By Daily Press staff
The authors of the award-winning “Lost Boys of Sudan” book which details three boys’ fight for survival in their war-torn country is the kick-off to Santa Monica College’s Literary Series on Sept. 14.
Benson Deng will speak about his book “They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan” at 11:15 a.m. in SMC’s art lecture hall, room 214, 1900 Pico Blvd. In the book, Deng, along with Alephonsion Deng and Benjamin Ajak, recount the story of how they fled from violence of the government-armed Murahiliin as it attacked villages throughout the country. Across the southern Sudan over the next five years, thousands of other boys did the same, joining a stream of child refugees who became known as the “Lost Boys.” Their journey would take them more than 1,000 miles across a war-ravaged country, through landmine-sown paths, crocodile-infested waters and extremes of hunger, thirst and disease.
The three boys eventually made it to a refugee camp in Kenya and arrived in the U.S. in 2001 as part of an international refugee relief program. Now, all in their mid-20s, the Dengs and Ajak live in San Diego.
Currently in its fourth year, the SMC literary series has brought to campus authors such as Khaled Hosseini, author of the best-selling “The Kite Runner.” The series is free and seating is on a first-arrival basis. The lineup, after “Lost Boys,” is: ■Thursday, Sept. 21 at 11:15 a.m. in the SMC concert hall: L.A. Times reporter-turned-crime novelist Denise Hamilton will talk about the craft of writing and her popular Eve Diamond crime novels that are set in multicultural Los Angeles. Her most recent work is “Prisoner of Memory,” in which she explores her own family’s Russian heritage as she combines espionage and suspense. ■Thursday, Oct. 12 at 11:15 a.m. in art room 214: Amy Uyematsu, whose talk is titled “From Rice Planting to Line Dancing: Songs of an L.A. Sansei.” She will read from and discuss “Stone Bow Prayer,” her most recent collection of poetry that continues her personal journey as a Sansei, from the grassy planes of China to the coast of Japan to the classrooms and sidewalks of Los Angeles. ■Thursday, Nov. 2 at 11:15 a.m. in art room 214: Poet, author and teacher Steve Abee will discuss poetry and read from his work, which includes short stories and a novel. His talk is titled “Cosmic Ejaculations of the Daily Mind in Transit.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 2, 2006. Read the original PDF.