bravelass85's review against another edition
5.0
This won the Pulitzer for a reason. What a fantastic view of the complexity of troubles in Sudan and the odd band of do-gooders and neer-do-wells that work the aid trade. This book has the best ending I've possibly ever read. The last line is perfect.
msjoanna's review
4.0
At nearly 700 pages, this novel is a hefty read. But it's worth the effort for the rich characters and the musing on the outcome of deeply held convictions (the "faith" of the title), be they religious, altruistic, or romantic. The author turns too often to odd-couple romantic pairings, but I was willing to forgive the overuse of this plot device because I found the characters so interesting.
This book covers, in graphic detail, war in the Sudan, including the aftermath of bombings, hand-to-hand combat scenes, and, with perhaps more detail than was necessary, the inner workings of an airline involved in aid flights. The flawed characters include the leader of an Arab tribe, a SPLA leader, the owner of the small airline, an employee of the airline, a few pilots, aid workers, priests, and others. By shifting perspectives among several main characters, the author manages to tell a comprehensive story about the moral grey areas involved in trying to do the right thing.
Defintely a good read, and an interesting parallel to [b:What is the What|1097|Fast Food Nation|Eric Schlosser|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1157830973s/1097.jpg|2207547].
As an aside, there is a character from Texas who uses the word "y'all" in a way that annoyed me (and occasionally confused me) throughout the book. Y'all is a conjunction of "you all" and is a Texan (Southern) slang for the plural "you," which proper English insists is the same as singular "you." In this book, the Texan, Wes Dare, uses "y'all" as a replacement for singular "you," which is wrong and confusing.
This book covers, in graphic detail, war in the Sudan, including the aftermath of bombings, hand-to-hand combat scenes, and, with perhaps more detail than was necessary, the inner workings of an airline involved in aid flights. The flawed characters include the leader of an Arab tribe, a SPLA leader, the owner of the small airline, an employee of the airline, a few pilots, aid workers, priests, and others. By shifting perspectives among several main characters, the author manages to tell a comprehensive story about the moral grey areas involved in trying to do the right thing.
Defintely a good read, and an interesting parallel to [b:What is the What|1097|Fast Food Nation|Eric Schlosser|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1157830973s/1097.jpg|2207547].
As an aside, there is a character from Texas who uses the word "y'all" in a way that annoyed me (and occasionally confused me) throughout the book. Y'all is a conjunction of "you all" and is a Texan (Southern) slang for the plural "you," which proper English insists is the same as singular "you." In this book, the Texan, Wes Dare, uses "y'all" as a replacement for singular "you," which is wrong and confusing.
susanreadstheworld's review against another edition
1.0
The Days of Our Lives: Sudan - a waste of paper and time.
When they say "write about what you know" they don't say "include everything and don't forget the kitchen sink!"
The first half of the book is full of too many main characters. I got the feeling the author just couldn't choose a filter. The second half is dominated by soap opera-like love affairs and is taken over by the two most unlikable characters in the book.
If you were having trouble with the mishmash style of the first half and wishing the author would choose a filter already, you end up screaming "This is the filter you chose?! Pathetic!" as you slog your way through the second half.
I forced my way through the first half because I was at least getting to know more about Sudan and its history and difficulties, but the second half left me bored and annoyed.
Mr. Caputo, did you have a content editor? Or did you decide that you are too good for that sort of thing? Were you so delusional that you thought that you could undertake something so immense and not need a content editor? Not need guidance? Did the idea of allowing someone else to help you mold your story give you nightmares?
You should have hired a team of content editors.
When they say "write about what you know" they don't say "include everything and don't forget the kitchen sink!"
The first half of the book is full of too many main characters. I got the feeling the author just couldn't choose a filter. The second half is dominated by soap opera-like love affairs and is taken over by the two most unlikable characters in the book.
If you were having trouble with the mishmash style of the first half and wishing the author would choose a filter already, you end up screaming "This is the filter you chose?! Pathetic!" as you slog your way through the second half.
I forced my way through the first half because I was at least getting to know more about Sudan and its history and difficulties, but the second half left me bored and annoyed.
Mr. Caputo, did you have a content editor? Or did you decide that you are too good for that sort of thing? Were you so delusional that you thought that you could undertake something so immense and not need a content editor? Not need guidance? Did the idea of allowing someone else to help you mold your story give you nightmares?
You should have hired a team of content editors.
joellie's review against another edition
5.0
What a great cast of characters. Caputo is so good you feel you know them. The ones you may have liked at the beginning might develop into not so nice people. The ones you weren't sure about, you may come to like. It was so full of main characters, you felt like you were part of the crowd, having opinions about them all.
It's the story of relief aid workers in the Sudan. All are there for different reasons: searching for something; trying to prove something; or just trying to earn a living.
It's the story of relief aid workers in the Sudan. All are there for different reasons: searching for something; trying to prove something; or just trying to earn a living.
williamc's review against another edition
5.0
“Do you suppose war to be here what wars are elsewhere?”… “Do you suppose that it is an event, with a discrete beginning that will proceed to a discrete middle und so weiter on to a discrete end? No! It is a condition of life, like drought. There is war in Sudan because there is war.”
“Like Vietnam?” Douglas murmured. “We’re here because we’re here because we’re here.”
Manfred’s gaze passed from the American’s face to his boots, then back up again. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
___
Acts of Faith is an odyssey in a way that meets the origin of the word: a story of how the lives of individuals are changed through the fantastic, horrific environments of war, and how this novel’s characters in particular emerge out the other side almost completely unrecognizable from how, and as whom, they began.
The author reinforces at every point that measuring the story of Africa – and in particular Sudan – upon the American scale of good and evil is a disservice to the people and the bargains they have arranged with this continent that seems also to be a god. It may in fact be a kind of irreligious sin to view Sudan as measurable in any sense of logic: Nothing goes unpunished. Tolls are extracted everywhere.
There are beautiful passages that you want to commit to memory (in particular the pages that describe the cultural characteristics of Americans) and other scenes when the cruelties of the natural and manmade worlds seem inseparable, if they’re not, in fact, the very same thing.
Acts of Faith is an amazing novel with unforgettable characters. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get through it, but I’m glad I did.
“Like Vietnam?” Douglas murmured. “We’re here because we’re here because we’re here.”
Manfred’s gaze passed from the American’s face to his boots, then back up again. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
___
Acts of Faith is an odyssey in a way that meets the origin of the word: a story of how the lives of individuals are changed through the fantastic, horrific environments of war, and how this novel’s characters in particular emerge out the other side almost completely unrecognizable from how, and as whom, they began.
The author reinforces at every point that measuring the story of Africa – and in particular Sudan – upon the American scale of good and evil is a disservice to the people and the bargains they have arranged with this continent that seems also to be a god. It may in fact be a kind of irreligious sin to view Sudan as measurable in any sense of logic: Nothing goes unpunished. Tolls are extracted everywhere.
There are beautiful passages that you want to commit to memory (in particular the pages that describe the cultural characteristics of Americans) and other scenes when the cruelties of the natural and manmade worlds seem inseparable, if they’re not, in fact, the very same thing.
Acts of Faith is an amazing novel with unforgettable characters. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get through it, but I’m glad I did.
kimba's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written. Wonderful characters. Great plot. And a way to learn about a part of the world I knew nothing about - Sudan. This book has it all. Highly recommend. Great discussion book for a book club.
kathleenitpdx's review
3.0
A very good book. Very complex characters with riveting moral dilemmas. Set in Sudan and Kenya with some interesting background for us as Sudan's leader is charged by the world court with genocide in Darfur. Lots of adventure, a little romance.
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