Africa Books

This is the most beautiful book I have ever read. I normally don't read many biographies or autobiographies, but this one touched my soul. I laughed and cried with the author and her miraculous journey throughout her life. I live in Los Angeles and work at UCLA and could see and feel the atmosphere of her life here. The way she described the Carribean almost made me feel like I had lived there myself, although I have never been there. Her love and support for Sipho went beyond comprehension and is a rare thing nowadays. Ms. Siwisa James has been through so much on her life's journey and I wish her nothing but peace and happiness.

"The South Africa of His Heart" is a really great memoir that holds the reader's attention from the very beginning and doesn't disappoint at the end. I read the last few pages twice because I was so moved by the wonderful sense of satisfaction at the writer's life journey. And not all novels leave you with that feeling of completeness...with just a great ending. "Serendipity" is really apropos in the subtitle.

Though the central story is about an African-American woman and the lasting effect on her life by her marriage to a South African man in exile, it is not a novel geared to one race or sex. It would be unfair to say it's a novel that is for women or to profile it in any way as targeted to one group. I enjoyed it so much because it just spoke to my heart and anyone who has loved and lost love, or had joy and sadness in their life will enjoy it. And that's just about everyone!

I think this book proves that it's not just the rich and famous who have interesting stories to tell (as usually written by ghostwriters) in terms of autobiography. It really shows you that everyday people can often live interesting, exciting lives that are worth reading about. It was a fascinating story about a woman who had an ordinary, but at times, really extraordinary life. And the author, Davida Siwisa James, has a way of sharing events in her life that puts you right in the middle of what she is experiencing. There's a scene with a hurricane in the tropics where you can 'feel' the wind blowing! She has a true gift for words that are beautiful to read and very moving.

It's great to take a chance on a new novelist sometimes. This was a real treat.

Over the years, I have been acquainted with the work of this delightful writer through her various short stories, essays and articles on diverse topics. I have been eagerly awaiting her production of this marvelous work, and it was every bit worth the wait! Throughout this introspective book, the author's descriptive prose and melodic sentence structure serve to deeply involve the reader into the ups and downs and twists and turns of her life. This is definitely a rewarding read and I urge you not to miss it!

I enjoyed this book immensely. It was definitely a page turner. Many times I found myself not wanting to put the book down. The author brought to life the scenic locations of New York, London, Paris, the Caribbean and Los Angeles in a way I haven't read about in a long time. The storm scenes in the Caribbean made me feel like I was experiencing a hurricane for the first time. I was enchanted by the weekend in Paris. Being from Los Angeles I thoroughly enjoyed reading about familiar locations throughout the city. I especially loved the references to UCLA. Reading about Sipho's lasting impression on his homeland through Davida's email communications with his family and fellow countryman was educational indeed. It's nice to read that even when you come out of a life of difficulty (time in Philadelphia) you can turn your life around. It was just a marvelous uplifting story and I can't wait to buy her next book.

I spent five months studying in South Africa, and I certainly miss the food! This cookbook does a great job capturing the diversity of country - it's a great buy!

This cookbook does what many others have been unable or unwilling to do. It takes the reader on a senstive journey through South Africas beautiful people and the cuisine in a delightful pictorial way. Lehla is a great artist and a great chef. Lets hope she does many more books

Expertly compiled and wonderfully illustrated with watercolor drawings by Lehla Eldridge, The South African Illustrated Cookbook is a wonderfully imaginative compendium of recipes drawn from the culinary cultures of the Xhosa, Cape Malay, Zulu, English, Indian, Afrikaans, Portuguese, and new integrated South Africa. From Nontobeko's Steam Bread; Butternut Soup; Karen's Grilled Line Fish with Gourmet Smoortie; and Darling Evita's Dried Fruit Bobotie of Reconciliation; to Coconut Chicken; Jose's Pan-fried Fillets of Ostrich with Port and Cranberry Sauce; Langebaan Cinnamon Pumpkin; and Baked Pears in Red Wine; The South African Illustrated Cookbook offers mouth- watering, appetite satisfying dishes for every course of the family meal. This is a unique and highly recommended cookbook, ideal for multicultural dining clubs and ethnic cookbook collections.

Lehla eldridge's 'The South African Illustrated Cookbook' is a slim paperback volume that a friend sent me as a gift.
It nestles modestly between Delia Smith and Jamie Oliver on my kitchen shelf, those two enormous volumes (so difficult to read in bed) are not consulted as often or as lovingly.
I love South African food, the warmth of the colours of it, the melting sunshine taste of it in the mouth, and this book captures perfectly the bright informality of the African table.
Beautifully and humorously illustrated with watercolour impressions of people, markets, dogs and dishes, this is a must for anyone who enjoys the complete cooking experience from the first word of a carefully collected recipe to the last mouthful with friends and wine.
And you can read it in bed. Lehla Eldridge has produced a gem.

This is a wonderful book. It is full of the imagery and feelings that in turn, delight, amuse and sadden. Naomi Nye has compiled a collection of writers from various countries within the Middle East. Although the writers come from many countries and competing nationalities, there is a common commitment to peace. Since the poems are translated,rather than presented in the original languages, the reader does not have the benefit of the natural rhythms of the languages the poems were taken from. What the translations lack in terms of rhyme is more than made up by the poets' use of Metaphor. One poet talks about "drinking in the melancholy of morning". Another talks about being passed by trains with eyes looking back at you. The language is effective and persuasive. Many of the poems deal with loss. They deal with the loss of loved ones, the loss of time, the loss of relationships, but more importantly, they deal with the loss of basic human rights and something as basic as a homeland. The book has many fine paintings that supplement the text. They are all very well done and add to the feeling of the book. The reader of this book will not only read, but will also have an experience. All the senses except hearing will be involved. I recommend this book to anyone, particularly to Young Adults.

I bought this book from amazon.com, fell in love with it & wrote the following review for The Capital Times, Madison WI's afternoon newspaper:

That this exquisitely beautiful, painfully direct and ultimately joyful book, "The Space Between Our Footsteps,'' is published under the imprint of Simon & Schuster's Books for Young Readers is an example of how badly we adults need to learn the lessons we try to teach our children.

The poems and paintings of more than 100 writers and artists from 19 countries are loosely grouped by theme,without a condescending preface or explanations of how to feel when we read or view them...This book is an ideal gift for anyone old enough to read "The Diary of Anne Frank,'' and to know that just as, for Anne, life went on as war went on, so it does today. It is for anyone who thinks he or she understands the conflicts in the Middle East, and for anyone whose life needs a sudden rush of beauty.

(Lin Seagren teaches in Stoughton WI and for the UW-Extension.)

This book has room in its heart for the passions and longings of writers from all of the Middle East. It offers readers, in beautiful poetry, the longings for place, for a loved past, for a more secure future, felt by Lebanese, Syrians, Israelis, Turks, Palestinians, Iraqis, Saudis, Egyptians, and more. Meticulously designed and printed, it offers art from across the Middle East that illuminates these poems and helps us learn with our children important lessons about that part of the world.

We are living in a time where being Arab, Muslim, or Southeast Asian makes one a "terror suspect." In this age of fear and ignorance, it is more important than ever for educators and readers of poetry to take a look at Nye's touching portraits of Arab and Arab American life. If these poems reveal the beauty, intelligence, and vitality of Arab and Arab Americans, then -- to the seething reader from Denver, CO-- you may find Nye guilty of being truthful: All human life is precious, and all human beings are capable of exceeding our expectations.

I first fell in love with Nye's poetry through "The Words Beneath the Words" and recommend all of her works. Educators, activists, lovers of poetry, please read and share Nye's work. They are more important then ever in creating peaceful relationships for the future.

This book was like coming home for me. I am one of those people Ms. Campbell means when she says you need have no interest in Africa to enjoy her stories and suggestions. A friend gave me this book at my grandfather's funeral. Yes, it was very touching and insightful in light of his passing but even more so in light of my own life. I had wanted to try a new career for years. Her stories and simple steps helped me try. I'm buying copies for my family and friends!

I have used Ms. Campbell's books with high school and college students in World Religion classes. When parents called to ask me where they could buy "Spirit of the Ancestors" I knew I was onto something. This little book is teaching us in surprising ways. I won't say more--read it and treat yourself!

I heard Ms. Campbell speak in Los Angeles. Following a recent business trip, I had an opportunity to actually visit some of the African healers she writes about in her book, "Called to Heal."

The healers were very touched by Ms. Campbell's sensitivity and spoke of her generous help bringing several of them to the USA to expand their professional networks. "Spirit of the Ancestors" came about when one visiting healer said it was time for Ms. Campbell, "a modern American", to write about how she herself "works with the ancestors." They said "her approach is pure and crosses cultures. It belongs to everyone."

I immediately read the book and loved it! The stories are charming and authentic. I loved her close family and have tried some of the suggestions with my own children. Now they can't wait to tell me about their dreams and even listen to one another for "clues to the ancestors" that guard over them. My teenager is sharing the book with her friends and teachers.

The book is very touching, crosses not only cultures but I would add religion, education, ethnicity, and more. Buy it for your family and then have fun experimenting. It's a joy!

Susan Schuster Campbell speaks with a clear voice, sharing her African experiences through Western eyes. Americans have lost the vital connection with ancestors. Susan's book is full of personal stories and practical applications for reconnecting and building personal relationships with ancestral guides.

The African approach of contact with the ancestors complements religious and spiritual practices. In Spirit of the Ancestors, Ms. Campbell covers a variety of topics: 1)contacting ancestors; 2)ancestral dreaming; 3)following ancestral guidance; 4)doorway to the spiritual; 5)gifts of the ancestors; 6)the practice of ancestors. I have found this easy-to-read book helpful in my own shamanic practice and highly recommend it to anyone interested in deepening their own spiritual path.

Great and rapid service. Book was exactly as promised. We will definitely use this seller again.

As the previous reviewer already stated, Abraham Lincoln considered this book important and influential. Centuries later, and it has clearly stood the test of time, and should be considered a classic by any standard. James Riley's tale is one that has to be seen to be believed. Sold in to slavery, staved, Riley and his crew faced insurmountable odds, and beat every one of them. This is a must-read.

Travel back to the mindset of the early 19th century, when racism was the rule and God was thought to intercede on the behalf of white men shipwrecked in the midst of savage brown men. The first few chapters are hard to believe. However, if you assume that James Riley is honestly recounting what he believes happened to him, the story exposes the background of racist, Eurocentric, and religious bigotry that soaked American and European thought of that era.

Despite the difficult to swallow constant referrals to the general color of skin of each an every character Captain Riley encounters, as well as his unbelievable description of "savage" Africans as "orangutan-like" beasts, the book is a compelling read that you will not be able to put down. While Riley never overcomes his racism towards the darker Africans, the story reveals a transformation in his estimation of Arabs and Muslims which is instructive in our present era where Arabs and Muslims are denigrated and misunderstood.

If you love a book you cannot put down, this is the book for you.

I was surprised I'd never heard of this book, supposedly one of the books Abraham Lincoln considered influential. It is the true story of an American sea captain who is shipwrecked and taken prisoner, then enslaved, by Arabs. Through his ingenious bargaining and a leap of faith, he convinces and Arab trader to trade all of his goods for the captain and some companions from his ship. He convinces the trader to take them across the Sahara, which means not only braving heat, hunger and thirst, but fighting off would be thieves as well.

The captain promises that there is a reward, that there is someone willing to pay a ransom when they get across the Sahara. The problem is, this isn't true - the Captain knows no one in the city they are headed to. The Captain and trader have made a deal that if the ransom isn't paid, the crewman will be sold as slaves and the Captain will be killed. The Captain is a linguist and learns enough Arabic to converse and to learn. He relates the tale of what happened, which is a true page turner, and the stories he hears from the Arabs. While this is an old book with a few old expressions and some racial terms no longer in use, I think it's clear that the Captain is not at heart a racist; he saw people of all colors as people. While he didn't like slavery, it was the way things were, and he accepted his fate as a slave without railing against the institution itself. Rather, he documents what happens, and makes some observations. Overall, it's a very interesting read.

I'm a second grade teacher with 4 boys of my own at home. These "tales" are stories within a story. The author really captures teachers' ability to engage their students in storytelling. You must give these stories a try! Normally I do not care for "series", but these are great. I'm ordering a set to read with my students in small group guided reading.

This is our first experience with this author and this series and I must say, we are quite pleased with what we read here. In The Pirate's Plot, we meet Mr. Taylor (a new teacher) and his class...specifically Leo, the student who gets to choose the five special items for the tale being told here. The entire premise of Taylor-Made Tales is that this new teacher allows one student at a time to pick five items and he then tells a story that must include those five items! Leo loves soccer but is not feeling happy with how the new coach handles the practices, so blurts out in class that he wants to quit the soccer team (a very big decision for him).

When he's chosen to pick the items, Leo is sure that he can stump Mr. Taylor...he chooses a pirate ship, a huge hunk of cheese, a six toed cat, a brass key and a mop. To his surprise, Mr. Taylor begins to weave an excellent tale about Tom a ten year old boy who wants something more than daily routines and roast on Sunday...a boy who longs for sometime different and who thinks he might find that in Barbados...so he stows away on the Adele and gets much more than he bargained for...sure he gets adventure but he also gets much, much more!

It seems that the books in this series are written in such a way that the story is divided between the Taylor-Made part and the "classroom" or real time events that include Leo and the rest of the class. The story takes a week time to tell and the students must work to earn more bits of story time, so it's both a creative process and a motivating one, something that keeps the students excited about learning. There is a certain excitement for young readers to watch for the items selected and see how and when they come into play in the story. One of the interesting things about the creation of the Taylor-Made tale is that the author manages to weave together Tom's adventure and lesson therein with Leo's soccer dilemma, creating an entertaining story AND a lesson for Leo that the entire class can appreciate, learn from and be entertained by!

Overall I give The Pirate's Plot five stars. It would make a fine read aloud...but I think its strength is in young readers who have made (or are just making) the transition from picture books to chapter books. There are a few illustrations to help the story along and it's slightly more complex than most beginner chapter books in that the reader has to work out the division of "real time" story (about Leo, the class and Mr. Taylor) and the story...the text makes the division clear (bolder text for the Taylor-Made parts), but for readers who have not experienced such a division in their reading, it makes for an interesting reading experience. The story overall is entertaining and well done, its not heavy handed in the message that Mr. Taylor creates about drilling and practice in the story which Leo can draw from to help him solve his own dilemma with his future on the soccer team. I'd recommend it heartily for readers ages 5-8 as a read aloud and ages 8-10 as a read alone book and highly recommend it for beginning chapter book readers.

Great book...my 6 year old sat and listened to the entire book in one sitting. Really caught his attention and kept it! He can't wait to read more of this series!

It has all the elements of a great story, but in a way that is accessible to a young child. Decent lesson. My son and I enjoyed reading this together.

As we begin to see this earth suffer the effects of our presence here, these poems -with roots in every continent- speak together of this planet as a sacred place. One perhaps we might still come to treat well. Read a few aloud, sit in your garden this spring and read a Navajo corn song, stir, stir ... This is well researched, carefully and lovingly translated; it should accompany any studies of native cultures worldwide.

Back in the 1970s I discovered this book. It became my companion. Its rich poetry, its multitudes of rituals and images have inspired my batiks and paintings for the past thirty years. What variety and life!

I was introduced to this book by a fiction writing teacher to whom I'll always be grateful. It's a fresh, ingenious selection of ritual and sacred poetry from around the world, translated with irreverence and raw attitude. If you're used to the vague New Age-isms of what usually gets thought of as "ritual" and "sacred," pick this up and get a jolt--Rothenberg finds incredibly powerful language in places where it wouldn't occur to most people to look, and he's not afraid of crudeness and hilarity. Amazing stuff. A friend of mine has worn out copies of both the first edition and this one, and I don't blame her.

Technicians of the Sacred was compiled by Rothenberg after attending two 1964 readings of "Primitive and Archaic Poetry" at The Poet's Hardware Theater and the Café Metro in New York city. Intrigued with the deep intuition of these works, Rothenberg decided to collect poetry, songs, and chants from around the world.

Rothenberg's intention was not to focus on any one particular aspect of the sacred but merely to compile material that was available in English and the book's organization directly reflects this lack of apparent direction. Works are subdivided into nine sections: Origins & Namings; Visions & Spells; Death & Defeat; The Book of Events (I); The Book of Events (II); Africa; America; Asia; Europe & The Ancient Near East; and Oceana. Having material from the first five sections more or less focused around a specific theme while the remaining five sections reflect a geographic focus the work feeling a little thrown together and disorganized.

This disorganization is further reflected within each section, where there is everything from modern poetry and prose through traditional songs and chants to ancient pictographs and artwork. Moreover works from individual cultural groups are not placed together but dispersed throughout each section.

That the work only reflects English translations is also somewhat problematic. A Commentary section at the back of the book explains how Rothenberg came across each work offering explanations about the themes and topics within a particular piece. However, more often than not, these notes did not describe how the piece was translated. This lack of information would be particularly useful as Rothenberg states that the translations vary from literal to very free. This book does contain a number of interesting and useful pieces. Rothenberg has chosen a good mixture of poetry from a variety of different sources, not just the most accessible and he illustrates poems from the Paleolithic through to modern times. Moreover, this book contains some very interesting and intriguing transitional pieces reflecting Christian religious teaching modified into traditional forms. Thus, despite some very irritating and distracting organizational problems, this book contains some very valuable information. This information will likely be of use to those wishing to gain insight into aspects of the sacred in general or those wanting insight into the belief systems of particular cultures. Nonetheless, the apparent lack of organization of these pieces make this book an unlikely candidate as a classroom text.

In this day and age it's nigh impossible to get a child away from the TV, what with a bazillion channels, cartoons coming out of a lot of them, always on. Then there are video games galore. Star Wars Battlefront, Halo, who knows what else. Then, of course, there are toys, which are all high tech these days, but even the ones that have been passed down through the years, take up you little one's time. Not to mention little friends who want your precious to come out and play. Add all that up and what chance does a CD of Timeless Folktales from Around the World have of getting some serious listening?

Almost none, one would think, but that's not true. Yes there is no video, no whizz bang, slap dash, shoot 'em up, faster than the speed of light travel on this CD. Only stories here. Wonderful stories that will open your child's imagination, take her to a place she could never go in front if that TV, even if she does have a controller in her hand.

So how do you get your little one to listen. Just before bed, that's when. When your darling is snug under the covers, that's when she can really get into the Spider Anansi, the Trickster and how he gets tricked by the Turtle. Or maybe she would identify with the poor Selkie Bride or The Boatman's Howling Daughter.

There are eight delightful tales on this CD, perfect to play just before dream time. After all there is a lot more to live than TV and Video games, so why not open your child's mind to the world of imagination. Get here her started here, you won't be sorry.

Reviewed by Captain Katie Osborne

"Tell Me a Story" is a beautiful gift to the world. This playful journey includes beautiful, classic multicultural folktales from around the world. They include:

A Sense of Theft - A woman falls in love with baked goods and a baker accuses her of stealing the warm scent of baked bread.

Anansi and Turtle's Feast - A story of two friends who visit each other's homes for dinner.

The Selkie Bride - A Scottish fisherman falls in love with a seal woman who he discovers on the shore.

Searching for Fear - A tale of a raccoon who is fearless and goes on a journey to find out what it feels like to be afraid.

Two Frogs from Japan - A tale adapted from an original Japanese Folktale.

The Clever Girl - A tale adapted from a Czechoslovakian folktale called Clever Manka.

The Rabbit on the Moon - An Indian story from the Jataka Tales.

The Boatman's Howling Daughter - A girl with seven pet bear cubs goes on an adventure and escapes from danger.

The stories are read by Lori Ada Jaroslow, Rick Hall, Lauren Tom, Charlayne Wood-ard, Jack McGee, William Thomas, Poppy Champlin and Kathleen Wilhoite. The titles are adorably read by Eva Hall and Ruthie Hall giving this CD an angelic quality.

Each story has its own personality, humor and wit. The stories are carefully performed and are beautifully written in a way that begs for them to be read to an audience of eager listeners. You can almost imagine these tales being told around a campfire.

I especially loved the story of the raccoons and the story of the Selkie woman is quite beautiful. Pianist Laura Hall weaves her musical magic through the stories to enhance the exciting stories with an ethereal beauty. This is a CD for any age and can be enjoyed in the afternoon, evening or anytime you need to escape from the world.

A Rare Discovery!

~The Rebecca Review

Wonderful and hypnotic is what I would call this. The first story I played for my two girls (6 and 8) in the car on the way to school. It was the first time they ever made it the whole ride in total silence. After just the FIRST story, they begged for me to play it again, but it was time for school. When I picked them up, they asked right away. So So this is what we have done the last three days; listen to a new story on the way to school. I'm only on the third, The Selkie Bride. My oldest daughter rushed into school and immediately began telling the tale to the first friend she ran into.

I can't say enough good about this. The children are captivated and it provides great discussion topics, for example, after the SECOND time we listened to A Sense of Theft, I asked my daughters what they think the judge felt about the case against Zena. I, myself, had to run errands today and listened to the rest of the tales. The depth, the humor, the underlying celebration of the human spirit, all in such clever packages is something I will always enjoy bringing to my children.

This review refers to "Tell Me A Story: Timeless Folktales from Around The World"(CD)

So, one of the really cool things about writing reviews at Amazon is that every once in a while, I will receive a book from an Author or publisher in hopes of a review. I don't review every single one I receive, but every once in a while I get one that I not only can't wait to share with Amazon book shoppers, but as in this case, one that I can share with my entire family. I received this one from producer of this fine CD, Amy Friedman, and I'd like to say thanks so much, for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

I took this one with me on my errands outing the other day, and popped it in my CD player. First off all I became so enthralled with these marvelous stories that I was glad I was alone and didn't have anyone with me chit chatting as I listened.Although I am sure any listener would be under it's spell as well. The other thing is that my errands took much longer then anticipated as at each stop, I couldn't get out of my car until I finished the story I was listening to.

The title says much about this book. The readers are professional), will tell you the stories and you cannot help but to fall into a trance by their lulling and often animated voices. These great folktales take place in all different parts of the world and the readers capture the personalities of the people or animals, the accents, the fun and the lessons learned exquisitely. The stories each are not only a joy to listen to, but will leave you with some kind of moral or life lesson learned in a entertaining way. These tales transcend age and time, and offer a glimpse into various countries and cultures that will leave the reader a little more enriched.

There are 8 tales ranging from about 5 to 13 minutes. Well over an hour to get lost in. Although this is classified as a children's book. I have to say that whatever your age, you will enjoy these stories. I even think, the very young will get something out of these tales. Only one,"The Boatman's Howling Daughter", an American folktale may not be suitable for the very very young, as there is some violence(think something akin to Peter Pan and the Pirates). Among some of the other tales, I really enjoyed "A`Sense of Theft". A delightful tale of a poor woman on trial for "stealing" the wonderful smells from the Baker's shop. How will the judge handle this case. Also included is "Rabbit on the Moon", an excellent learning lesson, "The Selkie Bride", what will we do for love?, "Anansi and Turtle's Feast", "Searching For Fear", "The Clever Girl", and "Two Frogs From Japan", a tale that might make one think about where to find happiness.

The CD quality itself is excellent, with some great music to set the mood of the tales as well. It includes a booklet, with story synopsis and great illustrations and bios of the narrators.

Highly recommended. Take it in your car the next time you are chauffeuring the kids around. For once, the ride will be peaceful as the kids(and you), get swept away to far away lands and olden times. Makes a great gift as well, one that could be passed down from generation to generation, that is if anyone can actually part with it.

Hopefully this will be the start of a long line of the CDs, with more lovely tales to come....Enjoy the read.....Laurie

Often books about mother daughter relationships fall into two categories: over sentimental or sappy, or vengeful and dysfunctional. This book is in a totally different category all together - about two main characters who are human, who have had some bad cards dealt to them, but who both remained, well, human. Its also a travelogue as well, as the daughter is in India searching for her mother's past. The descriptions of modern India remind me a bit of the ones in Kipling's Kim, enough for the picture of the land, people, and problems to give you a good picture of the places she goes. Its also not a heavy or deep book - not that I haven't read many of those and enjoyed them, but sometimes one wants a good salad instead of a steak dinner. Its good, enjoy!

This is an exceptionally moving story of the discovery of self in relation to one's parents and the world at large. Anna and Rose tell their stories in tandem. At first seemingly alienated from each other's lives, it becomes clear, as events, both present and past unfold, that they are indeed closely bound to each other. I was deeply affected by the slow and tender exposure of the vulnerability of these two women. The author paints pictures that seem to unfurl in the mind's eye. Whether reading of the small town in Maine,where Rose writes her memoir, or the crowded streets of Varanasi or Calcutta, indelible images are created. Ms. Bacon has given us a story of great texture and content, a lesson in how judgement yields to understanding, empathy, and ultimately binding love. I urge you to read this book.

I loved this novel with so many levels of stories and characters. So often an exotic setting becomes more important than the characters, but although India is intriguing in Bacon's writing it does not override the story. For me the characters have remained vivid long after I finished the book, and I hated to see it end. My only reservation is that I couldn't make sense of the mother's behavior toward her children, which didn't seem to fit the interpretation her daughter comes to. But I like puzzling it over, and appreciate a novel that makes me do that.

I love this book! Such beautiful imagery, and a gripping story makes for a fantastic read. Her depiction of India is not overly romantic, but not pessimistic. I highly recommend this beautiful novel!

Here we find a man who is middle-aged ...
... and experienced with life - taking a part of his life to devote to bettering the lives of others. The altruistic Peace Corps helps him to reach that goal. In the process - he discovers bureaucracy of governments and the inefficiencies of worldwide networks of people down the smallest scale of community and survival. Some of the Peace Corp's elite do NOT (I repeat- NOT) appreciate his candor as he exposes the rather seamy side of international aid as it relates to human interaction at the most basic levels. If you are looking for a perception of the glories of the Peace Corps - this book is not it. If you would find interest in observing personal interaction with nature and communities that are totally foreign to what a successful life might hold in America - the Fred delivers with a raw and critical narrative. I think if Fred had the backing of a government grant to dress this book up with better pictures and maps - the book could attract a wider audience, but the people who get those kinds of grants are already wrapped up with professorships at elite universities and film budgets and advance fees from PBS. Fred casts a jaundiced eye at the system. For this - he is not welcomed among some of those the system favors. His observations could be helpful to anyone looking for a real flavor of volunteerism in Africa. As Fred notes - it is good to volunteer - but it is also good to do so with your eyes wide open.

I am recommending this book to anyone who is interested in Peace Corps. I knew the author while training in the same program, but I was stationed in a different county and experienced many similar trials and tribulations. I hope that this type of experience in the Peace Corps might not disappear even as expatriot Americans increasingly worry about security, the Equitorial rain forest increasingly comes under threat, and Peace Corps focusses on areas outside of Africa.

I think this book represents a typical white American male experience with the Peace Corps in Africa. Mr. Pitts was in rural development, which is typically based further from major cities and towns than other Peace Corps roles. He does an excellent job at displaying a range of emotions typically from culture shock and isolation in the beginning to a greater appreciation of his host culture. This seems to be an honest account without too much romanticzing, although it is often hard to not get nostalgic when volunteers look back on their service. Prospective volunteers can learn from Mr. Pitt's experience to help them make important judgement calls.

Things Are Different In Africa is the personal account of Frederick Edward Pitts life in an equatorial village located deep inside the Congo for almost a year. Pitts describes in vivid detail his dangerous encounters with animals, risky skirmishes with robbers, dealings with corrupt cops, and more. He also describes the beauty of the Congo, as well as an African culture that can evoke laughter, frustration, and anger. Pitts also describes a motorcycle crash in the jungle some 360 miles from the nearest medical care, as well as being drawn into political unrest, city violence, and eventual evacuation out of the Congo to neighboring country near the Sahara desert. Strongly recommended reading, especially for armchair travelers wanting to know something about the culture and geography of far flung countries of the world, Things Are Different In Africa is a compelling read revealing a unique, sometimes irreverent personal journey that left the author with a greater understanding of life in a vastly different culture on the other side of the world.

I don't usually like to spend nineteen dollars for a paper back, but
I'm sure glad I did. I was totally surprised at the frankness of THINGS
ARE DIFFERENT IN AFRICA, the way it told the story without any regard
for political correctness, and how nobody was spared (not even the Peace
Corps). I liked the descriptions of the villages, the people, the
contryside and the rainforests, but even more I liked the way I was taken on
an emotional ride that ranged from anger to laughter, anxiety to
relief, understanding to frustration. Anyone who wants a highly informative
view of the Congo and its culture, told with straight up language,
cannot go wrong with this book.