5 comments about The Making of the African Queen: Or How I Went to Africa With Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind.

1. This is one those books that is really autobiographic - it seems no one has altered or interfered with anything. If you have seen many movies with Katharine Hepburn, you can actually hear her tell the tale of how she survived the African jungle and actually loved it.

   She is the first one to say that she is a bit of a pain in the neck, bossy and interfering. And always worried about the details. And she freely admits that when there is no bathroom, she's gotta go.

   She lively discribes how the cities look, how it feels to be in the jungle. Explaining that taking a shower there is like angels touching your body. And that there is nothing worse than having to go to the bathroom (in somewhat of a rush...) and finding a black mamba snake there. She was so shocked she had to throw up. And the throwing up keeps up until after they come back in England.

   What struck me as most odd was that she doesn't hold back. She told off Huston often, refused to help Lauren Bacall with the food, carried the mirror around and often thought what the hell she was doing there. But it was fascinating. Reading about it is fascinating, you want to go there yourself and look what it is like in real-life (instead I watched The African Queen for the 164th time).

   The photographs in the book are really worth looking at - they give you a feeling of actually being there. Seeing Kate washing her hair with her 'house-boy' standing by, the costumes close-up, the little comments next to the pictures, one of 'Bogie Allnut' - Bogie laughing out loud wearing his costume and of 'Rosie Hepburn' - Kate sitting on the railing, wearing slacks, holding Rosie's English umbrella...

   It really shows that Katharine Hepburn had many talents - she is certainly able to write an extraordinary tale of adventure, making movies, making fast friends, overcoming problems (the sinking of The African Queen, giant antz, losing twenty pounds by drinking water, almost being killed by a wild boar) and loving it all.




2. OK, it was cheap and it was kinda fun but this book is very short and very light and fluffy. Don't pay much for it because you can read it in a half a day.



3. Katherine Hepburn's lively account of her experiences on location in Africa is very short, but packed with amusing and exciting incidents. Her style of writing is very distinctive, short abrupt sentences which vividly describe the inconveniences, discomforts and sometimes dangers of life in the jungle. There are some alarming encounters with wildlife, whether it's being attacked by hornets, finding a snake in the bathroom, or watching a herd of elephants stampede by a mere twenty-five feet away. The eccentricites and charms of her human companions are clearly and amusingly described as well, as are all the difficulties encountered in the making of this wonderful film.
   
   The book is illustrated with lots of fascinating photographs takne on location, including some beautiful ones of Miss Hepburn (I particularly like the ones of her 'luxurious jungle dressing room'), and should delight any fan of The African Queen or of Katherine Hepburn.



4. I have always rather liked Katharine Hepburn, and this movie. This is a rather nice "making-of" book. It is mildly humourous, good-natured, and nicely illustrated. While I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it or keep, I did really enjoy flicking through it.
   
   This is really Hepburn's diary/account of the making of the African Queen and all the attendent problems of filming a movie in an equatorial country, and specifically in this case, in the continent of Africa. The rain, the mud, the mosquitos, the director, the other actors.
   
   Hepburn does come across as being slightly removed from it all, she has a slightly distant and almost superior tone to her writing - for instance she is always up first in the morning and likes eating alone, and then from her hut she watches everyone else going about their morning. It is like she is Jane Goodall analysing Chimpanzees at times.
   
   However she does lavish praise where praise is due, and she is not above laughing at herself at times either and so I felt fine about forgiving her the occassional remoteness.
   
   This was fun to flick through.



5. Hepburn didn't set out to win any literary prizes with this book. The Making of the African Queen is an informal work, without any tight structure or organization; at times it can get pretty thin. She meanders along from one reminiscence to another and dwells on whatever memories catch her fancy or amuse her. It's as if she were sitting opposite you talking, rambling along with little smiles and devilish laughs.
   
   She jumps along from topic to topic chronologically, starting from the offer she received for the part of Rose and ending with her recollection of Bogart's Oscar win. Some of the content she touches on is expected - observations of Bogart and Bacall, the mercurial Huston, and the rigors of filming in Africa. But then there are other anecdotes you don't expect, such as her bathroom-related anxieties (she was a urologist's daughter), her musings on different kinds of water (I loved those descriptions and that she would notice things like that), and her various peculiarities of taste, like her delight in finding out that her cabin would overlook all the others in the base camp in Africa.
   
   What I liked best about the book is that I got a sense of Hepburn from how she wrote and what she chose to write about. She likes to take on a dry, amused tone; she does not spread gossip about her colleagues or supply salacious details, though she does make general observations of their characters. At one point, she writes a wickedly clever description of Bogie and Bacall having a spat, something along the lines of "two cats locked deliciously in the same cage". She is largely generous in her praise of the people she worked with, and is fond of them all, though she doesn't conceal those moments when she felt exasperated with them (Huston gets up her nose more than a few times). There are times when she's aloof and remote, preferring solitude, and overall she gives the impression of someone who won't suffer company merely for the sake of having company, but likes to go out on her own exploring or simply thinking; at other times, however, she enjoys lengthy conversations, particularly with Huston. She's aware of her foibles and laughs at them; they don't seem to trouble her all that much.
   
   Fans of Hepburn, Bogart, Bacall, and/or Huston would perhaps enjoy this little book; so might people who liked The African Queen or are interested generally in classic movies and stars. The book sports lovely photos of the cast, director, and shooting locales, and Hepburn is our link with that older era of movie-making and its wonderful characters.

1 comments about African Hunter (Peter Capstick Library Series).

1. This book is personable, entertaining, and full of hunting stories without being too technical. Unexpectedly, in a book about hunting, Von Blixen compassionately remembers his wild animal pets. He sketches their personalities as he does his friends like Hemmingway, Guest, or various safari guides rather than dismiss them as dumb beasts.
   Sara Wheeler's Too Close To The Sun set me on a path of fascination with these adventurers who toughed it out in Africa during the Colonial era around WWI. Fortunately her bibliography lists lots of reading material.
   I have been humbled to learn of the physical and mental endurance required by those who loved Africa enough to make it home. These were outsiders who lived amongst the tribes in the agricultural regions of the countryside. Europe and Britain couldn't contain the large, soul-searching personalities of Bror Blixen, Isaak Dineson, Beryl Markham, Denys Finch Hatton and their compatriots. I am tracking down, so to speak, each eccentric, stubborn settler mentioned in books about this era.
   I wish Von Blixen had told more stories. His life was one Big Adventure; he knew only fascinating people, from the Prince of Wales to revered African Kings, whom we'll only learn about through this book. I'm hooked on tales of these adventurous people.

5 comments about Stalking the Wild Dik-Dik: One Woman's Solo Misadventures Across Africa.

1. I was seeking true account information about Africa and I found this book to be too negative with a focus mostly on the bad and not the beauty and good of Africa.



2. This is very disappointing, shallow, and simply about average tourist types with no insights offered. She apparently interacted only with other tourists, leaving Africans of various countries to be role players in her hotel, taxi, and trinket episodes. She colors this narrative with practically no desciptive writing of the terrain, agriculture, or cultural subtlties. It's all about herself and other visitors, mostly in game parks, offered without any character depth. She moved too fast to discover any. I am surprised she found a publisher. This book has been written a hundred times already.



3. For the sake of full disclosure, I should mention that the author, Ms. Javins, is a friend of mine. Savvy internet users could probably figure that out anyway. Still, I believe my opinion is as valid as anybody else's. It's up to you to decide how biased my review is. I find myself in full agreement with most of the other customer reviews, but bewildered by a couple who just didn't seem to get it. Maybe they bought the book without reading any of the descriptions.
   
   Though this book focuses on Africa, much of "Dik Dik" was originally written as a weblog, while Marie spent a year traveling around the world alone. This is not a grandiose tale about the beauty of Africa, or an in-depth guide chock-full of handy tips for travelers. Instead, this is a street-level journey about traveling, with all the bumps, bruises, mistakes and surprises that go with the territory. This is a personal story and Marie's observations come from her unique, irreverent point of view.
   
   Especially when put in the larger context of a year long, around the world tour, by herself, without the creature-comforts of air travel, I don't see how one reviewer could call this an "average tourist tale." How many women do you know that have done such a trip? I know only the one. Readers who were put off by the negative aspects of the trip, or Marie's complaints miss her point. This is what it's like, folks. And she wouldn't have it any other way.



4. Finished Marie Javins' Stalking the Wild Dik-Dik. Liked it in spite of myself, even though at first you think it is not that good. Then you realize that it IS good, really good. She is no Paul Theroux, nor is she trying to be. And that is all to her credit. She traveled up through Africa. He went Cairo to Capetown, she the reverse. Extremely different travels and travelers. She did things he would never be caught dead doing, like joining up with safari groups. As much as I liked his book a great deal, I liked hers as much precisely because she gives you all the personal and cultural detail out of the corner of her eyes. Her eyes are great. She complains a lot about things and yet that helps make us there with her. This IS what travel is like. She is good company. You would love to talk with her, meet her. A lot of people can complain and be terrible company. And she does not go back and rifle through books to flesh out her rants and observations. Rather she crisply and curtly describes the people and the hassles. And the tedium. Remarkable how well she writes about that. She is every bit as experienced as Theroux but not out to write a book. She is about moving along, seeing some things but not interested in making a big deal. She's not out to force grand ideas down our throats. As a result, her book conveys great vitality, the life of all those she meets. She did post her trip on an ongoing website, still up. So she got her immediate audience there. Big generational difference. Later when she wrote this book she had the site and the immediate responses and could draw on all that and recompose her narrative from that base. Her book is a sharp account of hard travels through Africa at the end of her year of touring the world & she writes with economy and clarity, & no sentimentality in spite of 9/11 happening in the middle of her trip when she is on the Muslim island of Zanzibar. And maybe her book will become after all a literary gem because of all of this. Ten times better than, say, Robin Davison's camel walk across Australia, Tracks. Better as a book. Javins can write. Davison cannot. Javins is mightily experienced at travel and this gives her a practical sense of scope and detail and perspective. She keeps it clipped and paced & you get a great sense of what this sort of trekking and traveling is like for the tough and sensitive souls who can do it. Reminds me so much of Tamminnee Taylor, the Australian young woman who traveled for over five years all over the world.



5. A total disappointment...this book has been written a thousand times before. Marie Javins' account is a simple retelling of what happened to her while traveling and unfortunately she seems blind to the opportunity to discover and interact with the amazing communities and cultures of the Africa people.
   
   Not only was this a fairly boring read, it completely lacked a connection to the places. It was so general that she could have been traveling nearly anywhere; she did the bare minimum to help her readers see both the beauty and suffering that was certainly taking place around her.
   
   Given that traveling the continent is one of my dreams, I was really looking forward to reading another woman's account of her journey. Unfortunately, the entire book seemed more like a safari tale created and produced by Disney rather one that resonates with the true meaning of "safari."

5 comments about Angry Wind: Through Muslim Black Africa by Truck, Bus, Boat, and Camel.

1. . . . will not know the value of men" (Moorish saying)
   
   Jeffrey Tayler must have had this saying in his mind when embarking on his extraordinary journey across the Sahel from Northern Chad to Senegal on the Atlantic Coast. His book follows in the footsteps of famous explorers of the Sahara/Sahel in centuries past, starting with Ibn Battuta and Leo Africanus to Mungo Park and Heinrich Barth. Tayler deserves an honoured place among them.
   
   An experienced traveler in difficult terrains, as described in previous books, he set himself an unusually challenging itinerary. He trekked mainly through remote rural areas at the southern edge of the Sahara, relying on local transport and local people for assistance in his quest. The two-month excursion took place in early 2003 (prior to the invasion of Iraq) but the shadow of 9/11 confronted him everywhere, with varying degrees of vehemence. One of his objectives, in fact, had been to explore the reactions of local people to the conflicts between his home country, USA, and this part of Africa that is predominantly Muslim. He wanted to hear their concerns and how they judged American politics and treated an American in their midst. His fluency in Arabic and French as well as familiarity with Arab and West African Muslim cultures were essential preconditions for this adventure.
   
   And it was an adventure in all respects: threat of bandits, lack of safe food and water, breaking down vehicles, military and border bureaucrats' attempts to block his way. He followed far-flung desert tracks into regions foreigner had rarely ventured to enter. Chad is not on tourist maps, nor is the northern region of Nigeria. Neither is Niger, the second poorest country in the world. Traveling on the Niger River in a local "pinasse" from Gao to Timbuktu presented its own challenges. Arriving finally in Timbuktu he is rewarded with a beautifully conveyed visit to celebrate the "Feast of Tabaski" with a Tuareg family an hour's camel ride away in the desert.
   
   More than once was he worried about survival and safe return. Quite deliberately he immersed himself in the local habitat and routines. He shared many of the hardships of the local people whose poverty, hopelessness and sometimes anger he describes in detail with deep empathy and understanding. His skill of observation brings the villages and the people to life. His portrayal of the beauty of the Sahelian landscape despite the challenges of its harsh climate are superb, his language often lyrical. The "harmattan", the hot and destructive desert wind, made life difficult for animals and humans. His real "saviours", however, were his numerous local travel companions and guides as well as village chiefs and other people encountered. He records political and philosophical discussions with them and reflects on their personalities and surroundings. Sometimes, it is only with a sense of humour and patience that issues get resolved. It became evident to Tayler, that even in the remotest oases of Chad or Niger, the local people were well aware of the major crisis between the United States and Muslim states; they voiced their concerns of the US administration and the impending war with Iraq. "We always liked the Americans before" one chief is quoted, "but not now". Many interlocutors saw a clear distinction between an American among them and his government's politics. "You are safe here", one of them responded as he imagined the wrath of US on his country if anything happened to their visitor.
   
   The book is rich in detail and full of fascinating facts. Tayler touches on diverse tensions and conflicts, whether religious or ethnic, internal to the nations he visited, illustrating the dilemmas of the ill-advised post colonial boundaries. Given the distances he traveled, the places he visited and the people he encountered, the book could easily have been double in length. The expansion would not lose the reader's attention.
   
   What makes this book particularly valuable is Tayler's solid knowledge of the long and complex history underlying the socio-political context of the region. Historical information and relevant current data is brought into the flow of the reporting, adding important background information without overloading the narrative. No doubt this is a captivating read and invaluable for anybody wanting to learn more about this fascinating and least explored African region. [Friederike Knabe]



2. This is Jeffrey Tayler's fourth book. I have read all of his books, and I would say that this ranks at the bottom of my list. However, in general, I did enjoy the book. The problem with this book is that Tayler's journey through the Sahel of Africa does not seem to be as extensive as his other sojourns. He seems to move rather quickly through a couple of targeted locations in each of the countries he visits. As a result, the books is light on interesting cultural stories and personal experiences. While he does encounter some potentially difficult situations along the way, this journey does lack the adventurous feeling of his first two books (Siberian Dawn and Facing The Congo). It seems that in this case, Tayler created a truncated trip solely for the purpose of cranking out another book. Having said that, I have to admit I did like the book. Tayler has an eloquent style of writing that makes reading about his journeys interesting even when nothing much has taken place. I am also fascinated by his linguistic skills, which helps him transcend cultural barriers by giving him the ability to converse with almost anyone he encounters. This book also gave me a glimpse into the history and culture of Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Mali, four nations that I previously had little or no knowledge of. If you are a fan of Tayler's books, you will probably like this book, but it may not end up being at the top of your list of favorites.



3. Tayler is one brave traveller. Being a white American you need guts to travel in a predominantly Muslim Africa. He charts his journey across the Sahel region, following path ravaged by the vicious Haramattan wind. The author describes the poverty and despair, so characteristic of Africa, with compassion. At times he displays righteous anger when provoked, but soon consoles himself when he perceives the abject misery around him. The book is more than a travelogue. It details the political undercurrents and opinions about post 9/11 USA. Also, one understands the history and causes for the ongoing conflict between the Muslims and Christians. Can it get worse: poverty, rising temperatures and being ruled by misinterpreted Sharia ?



4. If one reads this very well written book objectively, it is quite apparent that Arab anger is deep rooted in century's of hate, for Christians, Jews, whites, Americans, Europeans, African blacks, Touregs, and even other Arabs of different sects. Oh of course they now hate Bush, but they have been hating since Mohammed; only the primary targets have changed with the years. I thoroughly enjoyed this fast moving book though it did leave me with a very pessimistic view of the world my children will live in.



5. Powerful lessons, yet enjoyable to read. Through the words of the native inhabitants Mr. Tayler provides eye-opening insight into religious fundamentalism, American Foreign Policy and how people who inhabit one of the poorest and most desolate areas on Earth must approach their everyday lives. Although it might actually discourage you from wanting to visit the region, it helps explain in a big way why Africa continues to be a tortured continent. It should be required reading for everyone over the age of 15 especially if you hail from a first world country.

2 comments about Mauritius Travel Pack (Globetrotter Travel Packs).

1. There aren't many travel books available with info on Mauritius. I've looked at all I could get my hands on and the Globetrotter Travel Guide on Mauritius with the pull-out Travel Map is by far the best. The books is loaded with heaps of useful information for first time travellers to Mauritius with tips for visitors, places to stay and eat, attractions and regional profiles. The best part was the map giving more detail of the whole island as well as the major regional towns on the island. The other travel books fell short in this area.



2. This book was just what we needed ready for our trip and even came with a great map so worth every cent. Plenty of info and lots of tips so well worth getting

5 comments about Swahili: Lonely Planet Phrasebook.

1. I had this guide when I went to Kenya, and I highly recommend it! It was very useful when I got very ill and needed to explain to a Swahili speaking doctor what was wrong with me. I also used it when I'd go to the Masai Markets and I always got a much better deal when I'd barter in Swahili. The Kenyans can speak English, but they appreciate it when you try to speak to them in Swahili.
   
   I loved this guide so much I am buying copies for the members of my family who will be joining me for a holiday in Kenya this coming year.
   
   It's an absolute must for any traveler!



2. This small hand-sized book is an excellent resource. Sections are seperated by practical categories (like food, social, and practical). Very easy to read, and really has everything you would need to get around.



3. This course to teach yourself Swahili is easy for anybody - all you need is to take time and study.



4. For a compact book on Swahili this is the best I've seen. The contents of this little gem were easily divided into useful and practical sections, covering a broader use of the language than I've come across in other similar type books. Each section was uniquely and clearly identifiable allowing faster access to put your fingertips on the words or phrases you need. This book also succeeds in helping the reader obtain a basic yet concrete understanding of the Swahili language where other similar books have attempted but failed.



5. We used this book before and during our volunteer trip to Kenya.
   It's a great resource, helps a lot, has all the basic things you wanna know (actually much more than you're going to need for a short trip), as well as slangs and even a few surprises (what to say in very specific situations, like when you're drunk or having sex (I'm guessing if they put this on the book, it must be because people asked for it)).
   There are a few phrases they recommend I found out nobody uses anymore, and a few others that are used by people in the coast, but not by people in Nairobi area or other parts of the country, for example.
   But still, I recommend it.
   It's very small, fits in your pocket.
   But there's so much information you really need to do your homework, study it before your trip, and mark the pages that interest you.

1 comments about Tanzania, 5th: with Zanzibar, Pemba & Mafia (Bradt Travel Guide).

1. Philip Briggs KNOWS Tanzania. His insightful descriptions of the country's game parks and wildlife are matched by comprehensive accounts of accommodations. For Serengeti he details 20 camps and lodges compared with 15 in Lizzie Williams' "Footprint Tanzania" and only 10 in Jens Finke's "The Rough Guide to Tanzania." Although rates generally increase by the time a guide appears in print, Briggs gives actual costs in U.S. dollars, thus facilitating accurate comparisons. He also organizes coverage of Serengeti accommodations by regions of this vast park, including rationale for visiting each area by time of year for optimal wildlife viewing. While both Briggs and Williams, but not Finke, include Kijereshi Lodge as a moderately priced option in Serengeti's Western Corridor, only Briggs suggests Mbalageti Serengeti as a "relatively affordable alternative" in that area. Granted, Serengeti is not the whole of Tanzania, but it is arguably the gem of Tanzania and, as such, deserves priority coverage by any guidebook to the country. Having organized safaris in both the northern and southern circuits, I'm convinced that Briggs possesses the most intimate knowledge of the country. I know of no guidebook that does everything best, but of these three good Tanzania guides, the Bradt guide is tops.

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

No comments about How I Found Livingstone; travels, adventures, and discoveres in Central Africa, including an account of four months\' residence with Dr. Livingston: Abridged.

No comments about The Rough Guide to Zanzibar 2 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).