2007
11
Entertainment
^/lemoir provides intriguing picture of Sierra Leone
_ C alley L athrop ___________
Staff Reporter
WARNING: This is a
BOOK review of a story that
needed to be told and is
definitely worth reading—it
is about a boy who became
a soldier at the age of 13. If,
after reading the first few
sentences you decide to flip
to another, more "interesting"
article, DON'T. This story
deserves your time, as it
will truly change your
perspective on genocide, and
on life.
No story compares to
that told by Ishmael Beah in
"Long Way Gone: Memoirs
of A Boy Soldier." Although
there are many soldiers
throughout the world, Beah
picked up his first AK-47 at
age 13.
In the book, Beah weaves
a tale that I found myself
trying to dismiss as fiction
after every page. At age ten,
Beah's country broke into
civil war when a group of
organized rebels (nicknamed
the RUF,) attempted a coup
that threw the small, but
prosperous, Sierra Leone
headfirst into bloody
rebellion that eventually
broke all unwritten laws of
decency.
Significant details about
the author's life are revealed,
but not so many facts that
it becomes onerous. Beah
describes how, for the first
year or so, the war was
something far away; there
was news about it, but it
did not actually affect him
or his fellow villagers. That
changed after he, his older
brother Junior, and several
friends traveled to a talent
show in the
nearby village
of Mattru Jong,
where the
rebels attacked.
w
This is where
BuMta,..
K
I stop telling
O Yl/
you the plot,
O YVlXfe/
in order to
make you want to
is a small African country
pick up the book and find
fool you; they are organized,
out what happens yourself. I
at times comparable to the
will tell you that when Beah
U.S. army. However, there
becomes a soldier, he does
are several major differences
not fight for the rebels, but
in the way this army is run.
the GOVERNMENT army.
They force children into
Don't let the fact that it
becoming soldiers, with
some so small they cannot
hold up their weapons. The
youths are given drugs to
aid in the desensitization
that is necessary to make
children capable of murder.
Thiy
ytory
detervey time/,
<xy it iXL truly chcCvvae/ your
Sandoval's delivers
quality Mexican cuisine
to downtown Willamette
K elsey S chrader
Staff Reporter
Mexican cuisine holds
a special place in my
heart, especially on those
nights when I just don't
want to rely on
the old staple,
/
Hamburger
i.'W 7 « '
Helper, for
dinner. But
1
sometimes,
Taco Bell
just doesn't
cut it. For
those times, Sandoval's, a
new Mexican restaurant
and bar in Old Willamette,
has really hit the spot.
The food is refreshing
and prices are relatively
cheap. Prices fluctuate
depending on whether
you go for lunch or dinner,
but you can get a huge
plate of food for around
$12. The atmosphere
isn't what you would call
"authentic Mexican," but is
both refined and modem.
The service is fast. I was
seated immediately, and the
servers were friendly and
extremely funny. Sandoval's
would be a good place for
kids or groups.
Sandoval's fish tacos
($11.95) use salmon instead
of tilapia, along with
crisp veggies, homemade
tortillas, and a "special
sauce." The fish tasted very
fresh, and however they
made their "special sauce,"
they did it right. Something
that Mexican restaurants are
famous for, and Sandoval's
m
Even the author becomes a
drug addict and a violent
killer, participating not just in
killing, but also in torture.
"The L i e u t e n a n t
pointed at the prisoners.
I am not sure if one of the
captives was the shooter,
but any captive would
do at the time. So they
were all lined up, six of
them, with their hands
tied. I shot them on their
feet and watched them
suffer for an entire day
before finally shooting
them in the head so that
they would
stop crying."
is no exception, are giant
portions of food, so it's no
surprise that you will have
to take home a doggie bag
like I did. The good news
is, these fish tacos tasted
just as good heated up in
a microwave the next
day for lunch. And
:V
that, my friends, is
a miracle for any
w\
Mexican dish.
Another one
of Sandoval's
specials is the Taco Plato
($11.95). Although the
food was drowning in a
sea of purple cabbage and
onions, the dish was still
appetizing after some minor
modifications. The chicken
was grilled nicely, and the
cilantro and seasoning
complimented the overall
dish without overpowering
(rookie mistake for many
Mexican restaurants).
The best part of my
experience thus far at
Sandoval's is the desserts.
Their fried ice cream ($4.95)
is pure comfort food. No,
really. I don't know how
it is accomplished, but it's
deep-fried vanilla ice cream
covered in strawberry
sauce. It tastes like ice cream
inside a churro. Not very
healthy, but the best dessert
I've had in a long time.
Sandoval's is new to
the Old Willamette strip,
and it is a great restaurant
to meet friends, family,
or just to find a meal that
tastes homemade in a cozy
environment.
caused
Pain in p]aces
-I
7 I didn t know
00y\^Ct/ a book could
reach! It was
one of many
descriptions
of the violence Beah and
other children were forced
to carry out. For three plus
years, Beah lived a life that
included little happiness.
After losing his family,
it was easier to snort the
most popular drug, "brown
brown," a mixture of cocaine
and heroin, than to come to
terms with the losses. He let
out his anger and frustration
on the rebels he and his
comrades hunted.
The writing in this story
was amazing. Beah was
able to paint vivid picturgs,
while at the same time
keeping it very simple and
easy to understand. I also
learned about African culture
and the people of Sierra
Leone. Images and events
he described haunted me
that night when I closed
the book for the last time.
There are things he said that
I will never forget. There are
horrors that were beyond my
comprehension.
It is truly an amazing
story, and an equally
amazing book. During the
me holidays, we often focus on
being thankful for our many
blessings. Are you feeling
like Charlie Brown, unable to
grasp the real meaning of the
holidays? Taking a few hours
to read "A Long Way Gone"
may expand your horizons
and give you a glimpse of the
real hell that people in Sierra
Leone have endured, as well
as help you appreciate what
you have. Yes, it is harsh,
gruesome, and at many times
disturbing, but it describes
a story that needs to be told,
and READ.
("A Long Way Gone" can
be found at libraries and
bookstores for as low as $15.)
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