Circumstances Beyond His Control

But another astonishing thing occurs. Ishmael is chosen to go to the United Nations in New York to speak about the trials of children in war. He goes, he speaks, he makes friends, he returns. By now, he is living with a kindly uncle, but the rebels have penetrated Freetown. Ishmael once again must hit the road and try to escape. That he succeeds is self-evident. He's in the United States now; he's graduated from college and written this book. His face smiles from the book jacket. He's only 26.

I don't think it's possible to "understand" this book. "A Long Way Gone" says something about human nature that we try, most of the time, to ignore. Humans can be murderous, and that doesn't pertain in any way to religion or politics or ideology. These boys, on either side, didn't have the foggiest idea of the reasons for their war. The proselytizers, colonists, foreign entrepreneurs, politicians, even cheesy moviemakers all played a part in it -- committing murder by proxy. The murder itself is ubiquitous. The faint good news in these pages is that if we're lucky, very lucky, we may be able to sneak out of this life without being either murderer or victim. But it's nothing to count on.

Sunday in Book World

· Nixon goes to China.

· Evolution goes to court.

· Pragmatists go to the Amazon.

· The Medusa goes to sea.

· And the Irish go to America.