Africa Books

I got this book from my grandmother in high school. Truth be told, I "borrowed" it and never gave it back! I loved it because it traces early African female writings as well as contemporary excerpts. You can actually read the writing of the Queen of Sheba and the Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut. I think this is so important for black women, especially.

As a writer, I have seen speeches and writings of famous European Queens like Elizabeth I, but you don't often find books containing the writings of African queens like these. As a young black girl, it was empowering to me to see what came before me and what I might acheive because of the women in this book. Their determination and courage created a place for me and other minority women to express ourselves publicly, to give a voice to our culture and to our gender.

One of the interesting things about this book is to see the writings of freed and escaped slaves. We have the assumption that slaves were uneducated, especially female slaves, and yet here is evidence that there were learned black women speaking out about slavery and its effects. Some, such as Harriet Jacobs (aka Linda Brent), were writing before slavery had been abolished in order to encourage the emancipation of black people.

Because this book also features writings from women in different countries, it has a richness that wouldn't be there if it only focused on American women. It speaks of what it means to be a black woman no matter what time or place you live in.

Margaret Busby's *Daughters of Africa* has become one of my favorite anthologies in my personal collection. The depth and breadth of her selections is inspiring, and I find myself revisiting its contents time and time again. It's a poet's dream and is excellent as any writer's reference. I have encountered new, engaging voices to explore as well as ancient ones whose lives were unknown me. Pick up a copy and dive in.

I have had this book for a while and it is so breath taking and awesome. It is a magnificient chronological timeline of the Nubian woman back in ancient times to the present. It reveals the spirit, intelligence, political involvement, and nature of the black woman. Despite time and the unforgiveable tragedies that occurred to her and her nation of people she has a regal inner strength that refuses and will not die but only continues to gain strength more with experience and wisdom. This book is a good indicator to the understanding of a black woman and her legacy.

This is one of the most extraordinary compilations I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The writing is extremely rich with information on the insights of women, and their various cultures and lifestyles; the reader even gets a glimpse of the various dialects of countries as she goes from piece to piece. As I was reading the book, I realized that although I am an avid reader, I was not familiar with the writing of many of the authors (nor were the majority of my friends). I find it unfortunate that there are so many women authors who never gain proper recognition for their literary talents simply because many people have never been exposed to their writing. Although Margaret Busby admits that many authors were omitted due to necessity, this book is definitely a step in the right direction. I would love to see a "Sons of Africa" anthology.

A well researched anthology which I found compelling and educational. A book I discovered several years ago and have recommended to many. An avid reader and writer (contributor to Go Girl: The Black Woman's Book to Travel and Adventure) I found this book to be first rate focusing on universal themes and many that were enlightening related to the plights (emotional, spiritual and psychological), and achievements of women from different cultures. Many of the stories were uplifting, provocative, heartwarming and humorous which gave me deeper insight into certain cultures and fired my curiosity and interest related to social and political aspects of certain countries. In addition, I learned a bit of history and was challenged to expand my literary and cultural horizons. A book everyone should have.

I've read all this author's works published in this country, and found them to be consistently top notch. In this book, he carries three plot lines through it dealing with complicated people that you find sympathetic. The author uses them to deal with major issues such as prostitution, alcoholism, and unsympathetic bureaucracy, as well as looking at some social issues mentioned in previous reviews. When the plot lines are meshed, it's done in an understandable and logical fashion leading to a satisfactory ending. The book is an exciting read. The protagonists are imperfect people with their own demons with whom they struggle. It is recommended highly and especially to those who wish to explore this South African's very original novels.

Deon Meyer's novel, Devil's Peak, is a complex, yet exciting tale of African espionage. The author has created a cast of characters so diverse, you will have quite a time keeping up with each of them. Yet, I wanted to know more about them as my fingers turned page by page.

There is the prostitute who visits a clergyman with a secret carton. Then a man, a modern-day vigilante, is seeking justice for the death of his adopted son. On his trail is an alcoholic detective inspector who risks his wife and children for the love of the bottle. That is just a few of the people who make the novel so compelling.

Out of all of their stories, Thobela Mpayipheli's is the one that kept me reading the book from start to finish. Here was a man who married the woman he loved and adopted her son as his. When she dies, he is left to raise the child, which he does with joy and determination. Then a fateful stop at a filing station changes Thobela's life forever. It sends him on a mission to send every criminal he encounters to a brutal and traumatic end. He is on a search for two men in particular who he has to exact a revenge that only their deaths can satisfy. Yet, he then realizes that his journey entails more than that.

There are AIDS-infected men who are raping children in an ill attempt to rid themselves of the disease. When the court refuses to condemn them to prison, Thobela decides to take matters into his own hands.

The author designs his characters in a way that their lives are all somehow entwined. This means that you must stay on your toes in order to follow the storyline. Yet, I found Devil's Peak to be an interesting and exciting read. I realize that Thobela Mpayipheli is my new hero and the man of my dreams.

Armchair Interviews says: Most interesting storyline.

Three very flawed but sympathetic characters populate this novel. There is Thobela Mpayipheli, a Black South African who was trained as an assassin by the East German secret police. Then there is Benny Griessel, alcoholic detective. And lastly, Christine van Rooyen, a prostitute with a three-year-old daughter. Somehow, their lives intertwine in a gripping story which keeps the reader off-balance all the way.

Initially, Thobela is introduced as a farmer who recently lost his wife, leaving him with a young boy who he loves very much. The boy is shot dead during an armed robbery, setting off a chain of events which leads Thobela to act as an avenging vigilante against abusers of children. Benny, once (and possibly even in his present continual alcoholic haze) a superior detective, is kicked out of his home by his long-suffering wife with the admonishment that he might be permitted to return if he stays sober for six months. Meanwhile, he is placed in charge of two important cases, including the serial killer of abused children. Christine's story alternates with the other two as she sits confessing to a priest. Her tale plays a pivotal role in the lives of the other two.

This is the author's fourth novel, each superior reading. His complex stories and descriptions of South Africa are exceptional, his characters unusual and graphic, his works top-notch. Like his previous efforts, Devil's Peak is highly recommended.

If someone had asked me if I wanted to read a "cop" story that takes place in South Africa, I may have "passed" on it. What a loss that would have been! This is one the best I've ever read.

First book I've read by this author and I will be reading them all. Action is fast paced and you have to put the book down and take a respite. Not for the faint of heart. When's the movie coming out will automatically be the question once you have finished this book. Principal character, Griesell, rivals Ian Rankin's Rebus. An alcoholic detective, an avenging former Stasi trained African freedom fighter taking out his wrath on pedophiles, a beautiful call girl, and a Colombian drug lord all come together in a very well crafted suspense yarn. Through the book you are aware or suspect that things are not as they seem and the author jumbles the present with the past and the future but there is no confusion, only clarity. Meyer keeps you guessing until the very end.

Very few histories of this depth and detail can sustain 500+ pages and keep the reader as engaged as though s/he were reading a thriller. This book is one of them.

Some of Martin Meredith's talent is in describing the main characters. Portraits of Cecil Rhodes and Paul Kruger are masterpieces. His other talent is describing the settings for instance, the respective cultures of the settlers, the freewheeling diamond/gold rushes and the devastation of war. The marvelous descriptions sustain the reader through the dry but important financial dealings, military maneuvers, and legal complexities.

There are very few women in this book. Queen Victoria gets a few mentions, as does a female novelist, Paul Kruger's traditional wife and a stalker attracted to Rhodes. The plight of the Boar women left homeless and confined in camps is addressed, but there is nothing of the native African women. Hopefully future historians will explore the lives and roles of women in this period.

Two things about the history of South Africa are striking. One is how a very small number of people in key positions wanting war made it inevitable that many would suffer its devastating consequences. The other is the total racism of the Bible quoting Boars and the aquiescence of the British government to their racist demands. The Archbishop of Canterbury endorses what becomes the apartheid system with the salve to his conscience that the future will undo it.

This is a sorry, sorry story. It is a story of the making and execution of a completely unnecessary war and a step by step degradation of a native population.

Journalist, biographer, and historian Martin Meredith presents Diamonds, Gold, and War: The British, the Boers, and the Making of South Africa, a thorough history of the Cape Colony in southern Africa from when the British took possession of it in 1806 to the founding of modern South Africa in 1910. The chronicle heats up in 1871, when diamonds were discovered in southern Africa - in tremendous quantities. A massive struggle between the British and the Boers for control of the region erupted. Meredith's narrative is heavily researched yet comes alive with colorful portrayals of personalities ranging from rakish prospector Cecil Rhodes (founder of the DeBeers company) who absconded with a fortune manipulating diamond and gold markets, to nationalists like Paul Kruger who fought tirelessly for their land and people, to native kings like Lobengula who were trapped amid the Europeans' struggle. A gripping chronicle of greed and destruction unleashed, and the repercussions for the nation of South Africa for the century to come, highly recommended for world history shelves.

This is one of the best histories of Africa written in modern times from one of Africa's greatest chroniclers. A vast history of Southern Africa from 1871 to 1911 this is an epic tale of greed, settlement and war set amongst some fo the most colorful peoples and characters of the period. Mostly the book examines the personalities of Cecil Rhodes and Paul Kruger and the clash of the English and the Afrikaners. But it is bigger in scope than that. Blending history covered elsewhere(The Great Anglo-Boer War and The Scramble for Africa: White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876-1912, The Washing of the Spears: A History of the Rise of the Zulu Nation Under Shaka and Its Fall in the Zulu War of 1879) it also has an incisive and balanced view of the history, without judgement, this is more a tale of tragedy, in the Greek form, than mere history.

History at its best in fact. The book moves from the discovery of diamonds near Kimberly in 1871, to the battle for the control of the 'road north' to modern day Zambia and the final destruction of Afrikaner freedom in the Boer War. All the while in the background is the developing race issues and multitude of diversity that would chance Africa forever in the 20th century.

For students of African history this will be a rivetting read and for those looking for an introduction to the history of Southern Africa they will be pleasently suprised.

Seth J. Frantzman

Martin Meredith's aptly named book recounts the events leading up to the formation of the Union of South Africa. The introduction provides a quick background about the coming of the Dutch and then the British to the Cape, the Great Trek, the formation of the Boer Republics, and the colonization of Natal. The story begins in earnest with the discovery of diamonds north of the Cape. It continues with tales of fortunes made and lost, of the coming of the mining magnates and the rise of Cecil Rhodes, of the subsequent discovery of gold in the Transvaal. We learn about the wars against the Zulus, the Tswana, the Basotho, the Ndebele, the taking of their land, the formation of the British South Africa Company, and the making of Rhodesia. We find out about Rhodes' thirst for power and the hubris that led to the Jameson Raid. Then came the scheming and deception that led to the Anglo-Boer War--a war that wrought terrible suffering, particularly upon the Boers. The British won the war only to give self-government to the Boer territories five years later. This was shortly followed by the formation of the Union of South Africa, essentially a union of the whites of South Africa. The `native' policies stipulated by this union would lead to increasingly devastating laws against non-whites, and particularly against blacks. The period covered by the book is filled with interesting events and interesting people. And because Meredith writes beautifully, the book reads almost like a novel.

I have read several books (though certainly not enough) about South Africa: 'The Great Boer War,' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; 'The Corner House,' by A.P. Cartwright; 'The Randlords,' by Geoffrey Wheatcroft; 'White Tribe Dreaming,' by Marq de Villiers; 'The Boer War,' by Thomas Pakenham; and 'The Covenant,' by James A. Michener, but until I got into my latest purchase, 'Diamonds, Gold and War,' by Martin Meredith, I was not entirely sure why I had become more than sympathetic to the old Boers and to Afrikanerdom.

Mr Meredith has given me all of the necessary reasons and, as a life-time admirer of the British Empire and its works, I was made more firmly angry and ashamed at what some of those ostensibly promoting the Empire had done to those to whom the British people should have been attached and who should not have been antagonised and attacked.

Cecil Rhodes's dream of colonising from The Cape to Cairo had great merit, especially if one recalls to what depths much of Africa has descended since Rhodes's day, but it was clearly a gross mistake and an unforgivable deed to betray his Cape Boer friend, Jan Hofmeyr, and his potential friends, President Paul Kruger of The Transvaal and President Marthinus Steyn of The Orange Free State. Rhodes comes out of the book badly, as do his co-conspirator, Dr. Leander Starr Jameson, the British Colonial Secretary, Joseph Chamberlain, and, worst of all, the British High Commissioner and Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Alfred Milner.

And, of course, there were the thousands of British soldiers lost (my wife's late grandfather, a wonderful man, volunteered for the Imperial Yeomanry, went enthusiastically to South Africa, but, thankfully, survived this shameful Imperial episode), and the thousands of Boer 'soldiers,' their wives and their children who suffered either in the war (to be more precise, the Second Boer War) or in British concentration camps. It was a disgrace and several passages in Mr Meredith's book moves one almost to tears. The description of the elderly President Kruger's leaving of Pretoria for eventual exile on the 29th of May, 1900, leaving his beloved but infirm wife, Gezina, is one such and merits partial quotation:

'After conducting family prayers in the sitting room, Kruger took his wife's hand and led her into the bedroom. Nobody spoke or moved. Outside the carriage horses snorted. Then the old couple reappeared. Kruger pressed her against him, then released her, looking at her intently, silently. Then he turned and walked out to the carriage. They were never to meet again.'

I am old enough to have known a number of honourable men who went off to fight 'Old Kroojer': they were misguided, misled and mistaken. That Jan Christian Smuts later became one of the Empire's best friends is a fine reflection of Boer qualities, but the bitterness bequeathed by such as Milner did no good to Britain nor to the longer-term benefit of South Africa or its inhabitants, black or white.

I can only touch on some aspects of a brilliant and well-written history: to get the drift in its entirety, you have to get the book which, with 569 pages, is wonderful value!

For a great rendering of the old Boer song, 'Sarie Marais,' sung in Afrikaans, go to - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrvEwv26WLc

[...]

After I was done reading this book I had to ask myself what has God called me to do? Why have I not heard it? Why would God call on Patrick to do so much and so many other people so little?
Patrick Atkinson, is able to do the work he is called to do because he does not fear death. Fear will stop us from doing the most simple things but not Patrick. A moving story about a man who only cares about the poorest of the poor. A story that brings faith and hope to those who doubt that there is pure love for those in our world who have nothing. This book is a definite read. Highly recommended for teens and adults. A wonderful book to read for book clubs.

Monica Hannan does a wonderful job with a truly inspiring story about a man who genuinely cares for our world's poor and abandoned children. Patrick Atkinson is a man who doesn't just talk about these children, he has done something we all wish we would have done. This story is well written and is most deserving of your time. If you want to feel that there is hope in this world, read this book now. You'll never regret it.

A well written, inspiring story. This follows the story of a man who gives his life to helping others, along with the story of one of the little ones that he aids. Atkinson recognizes that he can not change the world, yet he does manage to change the world of the children of the streets in Guatemala. He has found a way to make it possible for these children to dream of what they want to accomplish in life, and to work towards that goal through eduction.

Atkinson's belief is that most people want to help the disadvantaged children of the world. He provides a way for us to do that.

Starting with helping just a few children, Atkinson has seen his work expand to help and encourage thousands. The reader goes along on the journey and realizes that small acts can be like a pebble thrown in a pond. The resulting circle from the pebble can expand and expand.

I loved this book for the hope and inspiration it gives to the reader.

Why does it take a near death experience for one man, Patrick Atkinson, what takes a lifetime for others to realize? Knowing why we exist and what our path is. Follow a modern day spiritual journey, from continent to continent in search of one mission, serving children of the poor.

A sometimes wrenchingly vivid depiction by Monica Hannan of contemporary service to the least of our brothers, The Dream Maker is a heroic read for today's young people. Patrick's life journey challenges the definition of success we hold in the U.S. for our status oriented, college prepped youth. This is a great read for a freshman English class, youth groups prior to service trips, or high school seniors contemplating college. As the book notes, Patrick is now an international speaker. Imagine a speaking engagement (before demand makes it impossible) following a class/group read.

As an educator and parent of four young adults, The Dream Maker offers a real life paradigm shifting account. The book is a rare educational opportunity and couldn't happen in a more compelling and contemporary fashion.

Monica Hannan has written the story of one man who has seen the faces of the least of God's children and is doing something. It is a story that takes us behind the headlines and the predigested propaganda that we receive about the poorer nations of our world. It is a story of bitter poverty, horrible misuse of power as well as a story of the power of love and compassion and the changed lives that sometimes result from that care. It is not a rosy picture she gives us, but it is a real story of a man empowered by God to do something about the sorry state of the world in places where most of us would fear to tread. Even as I think about the title of Monica's book, the haunting lament of the man from La Mancha moves through my mind:

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

Most of us hunger to make a difference in our world. Patrick Atkinson is facing that hunger by placing his life on the line to meet the "unbearable sorrow" of the children who have no one else.

Read it and weep. And then stand up and join those who are dreaming the dream of a better life for those who have no hope.

The book contains over 300 magnificent photographs and illustrations of Egypt's monuments, treasures, archaeological discoveries and travelers. The reader will see the pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Faiyum, the Sinai, the Strait of Tiran, Nubia, Tanis, Esna, Luxor, Karnak, Philae, Dendera, Abu Simbel, Deir el-Bahri, the Valley of the Queens, Edfu, Kom Ombo and the Valley of the Kings, and will identify Ernesto Schiaparelli, Auguste Mariette, Jean-François Champollion and Howard Carter, among many famous discoverers. A history of this fascinating civilization, from ancient to modern Egypt, is included, as well as reconstructions of tombs, a bibliography and a glossary. For everyone to own.

i don't have this book yet. i have already told hubby that he's getting it for me for valentines. everytime i go into the bookstore, i take it off the shelf and spend about a half hour just leafing through it and looking at the pictures. if you are not sure whether you want to put out the money to buy this book, do yourself a favor and see if they have a copy at the bookstore and look through it. i know you'll be convinced that it's worth the price. i plan on ordering my book rather than buying it off the shelf. there are several fold out sections in the book and i want to make sure they are in good shape. the pictures of the temples and tombs in the book are great. also lots of maps. i admit, i'm an egyptology geek, but i think anyone who is interested in egypt will enjoy this book. if egypt is a hobby/passion, this book is a must have. i know it's a bit pricey, but you're payig for a book full of fantastic color photographs and you defintiely get what you are playing for. you get your money's worth with this book. my only regret is that i have to wait 6 weeks til i can have my copy in my hot lil' hands. :)

I will not add too much to what the other reviewers have opined on this magnificent book. It is gorgeously illustrated with superior photographs and interesting drawings and geographical overviews.

It is the perfect book to get anyone interested in the never-ending treasures to be found in Egypt. The large-format size and the several fold-outs only add to the many and varied pleasures to be found in this book.

Also, it is somewhat scholarly and has some very useful timelines and genealogies.

Highly recommended to all Egyptophiles and lovers of antiquity alike.

Tim Wingate, CANADA

I recieved this book for Christmas, and even though I haven't read it all the way through, I'm very happy with it. It has very brilliant pictures, and beautiful maps. I also like the foldouts.

I first saw this book after a four-week trip to Egypt, where our travels included as much as we could see between the relocated monument Ramses II built in honor of himself at Abu Simbel to the vicinity of El-Qahira (Cairo) and its monuments and museums. This book is the one I have chosen to "keep my memories fresh" and share them with others- it is that good, and more. The illustrations are brilliant; the informative text is thorough and illuminating without being pedantic or burying the photos and drawings. I only wish the Cairo Museum had books as good as this one! If you love Egypt, this book will live an active life on your coffee table.

I bought this guide before I left for Egypt this past spring and let me tell you, I was amazed at how useful it proved to be. I spent 5 months in Cairo and I took it with me every time I went out! It has all the information you need to visit the most popular places, as well as some of the most innaccesible areas. I was able to figure out bus schedules for trips to Maadi, Giza, Mohandeseen & Saqqara, as well as entertainment information and cultural advice. I learned from it how much I should pay for a taxi and where to find belly-dancing outfits at Khan-el-Khalili. Also, I used it to go around Islamic Cairo and visit some of the most wonderful mosques, all on my own. Their maps and nformation are invaluable! They even cover trips to the oasis, Sinai and places only an Egyptologist would know of! (I was amazed).
In addition, it has useful arabic phrases, guides to cities and ancient sities with descriptions and historical background. Really, get one before you leave! I used the Rough guide to Syria and it is just as good...

I just returned from a month in Egypt. I bought this book at a bookstore in Cairo and I can't tell you how amazing it is. It is so richly packed with information including walking guides through Islamic Cairo and the Cairo Museum. Brilliant book. The author knows Egypt inside and out and I cannot stress enough... if you are going to Egypt.. BUY THIS BOOK! Great maps, language section and very easy to reference in a hurry. The prices are a bit outdated but you will learn what is standard shortly after you get there anyway.

Overall I was quite pleased with this guide. It provided accurate information for transportaion details, hotels and restaurants and gave good basic introductions to the sites and cities, as well as what to expect in the culture. The city maps were accurate and the maps of ancient egyptian monuments were helpful and enough for me, though anyone with a serious interest in them will want to pick up something extra (the guide recommends titles). DOn't rely on the arabic section at the back - if you need to teach yourself any arabic for a trip you'd do best to buy an egytian arabic phrasebook as the rough guides section is small and can mislead your pronounciation.

While my companion and I had four guide books between us for our two week trip, the Rough Guide was the one that we constantly referred to. After a while, we didn't even look at the others, even though they had fancier and more colorful illustrations. By far, the Rough Guide gave us more, and more useful, information on the locations we visited than the others. The descriptions of the various neighborhoods and the sights along the way were most helpul in our planning for the one free day in Cairo that we had from our group tour. We also appreciated the discussion of customs and practices (the notes on baksheesh, for example, helped us gain a better understanding of a practice that many Americans found annoying). An added benefit: it weighed less than the fancier guides with glossy pages, so it was far easier to carry with us.

We had purchased both LP and Rough Guide for our Egypt trip this past April (2005). I was reluctant to get RG for two reasons: 1. I generally think LP's are better and am used to their user-friendly format. 2. RG's most recent edition was published in early 2003 and with all the recent uncertainty in the area, I was nervous to rely on information from 2-3 years ago. However, for this trip, the RG was far better! The main reason it was more useful than LP was that it contained much more detailed explanations of the sites/museums. This book contained maps to almost all the major sites/museums with corresponding letters to explanations of the hieroglyphics/objects within the sites/museums - Far more information than LP. Of course, it also had the usual practical information (hotels, restaurants, getting around, etc.) which we relied upon as well. If you want to choose just one book to take with you as an independent traveler, my advice is to take this one.

Purchased for our grandson, who is absolutely jumping for joy in learning so much history.

This is the first book that I have read with so many African-Americans described in it. I showed it to my son and he was amazed that so many African-American contributions were listed. He had not heard of most of the people in the book and was confused. My godfather leafed through the book and asked where I had gotten it from. I ordered him one for himself so he could read it at his leisure. He was so happy to receive the book that he started reading it immediately. This is an excellent book for everyone.

This 2nd edition is a good African-American history/cultural reference for anyone, regardless of ethnic/racial heritage. The book met almost all of my expectations. Only a few subjects/persons I sought information on were omitted.

This tome is fine for any home, school, or public library. A useful compendium and summary of black USA history. Not perfect, but highly recommended.

I wish I had this book when I was in grammar school. It was just a huge relief to open the package. I'm reading this thing like it's the best novel in the world and I've never been a history fan. If it wasn't English, it wasn't me but I'm reading about a new person once a day everyday trying to learn all the things that I didn't get to learn in grammar school, high school,and the first college I went to.

Geared to the young and people wanting to know more about the black heritage. A fascinating survey of the contributions of blacks to American society.Excellent book for the kids and adults alike.

Totally under-valued and under-appreciated... the story is told literally, with the camera and expressed in photo imagery.

I suspect in the years to come, this volume will become an investment- expensive to "price-less"...

i had been to ethiopia but,unfortunately,not to the omo valley
very magnificent photos to see cultural images of people of the omo valley even though in a book,i recommend everyone to purchase this item
definitely you will appreciate it

I hated to shell out the big bucks, but I've hit rock bottom and I admit I'm a junkie for books on places where I've been in tribal Africa. So I had to do it--and I'm glad I did.

It's hard to imagine having any books at all on tribal life anywhere in the world and not have this two-volume set. The photography and its richness of color as printed on the page just can't be topped. Is it just me, or are more people "discovering" the Omo Valley these days? It's in southern Ethiopia, where people still live much as they have for centuries--they still compete against nature for sustenance, tribes still fight each other for grazing land, women still wear goat skins and the men of some tribes still consider the most minimal of clothing optional. It is one of the few places in the world where tribal attire and body painting is the real, every-day thing--not something put on for tourists. Silvester represents it well in this set. And unlike so many coffee table books, in which any kind of meaningful narrative is catch as catch can, Silvester's narrative is informative and engaging--more anecdotal than a scholarly treatise.

Good news: no thumbnails in the back, where you have to go for captions. Captions are with the pictures, but I wish more of the pictures were captioned.

I was apprehensive about the second volume. The editorial review can be interpreted as meaning photos of the body paintings have been turned into abstract art. I didn't really want to pay for something like that. But again, I wasn't disappointed. The second volume is just photos, not photos reworked into abstract art. The art on their bodies already is abstract art. I swear, I have seen far less impressive paintings hanging in art galleries, commanding many thousands of dollars! Page after page, you will say aloud, "This is amazing!"

Some will hate Silvester's work. As we've seen in other reviews of books covering tribal Africa, there will always be some who seem embarrassed by all the nudity. They will angrily denounce such books as somehow "false," claiming such Africa no longer exists. Weird wishful thinking, I suppose, probably having something to do with internalized racism. This 2-volume set, then, is not for them. This photographer does not select for publication only those shots where an elbow or a leaf just happens to shield the viewer from prudish sensitivities. And that gives you a sense of honesty about the work. You don't feel manipulated as you might if you felt the photographer had an agenda or was trying to be gentle with you. You don't have a vague sense of wondering what else he doesn't want you to know.

The lives and culture of the Omo Valley peoples are so different from ours in the West that we can find them shocking at first take. Sylvester addresses this. "When you see how these people live, you can't help asking: 'What is a savage?' What do we understand by the term 'primitive'?" I wouldn't have used the word "savage," not even in the context of the question, because it might imply the people really are more or less savage unless granted some kind of special, sympathetic interpretation of the depiction. I would not want to remotely suggest they could be seen as "savage." (Perhaps the translation from Silvester's German wasn't the best in this instance.) In any case, once you spend time with these people--in his case, I think it was 9 trips over 3 years--the mystery and the oddities quickly become not so odd or mysterious. Should the photographer, then, produce a work that carefully considers Western unfamiliarity and shock, or a work that caters more to authenticity? He goes for the authentic.

Check out Giansanti's work, and Beckwith & Fisher. Those are great too. But don't come up short without this one, either. It will take you on a wonderful, close-up journey into the harsh but beautiful land, and the hard but beautiful lives of the people of the Omo Valley.

I had been looking for a book about tribal Africa, when I stumbled by chance upon this 2-volume set. I browsed the web in search of some pictures taken from the book and as soon as I laid my eyes on them, I knew this was the book I was looking for. Apart from the pictures, which are truly gorgeous (I can't honestly imagine anything better about the subject), this set is awesome in every aspect (size, quality of the paper, colors, binding, make-up, even the font chosen is very elegant - being Italian, I couldn't help noticing that the set has been printed and bound in Italy) it's very clear that the publisher has gone a long way to produce quality stuff, and not just another book on Africa. If you are remotely interested in anything African, this book is for you. Swept away by the beauty of some pictures, you'll probably end up, as I did, asking yourself questions about our own civilization and its alleged "superiority" over the South of the world. But this is another story.

This is a best vision of the people of the Omo Valley.
Ethiopia is a anknow contry with marvellous people.

I first came across this book in my local library. I was so enchanted by the different designs, that after tiring of renewing it, I have decided to order my own copy. I recommend it to any person interested in needlepoint, as well as global designs...

Must add my praise for this book. Gorgeous colors in clear graphic designs plus various colorways so you can see what would happen if you use different colors. I get a feeling of generosity from the authors who obviusly love their craft and want to share it.

In addition to bold and unusual patterns, Mary Norden has an extremely good eye for colors. I use patterns and parts of patterns from this book all the time.

There are many lovely needlepoint books with an emphasis on romantic or Victorian designs. This book consists of designs with Asian, African and Latin and Native American influences. The photographs are beautiful, the instructions and charts are clear, and the colors dazzling! Highly recommended for all needleworkers---knitters, cross stitchers, crocheters, etc.---not just needlepointers.

This book brings the beauty of the various international fabrics to your needlepoint canvas. It's not your grandmother's needlepoint - no cats or flowers, just bold and exciting designs with great color graphs and ideas. I highly recommend this book - I even ordered a copy for my sister although it was out-of-print.

Sefi Atta's first book is the story of two Nigerian girls and follows them as they grow up. Next door neighbours,in an affluent neighbourhood by the Lagos lagoon,Enitan and Sheri become fast friends.

Yet their growing up is overshadowed by the death of Enitan's brother which drives her mother to a "white-garment" church where the priests perform rituals and speak what sounds to a young Enitan like gibberish. Sheri, growing up in a polygamous home faces her own troubles, negotiating her way through the world, her budding beauty, both blessing and curse.

Sefi Atta deftly and engagingly takes us through the lives of these two girls against a backdrop of political instability, military coups, and male chauvinism in an African society caught between Western and traditional values.

If you enjoy a good story, well told, or are interested in contemporary African writing, or the lives and friendships of
women, then you must get this book

What I feel sets apart Everything Good Will Come from many other novels based on Africa is Sefi Atta's impeccable descriptive ability that will leave you yearning for more.

It does not matter that you do not know where Nigeria is, or that it's the most populated nation in Africa; by the end of the book, you will feel as you 'know' Lagos.

Ultimately, the author leaves me with my favorite type of painting - The daily hardships many African women face as they try to 'act like women should act', yet at the same time, be active citizens in their country.

A job well done! A Classic!

In panoramic colors, Sefi Atta has writen a novel full of life and excitement. Innocent, jaded, happy, sad, amusing, serious, alive and pulsing with the many rhythms of the Lagos that we have grown to love-hate, this story is not just the story of Enitan and the many characters in the novel, it is the story of middle-class Lagosians of every assortment. It is fiction, it is real.

You will experience the odyssey that life in postcolonial Nigeria is for many. However, at the core of the novel is a tone that rings universal. Every reader, regardless of cultural background, will recognize familiar themes that will stir the heart and animate the soul!

The particular edition I read had many typos. I am guessing this was editorial carelessness on the part of the publishers. Thankfully the novel was so good that, overall, such flaws seemed inconsequent.

Excellent!!!

In Everything Good Will Come, Sefi Atta has crafted a beautiful and important novel. We follow the main character, Enitan, as she comes into her own power and joy under the brutal political and social climate in Lagos. This book brims with gorgeous and vivid detail; it reminds the reader how a single voice, claimed and raised, has the power to change the world.

I wont rehash the book's content since that has been done already, but as I read this book (I just finished it today June 9, 2005), I could relate to it, the travails of the different characters and I identified with the pressure put on them by the expectations of the Nigerian society.

It made me step back a little and think about my similarity to the different characters at their different stages in life up till the closing moments of the book.

The author uses vivid imagery and yet leaves enough for the imagination. I would recommend this to anyone who loves to read about the Nigerian middle class experience.