero, though too modest a man to ever say so himself. When civil war came to his peaceful village, death became his constant companion but never destroyed his belief in the simple strong values of Dinka society. On a life journey spanning thousands of miles from rural Africa to an American university, this born leader has approached each new day as a gift from God and met every challenge with a steadfast spirit that...more
From back cover:
"John Bul Dau is a hero, though too modest a man to ever say so himself. When civil war came to his peaceful village, death became his constant companion but never destroyed his belief in the simple strong values of Dinka society. On a life journey spanning thousands of miles from rural Africa to an American university, this born leader has approached each new day as a gift from God and met every challenge with a steadfast spirit that...more
The author of this simply written memoir is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who's now living in this country. Not only does the book describe the turmoil and hardship he went through in Sudan, Ethiopia and finally Kenya, but it also shows what it was like to come to the United States. People were very welcoming and helpful, but they had no idea of the degree of culture shock these young men were experiencing. Well-meaning people also knew little about the life and cultural norms of the Dinka p...more
An excellent read about the lost boys of Sudan. I was skeptical at first, but really enjoyed the story as well as learning about another culture. I learned that hard things are still happening all over the world today, even though most of the time I am oblivious to a lot of it.
LOVED this book. I had no idea the recent history of Sudan. So it was enlightening plus I was amazed at the John's attitude and abilities throughout. This is his autobiography of that time of his life. I am glad I bought this one as it is one I will love having on my bookshelf.
God Grew Tired of Us
By John Bul Dau with Michael S. Sweeney
(Note: John Bul Dau’s God Grew Tired of Us has been selected by the Lynchburg Public Library for 2010’s “Lynchburg Reads” program. There will be book discussions and other public programs offered this spring and Mr. Dau will speak at Randolph College on April 21 at 8:00 P.M. Mr. Dau’s appearance is being funded by The Friends of the Lynchburg Public Library, The Holocaust Education Founda...more
I plan on reading this book soon. I saw the documentary in my World Studies class. I reccomend watching the documentary, as it is touching and inspiring to watch the journey of John Bul and a few of his fellow Lost Boys. The documentary takes you along on their journey, starting in Sudan where you experience what their lives in refugee camps were like. They explain how they came to be in refugee camps, what their lives were like before, their thoughts on the Sudanese civil war, and what they hop...more
"I did not say so at the time, but I felt one more thing above all others. It was a private thing, so I did not share it. But I felt, very strongly, the grace of God. I can take no credit for it; grace is not something anyone can earn. Rather, grace opened before me like the door, and I walked through it. I knew I had been blessed. How else could anyone explain the impossible odds I had overcome- the dangers, the miles, the despair. God had not forgotten me after all."- John Bul Dau "...more
This book is about the lost boys of Sudan. It talks about john Bul Dau about his life in Sudan and going to Ethiopia and Kenya and America.
It start when his village was attacked by the north Sudan militia. He was separated from his family. He met other boys and started walking to Ethiopia. Ethiopia ask them to leave the country they had no choice but to walk back to Sudan through Kenya but a lot of them died walking. There was no water or food. john came to America in 2001 with some of his...more
It start when his village was attacked by the north Sudan militia. He was separated from his family. He met other boys and started walking to Ethiopia. Ethiopia ask them to leave the country they had no choice but to walk back to Sudan through Kenya but a lot of them died walking. There was no water or food. john came to America in 2001 with some of his...more
Rock Angel
marked it as to-read
this review pertain to the movie (documentary) by the same name.
The movie got a 4.5 star rating. If I go along with that, then the book "What's the What" (another Sudanese autobio) should get about 40 stars.
To be fair, "God" focused on the Sudanese boys' American life, spending only about 10-15 min on their Sudanese history, whereas "What" spent >3/4 on Valentino Achak Deng's Sudanese days; and that the latter book is almost twice as long as t...more
The movie got a 4.5 star rating. If I go along with that, then the book "What's the What" (another Sudanese autobio) should get about 40 stars.
To be fair, "God" focused on the Sudanese boys' American life, spending only about 10-15 min on their Sudanese history, whereas "What" spent >3/4 on Valentino Achak Deng's Sudanese days; and that the latter book is almost twice as long as t...more
The autobiography of a young man who at 13 yrs old is caught in the war in southern Sudan and separated from his family finding his way to a series of refugee camps and eventually to the U.S. It is helpful to understand more of what is going on in Sudan. Today in a different region of the country the Darfur region is still in turmoil. I would rate this book a 3 1/2 there are slow moving sections, but I enjoyed the ending where he had a chance to reflect on his experiences and to begin trying to ...more
This book was yet another wonderfully written memoir about the genocide/war in Sudan, specifically about the Lost Boys. To learn about the Dinka tribe's culture and traditions and beliefs was lovely. I had no idea that most are Christian, and so this was refreshing to read about because John referenced the bible several times. Previous books I've read about genocide have not been about Christian tribes, but have been just as educational and interesting to read nonetheless, from a different pe...more
I had seen Christopher Quinn's wonderful documentary about the Lost Boys of Sudan and remember clearly the scenes of one group's arrival in Syracuse, NY, where volunteers took them to a grocery store for the first time, showed them how to flip a light switch, use a stove and all the other wonders that we take for granted in our modern world, so I was a little reluctant to read this memoir, thinking it would be redundant. Boy, was I wrong. John Dau's account begins the night his village was attac...more
I have been very interested in memoirs recently...and this is an excellent one---I first saw the documentary of the same name and was facinated by John Bul Dau, author of this book. If you are interested in Africa, the conflicts that have raged (and continue to rage...) there, as well as hearing personal accounts of the displacement these conflicts has caused so many people---I highly recommend this book.
I must say a tear came to my eye more than once as i read this book. Quite amazing what some people must endure for freedom. Not to mention the staggering power of human will.
What i appreciated most of all about this book came at the end. I really appreciated Dau's perspective on America-- our strengths and weaknesses, where we have gone astray, and the results. I won't go into specifics-- its better as an end to the book...
Overall, i thought this read was very thought-provoking. Qu...more
What i appreciated most of all about this book came at the end. I really appreciated Dau's perspective on America-- our strengths and weaknesses, where we have gone astray, and the results. I won't go into specifics-- its better as an end to the book...
Overall, i thought this read was very thought-provoking. Qu...more
This book was fantastic! If you are interested in other cultures and what people go through for the cause of freedom this book is for you. The young man who wrote the story went through a horrific journey, yet never lost his faith. He has settled in the States, and has made a life for himself. It is a very inspirational story.
GGTOU was an excellent book to take me out of my little box and see things from a non-American perspective. So many things I take for granted, and even have the audacity to complain about, when I should be oh so thankful that God has blessed me abundantly.
John Bul Dau has such an optimism and a strength, developed by the adversity he has faced. I admire him greatly.
John Bul Dau has such an optimism and a strength, developed by the adversity he has faced. I admire him greatly.
This cross-section of recent history has been extremely compelling to me lately. God Grew Tired of Us is a different take on the Lost Boys memoir than "What Is the What." Much less graphic and more optimistic... Unlike what the title insinuates, John Dau's experiences serve to both strengthen his faith in God, and give him proper bearing for his new life in America as a recipient of tremendous grace. I'm very interested in seeing the film version of this...
Loved this book. Heard the author speak and it's an almost chilling story of the Sudan boys. Not a light read due to the topic but a great story of survival and what it's like to have survived genocide and what it takes for a boy to become a man through suffering and tragedy.
I loved this book. It is very sad, but helped me learn a lot about the lost boys of Sudan. It is amazing to read what they went through and how many of them have come through it. It amazes me how much someone can suffer and not give up. I would recommend this book!
I can't say enough good things about this book. It's a fascinating story about the trials of the Lost Boys of Sudan and their experiences before and after their venture to America. Insightful, inspiring and just a great read.
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John Dau is a survivor of a 14-year journey from his home village in Duk County, Sudan in 1987 to his arrival in Syracuse, New York in 2001. As a young boy he fled Sudanese government troops and eventually arrived at the Kukuma refugee camp in Kenya in 1992. During this journey of more than 1,000 miles, he led thousands of younger children through violence and starvation. Selected to come to Syrac...more
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“Times slows when your life is in danger. Every second takes a minute to pass, and even the smallest event gets chiseled into memory. (95)”
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