In the past seven days, I have taken eight flights, including connections. Eight takeoffs, and eight landings...too much for a seven-day period, but at least we got to see my grandma and family in Washington this weekend. Grandma is 99 and doing great.

Today's entry is a book review that begins, shockingly, with a backstory/digression.

When I first moved to Manhattan Beach in 1995, I had three roommates. We lived in a schweeet pad (note 1990's lingo) that was two blocks up from the beach on 32nd Place.

Of the roommates was a fellow named Bill Eggers. In a digression to a digression, Bill had recently written a book called Revolution at the Roots.

During the summer, Bill's very young brother Christopher came to live with us for several weeks, and for part of that time Bill's other brother Dave stayed with us.

I have many memories of those days. Since I never had to bring up a younger brother in the wake of both parents dying suddenly, I shall refrain from any criticism of Bill and Dave for their efforts with Christopher; in fact, I would have to say that on balance, Dave and Bill did an admirable job.

I have not been in touch for years with any of the Brothers Eggers, but in 1999, Dave published a highly acclaimed and successful book called A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

It was the story of bringing up Toph, as he was called in the book, and it was a compelling read. I was mixed on the book, but it at least it was very original and Dave established himself as a talented new voice of his generation.

I was not a big fan of Dave's next couple of books, and didn't even finish one, but his latest effort, What is the What, is one of the best books I have ever read.

It is the story of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the Lost Boys from Sudan, and Eggers has given a voice to and humanized a person that most of us have heretofore have only seen as a composite image--the brutalized people of Southern Sudan. I have seen pictures and read articles by Nick Kristof and so many others, but I had never heard the voice of the people (or of a person), and learned about their hopes and feelings and suffering and aspirations and terror from their own perspective. Notably, Dave is donating all of his proceeds from the book to Deng's foundation.

Dave Eggers is an extraordinarily talented writer and "What is the What" well-deserved its recent stay at the top of a best-seller list. If you can read the book without choking up a bit, if not weeping in parts, then you are a far stronger person than I am.

I have to give my foregoing review a C+ or maybe a gentleman's B-. I will now let a real professional step in and reprint a review of "What is the What" by Khaled Hosseini, author of the terrific "The Kite Runner" (I know...you are wondering why I didn't save a lot of your time and mine, skip the digressions, just print Mr. Hosseini's review at the top, and mercifully end the entry there.)

If you are even remotely interested in Africa, Sudan, or just flat-out great writing, What is the What is a book that you "must" read....here is Mr. Hosseini's review:

"I cannot recall the last time I was this moved by a novel. What Is the What is that rare book that truly deserves the overused and scarcely warranted moniker of 'sprawling epic.' Told with humor, humanity, and bottomless compassion for his subject, one Valentino Achak Deng, Eggers shows us the hardships, disillusions, and hopes of the long suffering people of southern Sudan. This is the story of one boy's astonishing capacity to endure atrocity after atrocity and yet refuse to abandon decency, kindness, and hope for home and acceptance. It is impossible to read this book and not be humbled, enlightened, transformed. I believe I will never forget Valentino Achak Deng."