4 comments about The Voices of Marrakesh: A Record of a Visit.

1. "The Voices of Marrakesh," by Elias Canetti, has been translated from German by J.A. Underwood. The copyright page of the 2001 edition notes that both text and translation have a 1967 copyright date. The back cover notes that author Canetti was born in Bulgaria and received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1981.

   "Voices," which is divided into 14 short chapters, is the first person account of a visit to the Moroccan city of the title. Canetti tells of encounters with and observations of camels, beggars, donkeys, merchants, and other inhabitants of the city. The book is a fascinating record of cross-cultural contact, and includes an intriguing view into the Mellah, the Jewish quarter of Marrakesh.

   The book is full of vividly rendered scenes; Canetti really brings these people and animals to life on the page. The book also has a dark edge as he recounts the exploitative underside of the city. Literacy and linguistic difference are also key themes.

   "Voices" is a short text (103 pages), but rich in mystery, tragedy, and wonder. As a companion text I recommend "The Jaguar Smile," by Salman Rushdie.




2. As a twelve-year foreign resident of Marrakesh, I read with interest this slim volume in about two hours. Before reading, I thought this was something written in the past 20 years. But I quickly discovered that the author's sejour in Morocco must have occurred in about 1959 (according to my Moroccan husband) due to certain events mentioned. (The book was first published in 1967.)

   The book takes place in the time when Morocco was still part of the French Colonial Empire, and when the French had placed a "puppet" sultan on the throne. The author speaks of camel markets in Bab Khemis, the camels having walked in a train of 105 animals from the Western Sahara. Those not purchased by butchers (yes, for eating) in Marrakesh were to continue walking north to Settat, the end of the line for the camel trains (just outside of Casablanca). This must have been before trucking was the common method of transport. Occassional "blue men" of the Sahara could still be seen in Marrakesh.

   This book will be of particular interest to any visitors of Moroccan Jewish origin who may be returning to visit the land of their parents. The author, we find out, is Jewish, and just happens to meet up with some members of the Jewish community. He gets pulled into their own little world (which no longer exists in Marrakesh, as most of that community emmigrated to Israel after 1967). He relates his experiences.

   If you are thinking of traveling to Marrakesh, or anywhere in Morocco, this little book will open your eyes to the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. Much of the city has changed, but the atmosphere has remained the same.




3. "The voices of Marrakesh. A Record of a Visit" is one of the sharpest and most original accounts of the life in the Moroccan city written by a tourist. The1981 Nobel Prize winner, and author of the famous "Auto da Fe", Elias Canetti, has described his impressions from the stay in Marrakesh. He was indeed a tourist, although the better word in his case might be "a visitor", and many of his observations are typical for such, but his language and style would make this slim book exciting anyway. His view makes the streets of Marrakesh interesting and mysterious, the camels have their own personal life, the donkeys accept their sad fate and the art of negotiation at the souk is a starting point for the divagations on the human nature.
   
   There are, however, many chapters on not-so-touristically-obvious subjects. Canetti, being Jewish, was especially interested in the life of the Jewish minority and explored the Jewish quarter, which resulted in amazing observations, central to the book. His perception is acute and his opinion of people he encountered (he loved the native women!) are witty and deep at the same time. His voice is very fresh, the book does not sound like a guide, and one of the best points is that, despite his obvious fascination with his exotic surroundings, he can be very critical without being offensive and retaining the respect for the people he describes. His use of words is superb and the translation does not cause the loss of the flow and atmosphere he evoked.
   
   Although written more than 50 years ago, "The Voices of Marrakesh" did not lose the charm and magnetizing quality.



4. I purchased and read this book while in Morocco and loved the descriptions of life in the streets.

No comments about Long Way Down.

5 comments about Power Lines : Two Years on South Africa's Borders.

1. Jason Carter's account of his two years in the Peace Corps was an easy, comfortable read. I was captivated. Thanks to Jason Carter and National Geographic for sharing this important experience about a nation in transition. Few have commented on the poignant introduction of Jason Carter's grandfather which concentrates on President Carter's own mother, Lillian Carter, and her own experience in an Indian village in the Peace Corp when she was in her 70's and at a very different time in the late 1960s.



2. A great book that gives rare insight into Swazi culture and life in rural South Africa. Having lived in the area as a school teacher and a researcher, I enjoyed the innocence with which Jason re-created and shared his impressions and experiences.

   Jason's immersion in the language and culture of poor rural South Africans is admirable. He clearly "goes native:" identifying with "the Blacks" and uncomfortably, judgmentally, dealing with Westerners and South African Whites. The brilliant twist in the story comes when Jason struggles to come to terms with South Africa's Black elite. He's the rugged, White bushboy reaching out to victims of apartheid who are now more like American yuppies than real "Africans."

   I also appreciated his attempts to reveal the differences in experiences that Black (like me) and White Americans often have in South Africa. Interestingly, Jason's feelings about race in America affected how he perceived South Africa, and his South African experienced revised his sense of US race relations.

   Definitely worth reading, along with James Hall's Sangoma!




3. Read this book to learn about Ubuntu which is a philosophy of life that Jason Carter found to be thriving in the Swazi. This approach to people and thus community is held out as a core strong hope for the South African native culture. This book is well worth reading. I have not stopped thinking whether Ubuntu is possible in our country or not. Let's hope it is not too late...we need it!



4. I loaned this book out from the library hoping to find something relating to travel, to the Peace Corps, and something relating to new ideas and places. I got this and a great story from a very successful teller. Carter's experiences are exactly what many dream of while working in the Peace Corps. But this book is full of history and even more personal experience. I enjoyed it immensly.



5. Just received Power Lines and am excited to read it. I glanced at the Introduction written by the author's grandfather, former President Jimmy Carter, in which he describes how his own mother joined the Peace Corps at 70. She was based in India; her grandson spent his time in Africa. Looking forward to reading!

5 comments about Born in the Big Rains: A Memoir of Somalia and Survival (Women Writing Africa).

1. Can you imagine being born into a Somalian nomad family, and then, because of illness and the luck
   of the tribe, being transported first, to a life of relative luxury, in the capitol city and ultimately to
   Germany? The transition from one distinct culture to another in Europe reminds all of us of the need
   to respect those aspects of traditions which bind people together and try to alter, as humanely as possible,
   those traditional practices that do injury, particularly to women. This is a wonderful, courageous story.



2. Excellent - very enlightening to a women's crisis and so well written.



3. This book is very well written. It makes the reader aware of female circumcision and the problems associated with it.



4. The first portion of this book follows the young nomad Fadumo as she travels and wanders with her family in Somalia. The descriptive writing of Somalia and the scenes laid before the reader are simply breathtaking.
   Then we follow the young girl as she undergoes FGM (female genital mutilation), becomes ill and travels to Germany for medical treatment. Eventually she marries and becomes a fighter against FGM.
   A must-read for those wanting to see a woman's life in Africa and how FGM affects the young woman's life.
   It is also an interesting read about the choices she takes in her life and the other women in her family who remain subservient and stuck.
   Although how much of this is determined by her father who let her live with one uncle who was very giving and caring ---while her sister Khadija ended up with another uncle who was abusive and cruel.
   In closing, this book is a quick read and you won't be disappointed.



5. The horrors of female circumcision - something long since banned in the Western world, it is still practiced in many African Countries. "Born in the Big Rains: A Memoir of Somalia and Survival" is author and feminist Fadumo Korn's story of nearly dying to the barbaric practice and her rise to becoming a spokesman against the practice. A harsh and much needed criticism against the atrocity of female genital mutilation, "Born in the Big Rains: A Memoir of Somalia and Survival" has the highest recommendation to community library women's studies collections as a bastion against this cruelty that far too many young girls in the world have been exposed to.

1 comments about Culture Shock! Morocco: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Guides).

1. This book provides a detailed description of modern Moroccan culture for those from Western backgrounds trying to make sense of Moroccan values, behavior, and daily life. The content is explained well and easy to read, although the type face is rather small.

5 comments about Green Hills of Africa (Scribner Classics).

1. Hemingway would have been better served by including more narratives than the ramblings of his characters. He seems to believe that it is important to capture what they actually said since they are real characters and not imaginary, but how realistic is that? Obviously, he couldn't write while hunting so undoubtedly he paraphrased their conversations when he was able to write - possibly days or weeks later. So if he's going to paraphrase then he should polish up the dialogue. And, perhaps exclude much of the pointless dribble. Some of which might not have been pointless if he had done a better job of developing the characters.
   
   I do not recommend this book. Instead, I would rather point a potential reader of African safari stories to the works of Peter Capstick.



2. Hemingway once said that a writer needs a built-in- B.S. detector. He forgot to take it along on this safari, though he is willing to stand corrected occasionally by his then- wife Pauline for errors of 'diarrhea of the mouth'. In any case the old Hem style is truly at work here, and it supplies us with some truly beautiful and moving passages. It also supplies us with a capsule survey of American Literature as provided by the great Hem in which he finds Emerson, Thoreau and Whittier all mind and no body, Melville all rhetoric and and an imagined mystery not really there, and only Crane, Twain and James worth keeping. His most famous riff is of course the one in which he says all American Literature derives from a book called Huckleberry Finn which he then says is great to a certain point only. Old Hem in a wonderfully snobbish way tells us that America really has no literature and that we need someone with the discipline of Flaubert and the something else of Stendhal if we are to have one. No doubt he is the one who intends to supply the product.
   With all the posturing and the big - game hunting shtantz and the bull which accompanies it( And with it too the morally objectionable chest- beating at cutting down unarmed rhinos, lions, kudu etc. Hemingway is at times here at the top of his game. He was young and strong and relatively happy and had already made it as a writer though perhaps not in the way he ultimately wanted to.
   The dialogue between him and the other hunters is to my mind over-mannered stylized pretentious crap.
   But there are passages in the book which remind you that this is one of the truly great American writers, and one of , in my judgment, the best short story writers of them all.
   I want to cite a passage just to give the feeling of how good old Hem could be when he was good.
   
   " What I had to do was work. I did not care, particularly , how it all came out. I did not take my own life seriously anymore, any one else's life , yes, but not mine. They all wanted something that I did not want and I would get it without wanting it, if I worked. To work was the only thing , it was the one thing that always made you feel good , and in the meantime it was my own damned life and I would lead it where and how I pleased. And where I led it now pleased me very much. This was a better sky than Italy. The hell, it was. The best sky was in Italy and Spain and Northern Michigan and in the fall in the Gulf off Cuba. You could beat this sky; but not the country."



3. I found this writing less interesting than Rossevelt or Rourk work purchased at the same time. Perhaps the critics opinions are not always the best way to judge a work.



4. this book is annoying. hemmingway's ego is out of control as he tries to make a big man of himself by shooting his way through an array of animals that of course mean him no harm at all. though i love much of his early work, this book makes him seem a truly horrible person. no wonder he had a long string of failed relationships and ultimatley killed himself. who could live with a jackass like this. in the end, he couldn't even stand to live with himself. this is an almost worthless book.



5. some highlights: the swahili word "m'uzuri" meaning good or well reminds hemingway of missouri. such classical hemingway wry humor. also, "simba" is another swahili word that i had the pleasure of learning in this book, which reminds ME of the disney beloved character, of course. (and jason raize, who played the adult simba on broadway who died tragically too young--look him up, people!)
   
   the few pages in chapter one where hemingway met a guy in africa who has heard of hemingway from a lit magazine were excellent. it's hemingway pointing to the sources of great american writings. mark twain's huck topped this chart. moby-dick was mentioned, of course. and henry james (the "two most beautiful words in the english language" as the great--yet not really well known--american poet jim crenner says).
   
   having stated all this, i think this is one of hemingway's weakest books i've ever read. his occasional incredibly long sentences that he does so breathtakingly, magnificently well in other books don't seem to live up to the golden standard that i've seen. the details of the hunt are bloody. bloody boring, that is, at some points.
   
   this is hemingway's second attempt at non-fiction so i'd be interested in checking out his tome of a book on bull-fighting. tho, as any lover of hemingway's writings would know, my lukewarm reaction to "green hills" doesn't even put a tiny dent on my great admiration for this remarkable american writer.
   
   p.s: i finished this book on friday the 13th, june 2008. and how many chapters are there? i love coincidences like this.

1 comments about Kilimanjaro: A Compete Trekker's Guide (Cicerone Mountain Walking).

1. I was very apprehensive about climbing Kilimanjaro, even though i always wanted to, until i read Mr. Stewart's book.
   
   The book put me at ease, with its comprehensive description of the routes, the dangers, and the joys.
   
   Though nothing compares to the real experience, 'Kilimanjaro, A Complete Trekker's Guide' will give the reader a thorough discussion of all aspects of the climb, from detailed route descriptions to the ultimate 'thrill of victory', and, yes, sometimes the 'agony of defeat'.
   
   The book is a must read for all first time climbers.
   
   w g moss
   Minneapolis, MN.
   USA

4 comments about Traversa: A Solo Walk Across Africa, from the Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean.

1. There are many things to admire about Mr. Sandham's book: the fact that he underwent great hardship at times in order to write it; the way in which he has unveiled some little-known parts of Africa to a wider audience; or his eloquent turn of phrase and sometimes biting self-deprecating humour. But what stands out for me is in the way which he stuck to his task and wasn't seduced by the touristic, bombastic way to travel through a country. I don't mean that he didn't occasionally stay in a hostel,(after hundreds of kilometres across lion country you might too), or that he didn't occasionally eat Western-style foods in souless supermarkets. What I mean is that he stuck to the task at hand and didn't go to see something or attempt to do something just because a guidebook said he should. It is extremely hard sometimes to resist the pull of the mass-market. I myself have been to countries where I thought I had been to every 'must-see' site in an area and then found that to my disappointment there was one I had missed. But those were not the real experiences and stories which will stay with me. Real meaning can be found in the tapestry of human interactions and the beat of a way of life different to your own. In an era of travel being accessible to so many more people, how refreshing to hear an account of someone who decided to tread a more personal path.
   
   Mr. Sandham did things 'his way' and I am sure his mentors Messrs. Livingstone, Stanley et al, would be proud.



2. It's hard to read many travel books without a sense of 'Why? Why are you putting yourself through all this?' and Traversa is no exception. Those who sit at home may not understand what drives some people to these lengths, but that doesn't stop us lapping it up and asking for more.
   
   In this enthralling book, Sandham brings his solo walk from the aptly-named Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean to life. He comes across, variously, as courageous, determined, bloody-minded, and completely insane. By the end of the book, it's easy to feel, as he does, that he has earned his right to be in Africa, even among people so poor that a man who has scrimped, saved and given up chocolate biscuits to be there, is immeasurably rich.
   
   Throughout, Sandham places his experiences in a historical context, evoking the horror of being preserved from shipwreck only to die of thirst, the shame and waste of the slave trade, and butchery in wars over territory that match anything Europe has achieved in that line. As his traversa progresses, he moves from a theoretical understanding of Africa to a genuine affection for the place and its people.
   
   The book is filled with dry self-deprecation and humour--there's a disastrous donkey, and we can only imagine Sandham's problems with his mule, as he declines to go into details--and some of the characters he meets are portrayed as so much larger than life that there's a temptation to believe they're imaginary. Perhaps the best example of the man's courage is when, having invested time, effort and money in a donkey (diseased), a donkey-cart (beautifully painted), and a mule (disobedient), he's able to walk away from all three. Many people would have persisted even in the face of so much discouragement, but Sandham knows when to cut his losses. He probably wouldn't have made it across Africa without that knowledge.
   
   Apart from the not-so-tame domestic animals, there's lions. Real, live, traveller-eating lions. Fortunately, the threat they pose is more perceived than actual; some people have been eaten, but Sandham gets through. There's also explosive diarrhea, a very unpleasant, if probably inevitable, attack of malaria, and, of course, blisters. Yet day after day, he gets up, and gets going. Even after side trips to investigate mules or donkeys, he insists on being driven back to the point where he stopped walking, so he can start again. He knows when he's idled somewhere too long, and somehow gets himself going. There's no cheating on this journey, even though the temptations must have been enormous.
   
   This book entertained and saddened me by turns, and I heartily recommend it--reading what Sandham has to say is the only way even partially to answer the question, 'Why?'.
   
   [review written by Debbie Moorhouse of GUD Magazine]



3. Incredible story of trekking from Namibia's Atlantic Coast to the Indian Ocean (ending up at Zanzibar). Although the author's attacked by neither man nor beast (just insects aplenty), he has his share of troubles, starting with recalitrant wild donkeys, and finishing up with a week of malaria treatment (apologies if that proves a spoiler). Terrific writing skills and a great sense of humor make this book one of my top books for the year. Highly recommended.



4. I have to admit firstly that I'm English, and secondly that I loved Africa as an inhabitant for over 20+ years. Consequently, the description for this book on Amazon seemed like the ultimate indulgence. It was. However, unlike many indulgences throughout my life - and throughout Mr Sandham's journey - this was immensely memorable... for all the right reasons. Mr Sandham expertly describes, with infinite humility, his traversa from the Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean 5000 km away. I allowed myself the pleasure of only a chapter a day as I wanted to really savor the pleasure of devouring this memoir for as long as I possibly could. Sandham never truly reveals, in fact I'm not entirely sure he knows, the reasons why he really undertook this trek - but I am immensely glad he did. His pinpoint almost staccato descriptions of people he meets leaves a lasting impression and visual image of those people. I don't think I will ever look at a man named Dan quite the same way again! During his 50km a day walks through Africa he discourses on such idiocies as where do flies go at night? I found myself laughing out loud, smiling, grimacing, shaking my head and even empathising at..... and with... Mr Sandham and the people, insects, flora and fauna he comes in contact with during this amazing journey. He expertly weaves history and the stories of the great explorers into this memoir providing a multi-layered view of human idiocy, kindness, ignorance, arrogance and humour in such a way that I learned much about the continent that I love. This book is ideal for people who enjoy the sardonic, understated part of English humour; those who love a story of myopic refusal to veer from the goal; voyeurs of human nature and those who overall appreciate the indomintable spirit of an individual who is driven by the need to do something that noone has quite done before - and lived to tell the tale. I was genuinely sorry that Mr Sandham hadn't decided to cross another continent so that I could vicariously continue his journey.

5 comments about The Traveler's Key to Ancient Egypt, Revised: A Guide to the Sacred Places of Ancient Egypt.

1. This book is essential for any traveller to Egypt with a mind that is even slightly ajar, let alone open.

   West gives an alternative account of the meaning of the monuments and antiquities to be seen in Egypt, more esoteric (though certainly not more difficult to understand) than that which is usually presented in guide books. He points out the details which brought him to the conclusion that the Giza Sphinx is in fact closer to 13,000 years old than the 4,500 years old that has been traditionally believed, and has a different viewpoint to the orthodox school in many cases. He presents both sides of the argument, and gives the information necessary to make up one's own mind based on observation of what is actually there to be seen.

   On my first visit to Egypt, my companions and I felt rather sorry for tourists in groups with official guides, because they seemed to be missing out on at least half of the story, and in many cases the whole point.

   I was particularly impressed with West's analysis of the architecture of the Temple of Luxor, based on the work of Schwaller de Lubicz, and once it was pointed out how the whole building maps onto a plan of the human skeleton, I found it very difficult to refute.

   Whilst I did not always agree with his conclusions on every occasion, it cannot be disputed that West has raised thoroughly pertinent questions which conventional Egyptology has either glibly brushed under the carpet or failed to address at all.




2. Now in a updated and expanded new edition, John West's The Traveler's Key To Ancient Egypt continues to be the definitive guide to all of the sacred places of ancient Egypt. The ideal traveler's guidebook is enhanced with maps, diagrams, and photos to accompany the history and spiritual significance of Egypt's art, architecture, mythology, religion, and ritual practices. From the Pyramids of Giza to the Valley of the Kings, this traveler's guide reveals the hidden meaning of monuments, ancient city sites, as well as new research on the dating of the Sphinx. Travel tips include tour information, Nile cruises, what to bring and what to wear, shopping advice, as well as information on money, hotels, and restaurants. If you are planning a trip to the Land of the Pharaohs, beginning with a thorough perusal of John West's The Traveler's Key To Ancient Egypt!



3. If you want a guide book with more than the basic superficial run of the mill tourist info this book is for you.

   Lots of maps, tips and explanations of the deeper meaning behind the sites you're visiting.

   I'm bringing this book with me on my trip!




4. I used this guide when I travelled to Egypt in '87 and it served me well. I would have missed so many interesting sites if I had to relie on most travel books and tour guides for information on what I could and should see. I continue to use the book for info in my continuing studies on Ancient Egypt. Thank you Anthony West for your tireless efforts to bring to new light the many wonders of this astonishing place.



5. I ordered this book with some skepticism as i did not want to be drawm into another dreary account of the significance of the temples. I was pleasantly surprised to find this book very readable and throught provoking. Granted that throughout the book you are subject to the author's bias in interpretation (which he is forthright about) but it is an excellent way to add depth to a visit to the temples and as a starting point for further research if one so desires. Personally for me being a hindu, it was fascinating to discover the similarities between ancient egypt and our own vedic past which I am ashamed to admit I was rather clueless about!!

2 comments about Mozambique (Country Guide).

1. Mozambique has only recently re-opened to tourism, after years of war and bloodshed. Fortunately the hard times are now over, and the country is once again a thriving, wonderful African nation. I loved it all - the people, the food, the music... With this Lonely Planet guide, I was really able to get the most out of my stay. It contains plenty of advice on visiting places, hotels, restaurants, etc. And also great advice on how to save money - indeed, Mozambique can be very expensive ! A country and a book I won't forget.



2. Lonely Planet books are always interesting to browse through. Most of the time they do stick to giving you the facts about a country and I do appreciate it. However, Lonely Planet's editors often like to mix their left wing politics with travel. The result are sections like "Responsible Tourism" that at best are paternalistic to the reader and at worst wrong. In this section it is suggested that the tourist seek out "locally run and owned" establishments and patronize them instead of foreign owned businesses. First of all if you can tell a foreign owned from a local owned perhaps it's because the standards are different. Secondly, why would you choose a lessor value (weighing in price and quality of the product together) when picking a hotel for instance? Where you stay is part of the experience and it may not be worth residing in some dank crummy hotel for the sake of patronizing a local business. The reason why countries like Mozambique never worked out economically in the past (and now are trying to change) is because their leaders applied the same kind of dim ignorant thinking displayed by Lonely Planet writers.

   I have traveled to many People's Republics and the idea of a business supplying a valued product to a customer was often lacking. Businesses were simply suppose to provide jobs and no attention to efficiency or quality was made. This is exactly why these economies floundered in the past; they could not make things to market standards, their use of material resources and labor was so poor that they could only pay workers a pittance and could only pawn off their wares to captive populations. A successful economy has businesses that typically concentrate on providing value to the customer first - that is you the traveler. By doing so a business will insure that it employs local people and contributes to the local economy. Demanding that local enterprises match the value of foreign firms will help the country. Local entrepreneurs and workers will adopt the right business standards and work ethics to economically succeed.