No comments about Cape Town Travel Map (Globetrotter Travel Map).

3 comments about A Crack in the Earth: A Journey up Israel's Rift Valley.

1. "The rift valley is a natural object, created by physical forces. But when we look at it, we don't see the physical object. We see stories and ideas and our own histories. People see the same landscape differently depending on who they are, when they live, what they've done, and what stories they heard when they were children."
   
   
   Being congenitally predisposed to this unique and magnificent part of the physical world, I can attest to this pronouncement made by Haim Watzman in his majestic tale of a journey up the Jordan Rift Valley, "a crack in the earth's crust that begins where the Indian Ocean's waters mix with those of the Gulf of Aden." Watzman focuses on the stretch of the rift from the northern shore of the Dead Sea at Eilat to the Golan Heights bordering Syria in his riveting new book, "A Crack in the Earth".
   
   Through a blend of science and faith, Watzman has crafted a story that tells about geological phenomena, scientific analysis, archeological examination, and philosophical musings through the distinct perspectives of biologists, zoologists, kibbutzniks, and other ordinary, modern-day inhabitants of the rift. Watzman, who is himself religiously observant, points out that he is also a journalist and a man of science, making him naturally skeptical. He challenges accepted biblical verities with the same investigative rigor that he uses when scrutinizing geological and biological ones. He notes that "modern archaeology and textual scholarship have cast doubt on the historical truth of the Bible for decades now...in many ways modern Orthodox Judaism is not a religion of the Bible. It's much more a religion built by the sages upon the foundation of the Bible, after the destruction of the Temple and the rise of Christianity." In the same way that the rift valley is the physical foundation upon which people have superimposed their `stories, ideas and histories,' the bible is the textual foundation which Judaism in its modern application builds upon, using human constructionists in the form of the sages of the rabbinic period.
   
   Ultimately, it is the people who have inhabited the sacred lands of the rift that have kept it so fertile in our imaginations. From the Israelites crossing into the Promised Land from Egypt to Jesus being baptized by John in the waters of the Jordan, all the way up to modern Zionists like Rachel the Poetess; these are the stories of the people that fascinate Watzman, and his infectious love of the land and its people enraptures us as well.
   
   Watzman, who is something of an anomaly in Israel as a religiously observant Jew with leftist leanings, largely refrains from politics in this book. Occasionally though, he does weave some political context into his narrative, explaining why, for example, Jericho became off limits to Israelis after the outbreak of the second Intifada. Watzman draws parallels to the turbulent landscape (Tiberias has experienced severe earthquakes almost once a century since the beginning of the Common Era) with the incessant political and social turmoil. He ruefully observes that "to an Israeli living in the first years of the 21st century, turmoil seems to be the rule. Periods of equilibrium seem few, far off, and short-lived." Yet, in geological terms, the ebbs and flows are much slower and deliberate. Some of the rocks on both sides of the rift are between 570 million and one billion years old. In that context, humankind's effect on the region is insignificant. God, who is unchanging, watches bemusedly over it all.
   
   Perhaps not surprisingly, some have already criticized Watzman for not incorporating more of a Palestinian, Arab voice. John Leonard, in Harper's Magazine (June edition) somehow manages, through a tortured interpretation, to read into Watzman "his homeland's hateful modern indulgence of Bronze Age identity politics." Leonard continues with his knee-jerk critique. "He has a hard time even talking to a Palestinian, as if Palestinians were remnants of some antediluvian proto-species prior to language." Or Publishers Weekly, noting that "Watzman fails almost utterly to bring in non-Jewish voices; the one Arab we meet is an Israeli Bedouin."
   Both critiques conveniently leave out the poignant encounter Watzman has with a Palestinian at a West Bank gas station at the end of the book, where he risks his own physical safety to preserve his moral bearings and psychic equilibrium. For those of us who know Haim Watzman and what he stands for, the irony would be hilarious if it weren't so deadly. Even in a book that is so decidedly apolitical, by an Israeli Jew who has been so vocal in his criticisms of his country's treatment of Palestinians, critics of Israel can't help but find racism and xenophobia under any and every rock.
   But Haim Watzman is if anything, the ultimate mensch. The last section of his book, in which he has a very real encounter with a very real Palestinian, attests to his own very real humanity, and bravery for his beliefs (unlike some Western intellectuals who `shoot first' from the safety of their ivory towers and do their homework later, if ever) . Just before he turns back to "meet the Palestinian halfway" and offer him a ride, he muses that "since humans first began to call the names of gods, they have created their own valley of prayers, desires, deeds, and choices, which overlay the landscape just as the rain clouds do. As hard as we try to comprehend the landscape itself, it is humanity that we find."
   This is a beautiful book that radiates a personal warmth and love of the land and its people. It is as uplifting as it is inspired.
   
   [...]



2. The Jordan Rift Valley has been not only a geologic oddity, but the subject of a fierce debate over its boarders - and has for a quarter of a century been part of the life and writings of author Haim Watzman, an Israeli journalist. A CRACK IN THE EARTH here follows his two-week journey up the valley, encountering geologists and peoples whose life and work in the area have led them to call it 'home'. Geography, science, and cultural insights permeate a fine blend of travelogue and introduction to the Rift Valley's politics and scenarios.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. It would be nice to read a book for once that didn't have the author's opinion interlaced into it, but that would be a hard request of any author these days, for most writers feel they must leave their imprint.
   
   This is such a book, and its only saving grace is that it doesn't include to much of the authors own rantings and ravings and opinions. The history is interesting, from the geology of the land to the most modern times it is a sweeping account of a journey from the Negev to the Hulah valley. Although the book seems to want to draw parellels between the shaky earth, the rift valley, and the politics of the region, this is a very weak metaphor, the Jordan river valley is one of the most peaceful parts of the country and so is the border there.
   
   Nevertheless the stories of the Christian Arab tribes, the ancient peoples of the area, the siege of Masada, Diocletian, the modern Zionists and the all too often read about 'Arab-Israeli conflict' are interesting. There are several jaring and obnoxious asides in the text. The author reminds us time and again that he is a 'religious' Orthodox Jew, but then goes on to tell us how his 'faith' admires the Rabbis who revived Judaism rather than the 'extremist' zealots at Masada who fought to the death. But he libels the Zealots. Modern Orthodoxy is based on the Jews that survived the Roman war, but they are also theological descendants of Rabbi Akiva who supported the Bar-Kochba rebellion. The author is far from bring part of the religious mainstream, and his observations about religion are very far from those of Orthodox Judaism.
   
   That being said, it is a highly readable and pleasant account, it at times wordy despite its short stature, a fair and interesting book, full of stories and facts.
   
   Seth J. Frantzman

No comments about Photographic Guide to the Birds of Namibia.

2 comments about In Morocco.

1. Fans of Edith Wharton who are hoping to see her usual insightful wit will be disappointed with this book. Likewise will those hoping to learn something about the real Morocco. Instead, what this book provides is a fascinatingly nauseating example of racist, orientalist cliches: the eroticization, the emphasis on mystery, decreptitude, etc. One classic bit is the description of the souks full of "savages" "consumptive Jews" and "lusty slave girls." But my favorite is when a windstorm in the Djmaa el Fnaa suddenly appears, "stripping to the waist the slave girls scudding home to the souks." There are some peculiar twists to her vision of Morocco, but I won't go further because I'm hoping to publish my paper on this subject sometime in the near future. Buy this book if you are interested in such things. But first read Said's Orientalism, if this stuff is new to you. If you are planning to travel to Morocco, buy the Rough Guide and Culture Shock: Morocco.



2. It's been along while since I read this book but after the negative review, I must read again.
   I remember her descriptions of Morocco and the people being quite fascinating but I don't remember them being racist......maybe, this world of Moroc was so far from the culture she was accustomed. Maybe this book encouraged people to visit and find out for themselves. I loved Morocco and it's people, but I also enjoyed the book back then.
   Moroc was the most exciting place I had been as of 2000.
   Maybe, we've come a long way, Baby! Let's only hope!

5 comments about Ghana, 3rd: The Bradt Travel Guide.

1. If you are traveling to Ghana, West Africa, this is the essential guide to have with you. It has an easy to read layout and includes everything you would ever need to know. I highly recommend this if you are going to that area. I am glad I own a copy!



2. Observations, current and pertainent info, from knowledgeable travelers who've been there. This is the stuff you want to know to plan a successful journey.



3. Book very informative, with excellent info on where to go and how to get there. Plan to put it to good use in the fall!



4. I visited Ghana in April 2007, and although I was visiting relatives and so had some local contacts, this book was a great help, both from the point of view of planning my trip and learning about the country. The short commentaries from various contributors on subjects such as local wildlife, nightlife or travelling solo as a woman, were especially informative and often entertaining as well. The maps in particular, while simple, were indispensable, as good local maps can be quite difficult to find even in Ghana.
   
   A useful additional tool are the regular updates to the guide on the Bradt website, which have many contributions from recent travellers, including places that are closed (either temporarily or permanently) and recommendations for additional places to stay/eat or visit. I've heard that the 4th edition is due out in fall of 2007, and I'm tempted to go ahead and get it, too, for my next visit!



5. My daughter is in college, and is currently at the University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. I bought her this before she left, and she has found it to be an invaluable resource!
   Marti

5 comments about Journey To The Vanished City.

1. This has been one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Parfitt traces the origin of the Lemba, a self-described Jewish tribe in South Africa. Although its oral tradition is vague some elements recur persistently: "Our forefathers came from Sena... They came from the North... they built Great Zimbabwe...". Tracing backwards the journey that the Lemba took over the course of many generations, Parfitt travels North from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Malawi and, ultimately all the way to Yemen. Along the way, he encounters proof of the Lemba's passage and demonstrates that their oral tradition is, indeed, correct and they originated in Yemen.
   
   Subsequent genetic testing brought further support to Parfitt's conclusion. This is detective work at its best, without the crime.



2. The author's quest for the origins of the Lemba, a Southern Africa tribe with certain Semitic customs and a folk memory of Jewish origins, took him from Johannesburg via the Limpopo province of South Africa, through Zimbabwe and Malawi to Tanzania and ultimately to the Hadramaut in South Arabia.
   
   In Johannesburg's Soweto township he encounters his first Lemba people and researches the tribe in Wits University library. Then he takes the train to Pietersburg where he visits Lemba scholar Professor Mathiva at the University of the North and makes excursions into the surrounding areas of the Venda and Lobedu tribes where he encounters Mojaji, the famous Rain Queen. The known history of the area, including the colorful figure of Joao Albasini, spices up the narrative.
   
   In Zimbabwe his journeys take him to Bulawayo, the Matopo Hills, Mberengwe and Dumghe Mountains, Masvingo and the ruins of Great Zimbabwe. On the way he takes part in a Lemba tribal assembly. The next stage takes him to Malawi and a short way into Mozambique where he sees the town of Sena from afar. In Tanzania he visits Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo and Tumbatu, concluding the African leg of his journey.
   
   His research finally leads him to Yemen where he visits Sanaa, Aden and the Hadramaut towns of Habban, Terim, and ultimately, the town of Sena on the Wadi Masila, where he discovers that the Lemba clan names are familiar to the area.
   
   Along the way he has funny ecounters with a wide variety of interesting people. The travelogue is interspersed with relevant quotes from an impressive array of explorers, missionaries, scholars and ethnographers, including Joao de Barros, Livingstone, Junod, Mauch, Schlomann, Schapera, Van Warmelo, Jacques, Von Sicard and Roger Summers. Their observations - including the legend of Monomotapa - are engagingly woven into his always arresting travelogue.
   
   The Afterword contains the results of genetic research conducted in 1996/97 that shows a significant similarity in DNA between Jewish groups, the Lemba and the Hadrami of Terim and Sena. For more detailed and up-to-date information, please consult DNA and Tradition by Rabbi Yaakov Kleiman. The Buba clan of the Lemba has a high frequency of the Y-Chromosome type called the "Cohen Modal Haplotype" which is known to be characteristic of the paternally inherited Jewish priesthood.
   
   For a very thorough ethnographic study of the Lemba, I recommend The Lemba: A Lost Tribe of Israel in Southern Africa by Magdel le Roux. It is a selective comparison between the social and religious practices of early Israel and the Lemba of today.
   
   Journey To The Vanished City contains plates with black & white photographs, maps of Africa and Yemen, 18 pages of notes arranged by chapter and an index. The book is a most engaging read on account of the author's humour, wit and flowing narrative style. There is not one boring moment in this fascinating account of a journey in search of lost origins.



3. It should probably be no surprise that the two most peripatetic peoples in the ancient world, Jews and Africans, should sooner or later have encountered one another.
   
   Tudor Parfitt, a British academic, traces the origins of a Southern African tribe known as the Lemba, whose history both recorded and unrecorded embraces a claim to Jewish ancestry and identity.
   
   Relying on scant written data and on the Lemba's own oral traditions and reports by contemporaries, the author traces backward the journey that the Lemba took over the course of many generations. Parfitt travels North from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and, ultimately to Yemen.
   
   Along the way, he confronts evidence of the Lemba's passage and demonstrates that their oral tradition is, indeed, correct that they originated in Yemen where they embraced Judaism. Subsequent genetic testing brought further support to the Lemba's claims indicating not only a high proportion of Jewish genetic markers but specifically those markers associated with the Cohanim, the Levitical priestly caste of ancient Israel.
   
   Starting off from Lemba villages in Vendaland, South Africa where he encounters Lemba customs such a circumcision, food taboos and a devotional life that to all appearances seem Jewish, the author retraces the quasi-legendary path of the Lemba's forbears through Southern, central and Eastern Africa and the Arabian peninsula, along the way embracing the lore and romance of King Solomon's mines and the building of the walled city of Great Zimbabwe.
   
   This is a delightful story, delightfully told. The author's writing style is lively, mixing the styles of the travel essayist, the novelist and the scholar and gives rise to a rarely-encountered kind of work that is so compelling that once begun it simply cannot be put down.



4. I think that this book is very important because it preserves the legacy of the Lemba on paper, a legacy that for centuries, has relied mainly on oral traditions. The Lemba tribe, who presently reside in various parts of Southern Africa, have kept a tradition for hundreds of years that they are Jews, and Parfitt takes the journey to explore these claims.
   
   The author, Tudor Parfitt, starts off in the northern parts of South Africa in Vendaland, where many Lemba reside today. From here he goes to the Zimbabwe ruins, then to Malawi, briefly to war-torn Mozambique, up to the east coast, and off to Yemen in search of "Sena," where the Lemba attest that they came from. In all these areas he finds interesting facts through his research about the Lemba and their history.
   
   There is no doubt that the Lemba contributed to the building and livelihood of the Great Zimbabwe civilization that flourished in the 14th century, but the big question here is just how big was their role? With the history of the Lemba becoming more popular, I think this debate is going to resurface once again as to who built the ruins.
   
   This book relies on earlier descriptions of the Lemba by mostly European and Arab explores. Parfitt really makes good use of these. The book also highlights the indelible influence that colonialism has had not just on the Lemba, but on all African societies. It also underscores the prevailing attitudes that many "white Africans" today have on black Africans.
   
   The genetic evidence presented in the afterword makes for a good ending to strengthen the core theme in the book. I highly recommend Journey to The Vanished City and I think it's an excellent, scholarly work.



5. There is not a dull line in this book - I just got it after reading the author's Ark of the Covenant. It is one of the most remarkable journeys across Africa and the Middle East written in the sort of prose that is fast disappearing. The subject matter you feel is real. the charcaters are real. It's a journey with a point. It's a real mission. And a wonderful read.

5 comments about Lost Cities and Ancient Mysteries of Africa and Arabia (The Lost City Series).

1. David Hatcher Childress' Lost Cities series has proven to be consistently interesting, and Lost Cities and Ancient Mysteries of Africa and Arabia is no exception. Taking the everyman approach to travel writing, Childress' accounts of his travels through Arabia and Egypt are very interesting and insightful, full of both interesting travel advice relevant to the regions he travelled through and accounts of personal experiences that make his stories very interesting to read. He thoroughly covers all of the major and most of the minor historical sites to be found throughout Africa and Arabia, often at great personal risk. It took guts to make the journeys he has made, many of which were in areas very dangerous for Americans, and a talent for writing to make them interesting. I thoroughly recommend this and all of the other Lost Cities series of books to all would-be travelers with an open mind and an interest in the unusual.



2. Let's face it: this isn't a very good book. Then again, "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero" wasn't a very "good" (if we must assign labels) movie. Childress, a "maverick archaeologist" who seems to spend most of his time floundering around grimly impoverished Third World locales and getting nowhere with evasive women at bars, provides an insanely amusing travelogue of his journeys through the jungles and exotic landscapes of Africa and Arabia, commenting along the way on the unknown Atlantean, Lemurian, and other civilizations that flourished once upon a time and were responsible for the Pyramids, THE MAHABHARATA, and presumably Jimmy Hoffa's and D.B. Cooper's whereabouts. The most insane thing about this book is that a lot of it might be true. So far as I know, we still know very little about the Neolithic era, and the concept of "lost" civilizations would imaginably appeal to many readers depressed at the state of the world (including myself). However, I must agree with the other negative reviewer that Childress offers no convincing evidence to support his theories (and not very much UNconvincing evidence, either). The only sources he uses are hopelessly mossbound Victorian "explorers" (who knows how many African bearers' lives they may have used up to supply this book with fodder for speculation?) who had their own "issues" to deal with. Don't even get me started on the possible cultural-studies implications of this book. That being said, it WAS a lot of fun, and he does occasionally come up with some exciting memories and fantastical theories that NEARLY make up for my having read this book.



3. I picked up this book not realizing that I had already read excerpts from it in another of Childress' books. I was headed for Jordan and was interested in reading up on Petra when I found this book. As I read more, it began to get really interesting. His broad coverage of various theories of ancient civilizations is fascinating, if sometimes hard to believe. But, that being said, there are so many unexplained civilizations out there that, however fanciful the explanations may be, who knows, some may even be correct!! It's an entertaining read, and really causes you to reconsider some very basic historical facts that may turn out to be in error. How DID those guys at the Temple of Ba'al move 2 million pound stones?!? Makes you wonder!!



4. Ok, let's get one thing out of the way. David Childress is not an archeologist. Some people seem to get hung up on this, so let's make that real clear. I always see his books in the "Travel Narrative" section of the bookstore, and that's exactly what they are... great travel narratives.

   The books has two modes. Mr. Childress' travel stories, and his telling of "wacky" theories of the places he visits. Within the first 25 pages, you have stories of ancient nuclear weapons, flying machines, and continent spanning civilizations that no one has heard of! And he explains that this is the "easiest" way of rationalizing the things he has seen! (Such as, giant blocks of stone that are too big to move, "even by modern engineering").

   On the whole, this is a great read if you want some insight into the crazy ideas that exist out there. Childress seems to have a mainline into most of them. His travel writing is pretty good too.

   One note: the editing is terrible. Spelling and typos all over the place. The typography & layout of the book do leave something to be desired.




5. A synopsis of the first chapter: around 12,000 BCE, three very powerful civilizations existed in and around the Mediterranean. Atlantis was a mini-continent in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Straight of Gibraltar. The Osirian Empire was located in the basin of what is now the Mediterranean Sea and the Rama Empire existed throughout Persia and into India. The civilizations of both Atlantis and Rama possessed flying airships, very similar to those commonly reported as modern-day UFOs. In addition, the Rama Empire had some type of laser-based weapon. They used anti-gravity technology to levitate giant cut stones weighing three million pounds into position at a site in modern-day Lebanon as a landing pad for their airships.
   
   According to Jared Diamond, a preeminent cultural anthropologist, the development of agriculture did not occur until around 11,000 BCE and was localized in the Fertile Crescent until 7,500 BCE. Since one can trace food surpluses as a requirement for the settlement of cities and subsequent development of technology in cultures all over the world, it seems unlikely, at best, that the Rama Empire possessed airships, laser weapons and anti-gravity technology before humans domesticated the pea (in 8,500 BCE). It just seems a little difficult to believe that in between hunting and gathering, people had time to construct flying ships, weaponize lasers and employ anti-gravity technology. This is especially remarkable given that it took humans 14,000 years to redevelop the technology for flight and we still haven't been able to weaponize lasers or develop anti-gravity technology.
   
   The book may appeal to people looking for an interesting read, but it should not be taken as a scholarly work. In fact, the author's attempts to cite scholarly sources and research to justify his claims are laughable. Also, there are numerous typographical errors (mostly omitted prepositions and possessives as well as punctuation errors).

No comments about To Timbuktu: A Journey Down the Niger.

4 comments about The Rough Guide to Tunisia 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. If you're bound for Tunisia, you won't want to leave without this book. I'm one of those people who thinks there is never any *one* guide that's ideal for a destination -- I always take 2 good guides. And, for Tunisia, the Rough Guide is definitely the first of the two.

   It is much, much more comprehensive than any other guide. The Blue Guide (my other choice for Tunisian visits), Lonely Planet Guide (also excellent though with less background), and others literally do not have 1/2 the content of the Rough Guide.

   By supplementing this book with one other one (the Blue Guide for in-depth history & cultural information, or the Lonely Planet Guide for a smaller, hipper subset of travel tips) you'll have a great Tunisian stay. Whichever "other" guide you choose, you'll want this one for the COMPLETE story of any destination in any corner of Tunisia.

   Whether you're basking on the corniche at Hammamet, Bizerte, or la Marsa; travelling to tourist meccas like the Tunis Medina, Carthage, Sfax, Jerba, el Djem, Matmata and the Sahara palmeries; or taking jaunts to more out-of-the-way spots like Kerkouane or Tabarka... Take this book.




2. If you're bound for Tunisia, you won't want to leave without this book. I'm one of those people who thinks there is never any *one* guide that's ideal for a destination -- I always take 2 good guides. And, for Tunisia, the Rough Guide is definitely the first of the two.

   It is much, much more comprehensive than any other guide. The Blue Guide (my other choice for Tunisian visits), Lonely Planet Guide (also excellent though with less background), and others literally do not have 1/2 the content of the Rough Guide.

   By supplementing this book with one other one (the Blue Guide for in-depth history & cultural information, or the Lonely Planet Guide for a smaller, hipper subset of travel tips) you'll have a great Tunisian stay. Whichever "other" guide you choose, you'll want this one for the COMPLETE story of any destination in any corner of Tunisia.

   Whether you're basking on the corniche at Hammamet, Bizerte, or la Marsa; travelling to tourist meccas like the Tunis Medina, Carthage, Sfax, Jerba, el Djem, Matmata and the Sahara palmeries; or taking jaunts to more out-of-the-way spots like Kerkouane or Tabarka... Take this book.




3. I took this guide book as well as the Lonely Planet toTunisa for a month. I could have easily gotten along with just the Planet, and it's smaller to lug around. The Rough Guide was often either vague, or the information was so wrong that I got the impression that some of the places written about were never actually visited by the writter. Directions were hard to follow and the layout of information was not nearly as concise as the Planet Guide. I was tempted to ditch this book many times along the way as it really wasn't worth the space it took up in my pack.



4. I'm a editor in Sweden and purchased this guide (together with Lonely Planet Tunisia) after my visit to Tunisia. Both are most useful in my work now and I highly recommended them. For those who are planning to visit Tunisia - prepare by reading the Rough Guide, and use the LP Tunisia as a guidebook during your visit.

5 comments about Jambo, Mama.

1. although descriptions of her native carpet factory employees were interesting, much more of the book is devoted to the author's many personal problems: a discordant sibling relationship; well-educated friends in kenya who at first help the author settle in, then mysteriously drop her completely; and especially the author's dalliance with a philanderer even though she knows he is sleeping with other women...east africa is a fascinating part of the world...surely one could have found something else of interest than watching the same American videos over and over while crying about a balloon pilot who was always somewhere else...



2. Allured by the introductory chapters accessible on the net, I was enticed by the backbone of her solo mission to a place with an almost contrary rhythm to the West. She definitely chose a beautiful country, still raw, still real. I'm bias of course - Having grown up in Kenya; it was another opportunity for sweet nostalgia.
   
   While reading the book, I enjoyed the witty incorporation of Kiswahili idioms and expressions. I enjoyed her novel descriptions of Kenya's unfamiliar Northern Frontier and I took pleasure in the recognition of places such as Karen and Kiambu. It brought familiar places back to life.
   
   Nonetheless, although this book has the potential to play sugary games with the hearts of fellow Kenyans, it lacks some of the insight that I had initially expected and desired. I was not disgruntled by this but simply listened to another story between the lines. By this I mean that, whereas the book strove for transparency and appeal, some sections were opaque and lacked the detailed artistic revelations that this intelligent and perceptive woman so apparently preserved in her mind. It felt like there were pieces missing as she was pushed by her peers and fans to write on. Perhaps a more integral account of the relationships that went terribly wrong was needed, or may be more reflections on the how her past plays with her present lifestyle and state of mind. The reader demands the full story.
   
   There seems to be a lot of latent potential that I know can come through in a sequel (which I would read -hint hint). After all, writing is a never-ending journey as we grow and evolve. I'd like to see how the author processes her life and her past and changes accordingly. Overall, It's a very nice book and I hope that Melinda continues to write as she progresses through life. Hopefully we will get a chance to see what this strong and incredible woman has learned with time. Share.



3. I really enjoyed this book from the first page through the last. It took me on an incredible journey of life in Kenya, Africa with all it's mishaps, adventures, safaris, and real life day to day living as a local living in Kenya. I really hated to see it end! This book is a must have for anyone planning a trip to Africa or for anyone that loves exotic destination travel.



4. AFTER TRAVELING IN KENYA ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASIONS, THERE WAS ALWAYS A DREAM IN THE BACK OF MY MIND--"WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL TO LIVE HERE" THIS IS A STORY ABOUT AN AMERICAN WOMAN WHO DID JUST THAT. IT WAS A REALISTIC NARRATIVE ABOUT THE JOYS AND DIFFICULTIES OF TRYING TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WITH A SEMI-CLOSED ENGLISH SECTION OF SOCIETY AND THE RULES AND REGLATIONS OF A AFRICAN WORK FORCE THAT SHE HIRED FOR HER RUG MANUFACTURING AND ALL THE PROBLEMS SHE HAD WITH BOTH. IN THE END I THINK IT WAS PURE LONLINESS THAT LED HER BACK TO THE U.S. BUT THE JOURNEY WAS INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE. I LOVED IT.



5. I live in Kenya for 6 months out of each year. My experiences there are both wonderful and difficult, and I am always looking for books written by other foreigners who have lived there. I am VERY disappointed with this book. Ms. Atwood moved to Kenya to experience Africa, but chose to do so from a completely self-centered and white settler basis. She lived in the lap of luxury surrounded by servants and never went out of her way to understand (not to mention participate) in the local culture of Kenyans. She gets excited by things reminiscent of what she calls "old Africa", which she then describes as the good old days of the British colonialists. I found her attitude typical of many foreigners living in Kenya, but very disheartening.
   
   If you want to learn about Kenya from the perspective of a wealthy and relatively self-centered white lady, this is the book for you. Otherwise, skip it.