Out of Exile: Narratives from the Abducted and Displaced People of Sudan

Voice of Witness

by Craig Walzer (editor), Dave Eggers (Introduction), Valentino Achak Deng (Introduction)

Decades of conflicts and persecution have driven millions from their homes in all parts of the northeast African country of Sudan. Many thousands more have been enslaved as human spoils of war. In their own words, the narrators of Out of Exile recount their lives before their displacement, the reasons for their flight, and their hopes to someday return home. 



Included are the stories   a native of South Sudan now living in Boston, who survived ten years as a slave after being captured by an Arab militia. 



MARCY and best friends, who have spent the vast majority of their lives in a refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya. They remember almost nothing of their former homes in Sudan. 



who struggled to find opportunities as a refugee in Cairo, but eventually fell into a world of gangs and violence.

Genres: Africa, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Sudan

469 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Chiara Pignanelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the "Voices of Witness" series, this book is a collection of interviews of Sudanese refugees who for different reasons fled from their country or to refugee camps in the North. These are their stories, raw, unfiltered and painful to read sometimes but necessary because they help to shed light on a conflict we now so little about.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book that relates the stories of Sudanese refugees attempting to simply live as a result of the genocide committed by the government against its own citizens. The difficult part becomes not seeing the same trends occurring for so many of the people described in the book. After a while, much of it becomes numbing because of the extent of violence both initially and trauma during the course of attempting to emigrate. It's worth reading but be prepared to take a step back and be like "Woah."

[Philippe Lazaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In the year since, I've listened to this exchange again and again. I wonder what would have been a better answer than, 'I'm sorry, I don't know what to say.' I wish I had had a better answer."

–Craig Walzer

This is a heavy book in pretty much every sense of the word. It isn't light reading in terms of its presentation and definitely in terms of its content.

That said, it's very valuable reading. The personal stories that are shared here are well captured and are so important for remembering what happened in the Sudan throughout the early 2000s.

[Mrlunch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely brutal first person accounts of Sudanese refugees and the horrors they had to face in the early 2000's. This book is powerful and definitely puts things into perspective. I was constantly amazed while reading at these people's ability to rebound, persevere, and maintain hope. Yet by the time I hit the 70-75% mark, I found myself fatigued, slowing my reading to a crawl, and not really wanting to read about another rape, murder, or beating.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interviews with refugees who have been displaced by conflict in Sudan. These true stories are heart-breaking, but reading about these people will also open your eyes to the suffering that is happening every day in the world. These people are stronger and more resilient than I could ever have imagined. It's real, it's happening, and we should know about it.

[Queen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's truly sad to read of others' heartbreak and suffering and not do anything about it. I think these Sudanese desearve to all thoroughly embrace who they are as a people. They should be able to be symbiotic without threat of the other Sudanese being different from them. It's especially sad when a people is rape and oppressed by those they can call "cousin".

[Katie Hymans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first of the Voices of Witness series I read, and so far I've LOVED every single one. Amazing series, written directly from the voices of the people being profiled in the stories, so incredibly powerful.

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving. Oral histories.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking first person stories from the Sudanese refugee diaspora.

[Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just heard the editor, Craig Walzer, speak at UCSF. Excited to read his compiled narratives that offer a more humanistic approach to the Sudanese conflict. Highly recommended!

[Sahar · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in a long time. Dave eggers for the win.

[Tiah Keever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously heart breaking.