The Lightless Sky
The Lightless Sky
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2015
Book Brief
368
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Afghanistan, Europe • 2000s
2015
Adult
16-Adults years
Super Short Summary
The Lightless Sky is a memoir by Gulwali Passarlay, depicting his perilous 12,000-mile journey as a twelve-year-old boy from war-stricken Afghanistan to the UK, where he sought refugee status. Separated early on from his brother, he recounts his solo travel across multiple countries, facing imprisonment, boat capsizing, and severe hardships before eventually reaching England and becoming an influential activist for refugee rights. The memoir contains themes of war, displacement, and loss.
Emotional
Inspirational
Challenging
Hopeful
Heartwarming
Reviews & Readership
3,589 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Lightless Sky by Gulwali Passarlay receives high praise for its poignant and compelling narrative, offering an insightful look into the refugee experience. Readers appreciate the personal and emotional storytelling. However, some critics note occasional repetitions and a lack of deeper political analysis. Overall, it's hailed as a powerful, humanizing memoir.
Who Should Read The Lightless Sky?
Readers who are compelled by harrowing real-life refugee stories and the triumph of the human spirit will find The Lightless Sky by Gulwali Passarlay deeply moving. Fans of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and What Is the What by Dave Eggers will appreciate this poignant memoir of a child's journey through unimaginable adversity.
3,589 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
368
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Afghanistan, Europe • 2000s
2015
Adult
16-Adults years
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