Overwhelming

Overwhelmed and ashamed of being Australian in the horrific way we treat people who are forcwd to flee their own beloved country.
There, but for the Grace of God, go I

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Excellent work!

This story is a devastating example of inhumane leaders in Australian government. Things can change in a democratic nation. This is too much to bear, unnecessary damage to people without power.

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Powerful

Loved that it was read by advocates and supporters this added to the power of the story.

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Too many cooks

This is a well-known book in Australia, and the winner of some major awards, even though its author remains trapped on Manus Island, or Manus Prison as he calls it. I was most impressed by the book, though wondered how much I missed or misunderstood, from my total ignorance of Kurdish or Farsi literary traditions. However, I did not appreciate the many readers enlisted to read it. This is very much an autobiographical work, and therefore best heard by a reader doing a good acting job, ie 'becoming' Behrouz Boochani for the listener. To have several readers, as this audio book does, takes away from that possibility. Inevitably some readers are better than others - indeed I found a couple of them quite poor, with voices best kept well away from a microphone. With the 'celebrity' readers, Richard Flanagan, Geoffrey Robertson, Tom Keneally and Ben Law, it was hard to think beyond these well-known voices and personalities.
I could not stand the very frequent use of the invented word 'kyrarchial' - not invented by Boochani, I realize, but used by him often. I thought it was 'hierachical' mispronounced, at first, and indeed that word might have been used most of the time. It is not easy to adjust to such a specialist term like 'kyrarchial', and introduces the impression that this is an academic work. That impression is heightened by the long introduction and afterword by the (no doubt excellent) translator. Both of these seemed to me to urge us to read the book in certain ways, not to form our own impressions of the book unaided.

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6 people found this helpful

Incredible, confronting, introspective, provocativ

The writing of this book is a monumental achievement and I’m glad to say the content of the book surpasses expectations. It is a philosophical and introspective book. One that reflects deeply on the experience and treatment of asylum seekers. It provides a perspective rarely provided by mainstream media.

It is a challenging and thought provoking listen. One that conjures an internal conflict between protecting Australian borders and preventing loss of life at sea vs our obligation and duty to look after those who seek refuge in our bountiful country.

At times I felt ashamed and horrified of our governments treatment of asylum seekers in offshore processing And terrible condition these individuals had to endure.

I am grateful to all those including the courage of this author to bring this book into reality.

Whether you are right, centre or left of politics it is worth broadening your horizon by listening to this book.

My only problem with this book is not the content but the production value. I wish as others have highlighted a single professional narrator was used. Don’t let this hold you back it is worth the listen. Just fast forward the first chapter.

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2 people found this helpful

the truth behind the facade

the beauty of writing within such an abhorrent excuse of a prison system - persecuting refugees. the journey of survival, the endurance of human beings. To be able to rise above the torture blows me away. The psychology underlying the vision of this book is inspirational. Thank for voice.

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Heart rendering. A must listen.

A captivating listen , this book is a real insight into the Australian oppression of refugees. It lays bare what people in power can do to people who are struggling to find a better life. It uses a very clever technique of having various narrators.

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every Australian should read this

A wonderful piece of writing. It's humanity radiates from each word. Disturbing and profound.

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A must read!!

Wow. What an incredible story. Thank you Behrouz for giving us an insight into the experiences of so many.

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Eye opener

I hung on every word. Highly confronting for me as a first generation Australian.My own grandparents were asylum seekers yet I have been blissfully unaware of the hardships asylum seekers continue to endure. This book will challenge your comfort zone and change your perspective on these matters.

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