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A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier Audiobook— narrated by Ishmael Beah
A Long Way Gone is Ishmael Beah's first-person memoir of being a boy soldier in Sierra Leone's civil war. It follows him from a village childhood at twelve through the army, drugs and killing, and into a UNICEF rehabilitation center. A hard book, but a rare witness account.
Why the audiobook wins
Ishmael Beah reads his own memoir, and the prose is plain and direct, which suits being spoken in the voice of the person it happened to. He does not decorate atrocity or ask for a verdict.
At a little under eight hours, it fits a weekend or a few evenings. The first half is mostly flight, with hunger and fear, before the army years and then the rehabilitation chapters. It contains graphic scenes of killing and drug use, so pick a moment when you can listen with full attention rather than in the background.
One Audible credit covers the whole book.
Audiobook questions
- Who narrates the A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier audiobook?
- Ishmael Beah narrates the audiobook edition of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.
- How long is the A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier audiobook?
- The audiobook runs 7 hr 43 min.
- Is the A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier audiobook worth listening to?
- We scored A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier 4.6 out of 5. Ishmael Beah reads his own memoir, and the prose is plain and direct, which suits being spoken in the voice of the person it happened to. He does not decorate atrocity or ask for a verdict.
- Can I listen to A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier free with an Audible trial?
- Eligible new Audible members can use a free-trial credit to listen in the Audible app. Eligibility and current offer terms are set by Audible.Listen free with Audible
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