The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh

 

Summary:

 

Having drawn comparisons to Gone with the Wind and Out of Africa, The Fever Tree is a page-turner of the very first order.
  In London she was caged by society.
In South Africa, she is dangerously free.

Frances Irvine, left destitute in the wake of her father’s sudden death, has been forced to abandon her life of wealth and privilege in London and emigrate to the Southern Cape of Africa. 1880 South Africa is a country torn apart by greed. In this remote and inhospitable land she becomes entangled with two very different men—one driven by ambition, the other by his ideals. Only when the rumor of a smallpox epidemic takes her into the dark heart of the diamond mines does she see her path to happiness.   But this is a ruthless world of avarice and exploitation, where the spoils of the rich come at a terrible human cost and powerful men will go to any lengths to keep the mines in operation. Removed from civilization and disillusioned by her isolation, Frances must choose between passion and integrity, a decision that has devastating consequences.   The Fever Tree is a compelling portrait of colonial South Africa, its raw beauty and deprivation alive in equal measure. But above all it is a love story about how—just when we need it most—fear can blind us to the truth.   

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 432 (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio

Publication Date:  April 4th 2013 by Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam 

 

When I first saw the cover of The Fever Tree I was blown away and I have to say that each of the different are equally as stunning as this one which is the edition that I read. So I was so excited when this was selected for my book club's book of the month.

 

I love reading about South Africa so as soon as I saw this one I knew I had to read it. It isn't very common to find a lot of historical fiction set in South Africa so this one was a rare treat and shows that there are more and more authors adopting the theme of historical fiction set there as well as other places in Africa which is a nice change. I think Africa as a whole is a great place to write about and offers that sense of adventure many readers are looking for as well as reading about somewhere new and different.

 

Beginning in England in the 1880's we're introduced to our main character Frances and her soon to be husband Edwin and follow the circumstances that lead to these two distant cousins to marry, immigrate to South Africa and begin their lives together in a tumultuous time in the country's history.

 

I thought that the plot was very good. I loved the various settings in the novel. From Frances's childhood home in England to the month long boat trip to Capetown and finally living in South Africa I was completely enthralled with the story. I loved how realistic the places were, the plot, and the characters all turned out to be and I loved how the author aptly captured the time period and the ruggedness of the country.

 

I loved how this was not only a journey spanning continents but a personal journey for Frances as she comes to terms with her fathers death, being offloaded into a one sided marriage, being forced to move to a new country, falling in love with a man who wasn't her husband, betrayal and forgiveness. Frances definitely wasn't the easiest character to love. She's deeply flawed and self centered and definitely not prepared for living off the land in South Africa and having to learn to do the things she once had servants back in England for. However despite her selfishness towards her husband and others I felt for her. She truly was a victim of circumstances beyond her control in a lot of ways but I for one didn't agree with her affair before marrying Edwin.

 

Edwin was a great character but I wish we knew more about him. I wish the author would write a second book but this time telling the story from his point of view. He was a hard worker and a political man but he loved the people regardless of colour his duties as a doctor made him see everyone as equals. I loved how strong he was and he did have to put up with a lot but he made his own mistakes as well. The fact that the characters were battling their own demons made them very lifelike and that what really got to me. 

 

The depictions of how hard life was for everyone during this time in the country's history was amazingly vivid and I felt as if I were watching the tale unfold on the big screen. There was a lot of corruption, greed and betrayal happening not just with the main characters but with the powers that be in the country overall. I really enjoyed this glimpse into the past and am so glad that the author wrote such a wonderful piece of historical fiction.

 

Ultimately The Fever Tree was a story of love, loss and forgiveness and showed both characters coming into their own and learning to put differences aside and truly grow as individuals and as a couple even if fate hadn't dealt them the best hand.

 

Overall, I absolutely loved The Fever Tree and it's now one of my favourite books not only of 2013 but of all time. For me The Fever Tree was the whole package with great realistic characters, vivid descriptions and a unique back drop that is not often found in this genre. The writing swept me off my feet and the author's writing was fresh and new. I have to say that for this being the author's debut novel I am totally blown away and I can only hope and cross my fingers that the author continues to write historical fiction set in Africa because she has a real gift for it and you can tell there was a lot of research that had gone on in the writing process and it really paid off and I can see myself re-reading this time and time again in the future. It's just one of those stories that really resonated with me.

 

I would highly recommend this novel to all fans of historical fiction who are looking to read about a time and place that is under-represented in the genre and looking for something new and the author is definitely a fresh new voice in the genre.

 

I read this book for the following reading challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

2013 Historical Reading Challenge

2013 Around the World Challenge

Loved It!
★★★★★

To "Like" Jennifer on Facebook CLICK HERE

To "Follow" Jennifer  on Twitter CLICK HERE

To become a "Fan" of Jennifer  on Goodreads  CLICK HERE

To visit Jennifer's Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 

The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara, Susan McClelland

 

Summary:

 

"The astounding story of one girl's journey from war victim to UNICEF Special Representative."

As a child in a small rural village in Sierra Leone, Mariatu Kamara lived peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Rumors of rebel attacks were no more than a distant worry.

But when 12-year-old Mariatu set out for a neighboring village, she never arrived. Heavily armed rebel soldiers, many no older than children themselves, attacked and tortured Mariatu. During this brutal act of senseless violence they cut off both her hands.

Stumbling through the countryside, Mariatu miraculously survived. The sweet taste of a mango, her first food after the attack, reaffirmed her desire to live, but the challenge of clutching the fruit in her bloodied arms reinforced the grim new reality that stood before her. With no parents or living adult to support her and living in a refugee camp, she turned to begging in the streets of Freetown.

In this gripping and heartbreaking true story, Mariatu shares with readers the details of the brutal attack, its aftermath and her eventual arrival in Toronto. There she began to pull together the pieces of her broken life with courage, astonishing resilience and hope.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 216 pages (Paperback)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print & E-book

Publication Date: September 12th 2008 by Annick Press

 

This was my third read of the year and for some reason it has taken until now for me to finally get around to reviewing it although I do have some suspicions as to why this is the case. I don't know about other book bloggers out there but when it comes to me writing a review for a work of non-fiction especially an autobiography or biography I find it difficult to pick apart a persons life and over the last 15 months of blogging I've learned that sometimes you have to look past that fact and only focus on the way the person's story is told.

 

When I discovered this book on a list I knew I had to read it. It fit into my 2013 Around the World Reading Challenge, it's an autobiography, and it was hailed as international best selling read. Now I'm not one that pays attention to best seller lists but given the subject matter I quickly wrote down the author's name and the book title and was on my merry way to my local library branch which luckily had it and started it as soon as I got home.

 

 Mariatu Kamara was a perfectly normal little girl until one day the war in her home country of Sierra Leone robs her of her hands which were brutally hacked off by a soldier when she was 12 years old which lead to her life never being the same again.

 

Despite the odds being stacked against her she rises above all her trials and tribulations including coming to terms with the molestation she faced not long before her attack and the subsequent pregnancy that followed and eventually the death of her first born son 9 months after he died and not long after she turned 14. Poverty, disease and fear were constants in her life but through relief efforts she was able to escape her homeland and make a life for her self here in Toronto, Canada.

 

Her story was told with so much heart, honesty and bravery I was left wondering how people can be so cruel to one another at times and yet at other times come forth with exemplary acts of kindness, love and selflessness. While her story was a tough one to read I think it is one that is a must read. It will break your heart and restore a bit of your faith in humanity afterwards a bit to know that there are people out there that are working to make the best out of a horrible situation.

 

Though it's hard for me to say that I enjoyed reading about Mariatu's journey so far I can say that I am very glad that I picked it up and read it. It's opened my eyes a little more to the things that take place in this world of ours that can be both harsh and beautiful at the same time. My one hope is that Mariatu comes forth with another book soon to update us on her journey since the publication of The Bite of the Mango. Mariatu is just one of many people who lived through these or similar circumstances and though she is an inspiration you can't forget the countless others like her out there struggling, waiting and fighting for a better day.

 

I would highly recommend this book to everyone and I do know that this is actually on some reading lists for schools already and that makes me happier than you can imagine. The first step towards moving forward is educating the younger generation. This book is written so that young adults can read it as well as grown ups. While I didn't give it the highest rating it was still extremely well worth the read.

 

Liked It!
★ ★ ★  1/2

 

 

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 

 

 

My Road to Kenya: A Story of Faith, Hope and Democracy in Action by Jack W. O'Leary, Mary Clare Lyons

 

Summary:

 

Over a period of 17 years, Jack refurbished and built hospitals, clinics and orphanages, and undertook other humanitarian projects in Kenya. An archbishop, an environmentalist and an AIDS activist are only a few of the heroes, who stood up against a ruthless dictator and corrupt government, in Jack O'Leary's “My Road to Kenya”. The archbishop spent 40 years fighting for democracy, and in 2011 his efforts were rewarded when the new government ratified a new constitution.

The book mostly consists of happy memories of fascinating people overcoming obstacles. In one town a hospital was built that resulted in an 80% decrease in the infant mortality. On safari, a game warden warned Jack if he got out of his vehicle one more time he would shoot him. His stories of adventures with his friend Stephen are both humorous and uplifting.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 148 pages (E-book)

Source: NetGalley ARC

Publication Date: September 2012 by WestBow Press

 

This is the personal accounts of both Jack O'Leary and Mary Lyons and their contribution to the people of Kenya. As many of you have probably seen I'm trying to read more non-fiction in 2013 so when I came across this one on NetGalley I had to give it a shot.

 

I'm not too sure what I expected to get out of my reading from the book other than that I would learn a bit about two people who work very hard to give to the people of Kenya. While I did learn about the efforts of both Jack O'Leary and Mary Lyons I felt that the book lacked a bit more of a personal touch.

 

For me, when I read a memoir like this I want to not only learn about their contributions to society but about them as individuals. In this memoir I felt that My Road to Kenya lacked a lot of the human aspect from the authors. While I really enjoyed their various stories about their time in Kenya and the good deeds they've done I know very little about Jack and Mary outside of their charitable contributions and that really bothered me.

 

I completely understand that the author probably wanted the focus to be more on sharing their experiences but I felt that learning who Jack and Mary are would have gone a long way to understanding how and why the road they were on led them to become so involved with the people of Kenya.

 

Despite this fact though, I thought that the book was well written and I enjoyed the fact that there was a certain lightness to it. It was not bogged down by dry writing but was written in a very easy to read manner. What I appreciated most was the humour with which both Jack and Mary told their numerous stories about their interactions with friends, family and strangers as well as how much passion they both have for what they do it is nothing short of inspirational.

 

Overall, this was a good little memoir based on two peoples experiences in terms of their charitable contributions that are being used to better the lives of the people in Kenya. I would recommend this to everyone especially those readers who want to read a memoir but don't want one that is too long and too time consuming to read.

 

* I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review. I was not compensated in anyway to give a positive review and all thoughts and opinions herein are my own.

 

I read this book for the following challenges:

 

2013 Around the World Reading Callenge

2013 150+ Books Reading Challenge

 

Liked It!
★ ★ ★ 1/2

 

To visit the My Road to Kenya Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Indie Bound CLICK HERE

 

Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War by Leymah Gbowee, Carol Mithers

 

 

 

Summary:

 

In a time of death and terror, Leymah Gbowee brought Liberia's women together--and together they led a nation to peace. As a young woman, Gbowee was broken by the Liberian civil war, a brutal conflict that tore apart her life and claimed the lives of countless relatives and friends. As a young mother trapped in a nightmare of domestic abuse, she found the courage to turn her bitterness into action, propelled by her realization that it is women who suffer most during conflicts--and that the power of women working together can create an unstoppable force. In 2003, the passionate and charismatic Gbowee helped organize and then led the Liberian Mass Action for Peace, a coalition of Christian and Muslim women who sat in public protest, confronting Liberia's ruthless president and rebel warlords, and even held a sex strike. With an army of women, Gbowee helped lead her nation to peace.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 256 page (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: September 13th 2011 by Beast Books

 

A couple of weeks ago I was at the library and I just so happened to stumble across Mighty Be Our Powers sitting there on the shelf. Many of you know that I'm attempting to read more non-fiction this year and that I'm participating in an Around the World reading challenge in the Goodreads.com group Around the World (In 52 Books). I didn't complete my challenge last year but I'm planning to this year so when I saw that this book was set in Liberia I knew this would be my read for that country.

 

I'll be honest with you, while I had heard of the African nation of Liberia prior to my picking up Mighty Be Our Powers I didn't know too much about the country and I had no idea that it had suffered a brutal civil war that waged on and off for about two decades. However, by the time I finished this remarkable read by Leymah Gbowee about her experienced during that turbulent time in her country's history.

 

In this powerful memoir Leymah describes her life before, during and after the war in Liberia. The account starts off not long before the war started when she was just a teenager starting college in the 1990's.  She describes the care free life she lived before she moves on to retracing her life from after the war started and her life changed dramatically.

 

At 19 years of age Leymah found herself pregnant and in an abusive relationship with an older man that was taking advantage of her youth and her naivete. Battling feelings of hopelessness and loneliness she takes the first step to better her life for herself and her little ones by leaving their father and moving home where after some time she begins the rough journey of piecing her life back together again.

 

Leymah Gbowee's memoir is an inspiring read. Amidst a brutal civil war with many cards stacked against her she rises above many adversities to become a woman who leads others like her in the fight against poverty, rape and most of all the fight to bring international attention to the fact that women and children are often the ones who suffer most in times of war.

 

I learned a lot about the country of Liberia and about this one woman's experience during the civil war that struck her homeland. The writing of this memoir was easy to read, she told her story like it happened and didn't once make her role in various organizations seem like she was the most important person. There was not one ounce of vanity in her depictions which I truly appreciated.  I loved the fact that while she focused on her role as a leader that she is just one of many who are making strides to better the lives of her fellow Liberians and that they not she, are the unspoken heroes of the war.

 

This book definitely sparked an interest in me to learn more about the people. culture and history of Liberia as well as the politics in the country. It also has me interested in checking out some of the NGO's that are in the country that are working to re-establish it's infrastructure and better the lives of the people.

 

I highly recommend this memoir to anyone wanting to learn some amazingly hard life lessons from a woman who thought that she wasn't good enough to raise her own children to leading thousands of women. It's an inspirational read and while she does talk about her faith in the book she only does it in passing and doesn't force her religious beliefs upon the reader which is another thing that I liked about reading her memoir. If you want to learn a little bit and broaden your horizons I suggest you check this one out and it is one of the best memoirs I've ever read.

 

I read this book for the following challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

 

Loved It!
★ ★ ★ ★★

 

To "Like"Leymah on Facebook CLICK HERE

To "Follow" Leymah Twitter CLICK HERE

To visit Leymah's Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via iBookstore CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Indie Bound CLICK HERE



The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #13) by Alexander McCall Smith

Summary:

In this latest episode in the beloved, best-selling series, the kindest and best detective in Botswana faces a tricky situation when her personal and professional lives become entangled.

Precious Ramotswe is haunted by a repeated dream: a vision of a tall, strange man who waits for her beneath an acacia tree. Odd as this is, she’s far too busy to worry about it. The best apprentice at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors is in trouble with the law and stuck with the worst lawyer in Gaborone. Grace Makutsi and Phuti Radiphuti are building the house of their dreams, but their builder is not completely on the up and up. And, most shockingly, Mma Potokwane, defender of Botswana’s weak and downtrodden, has been dismissed from her post as matron at the orphan farm. Can the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency help restore the beloved matron to her rightful position?

As wealthy and powerful influences at the orphan farm become allied against their friend, help arrives from an unexpected visitor: the tall stranger from Mma Ramotswe’s dreams, who turns out to be none other than the estimable Clovis Andersen, author of the No. 1 Ladies’ prized manual, The Principles of Private Detection. Together, Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, and their teacher-turned-colleague help right this injustice and in the process discover something new about being a good detective.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 272 pages (E-book)

Source: NetGalley ARC

Publication Date: April 3rd 2012

I first started reading the No. 1 Ladies' Detective back in the summer of 2010, shortly after the HBO show of the same name aired on television. A lot of you already know that I have a wee obsession with all things Africa so this series is my little escape to Botswana when I read it.

When I read this back in June, it had been a whole year since I had opened one of the books in this series and I was starting to miss Mma Ramotswe and the other colourful characters that Alexander McCall Smith so artfully writes into his novels.

When ever I read the series I feel like I'm coming home and this novel was no different from the others in that aspect. For me, I have certain authors that I resort to reading when I'm in a certain mood and when I read this one I needed a good old fashioned comfort read.

In this latest installment in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency we are once again brought into the comforting embrace of Mma Ramotswe.  In this book I got to meet up with my old friends Mma Makutsi, Phuti Radiphuti, Rra Matekoni and his faithful assistants at the garage he owns as well as being introduced to Mma Ramotswe's hero Clovis Anderson.

I know many people say that these books shouldn't be classed as mysteries because the "case" Mma Ramotswe solves are often pretty trivial but for me I just love the feeling these novels give me. This time around the mystery was close to home as one of Rra Matekoni's assistants is put in a delicate situation in which Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi and and Clovis Anderson get on the case and try to rescue him!

This one turned out to be even better than the previous book in the series which surprised me because I thought the series had peaked at the time I read the last one so I was pleasantly surprised to find that that was not the case. This one still had the homey feeling that all the novels have but it was nice to see the different characters backstories evolve because less face it after a certain amount of books in a series things can become a little stagnant. For me this one actually turned out to be the best book in the series (besides the first one) in my opinion and was certainly the most enjoyable. I can't wait to read the next book.

I think the direction the author has taken with the book is one that readers will like. At least I hope other do because I really did. If you haven't read the series and want a unique reading experience I highly suggest reading this series.

*I revieved a copy of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my FREE and HONEST review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I was in no way compensated for my review.

To "Like" Alexander McCall Smith on Facebook CLICK HERE

To "Follow" Alexander McCall Smith on Twitter CLICK HERE

To become a "Fan" of Alexander McCall Smith on Goodreads CLICK HERE

To visit Alexander McCall Smith's Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via ChaptersIndigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

Awesome, I loved it!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Afrika by Hermann Huppen

Summary:

Dark Horse proudly presents this gorgeously illustrated masterpiece by Belgian comics creator Hermann, available in English for the first time A misanthropic European expatriate, Dario Ferrer, acts as guardian of a Tanzanian wildlife preserve. Accompanied by Charlotte, a naive European journalist, Ferrer discovers a village under fire from mysterious agents of the foreign-backed government. Ferrer and Charlotte must fight not only to protect the preserve, but to expose government corruption - and survive to see another day. Born in 1938, Hermanns childhood was marked by WWII and the early need to earn a living on his own. He tried various professions and studied fine arts in Belgium, but he didn''t get into comic books until later in life when his first story was published in a magazine. In 1979 he started his first solo volume, Jeremiah, which he continues publishing today. He is known to be a hard-working, demanding writer constantly attempting new things. His works include Comanche and Towers of Bois-Maury among others.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 64 pages

Source: NetGalley ARC

Publication Date: March 27th 2012 by Dark Horse Comics         

If you've been reading my blog for awhile you'll know that I love books about Africa fiction or non-fiction I read a lot of stuff about the continent (I want to live there one day). So when I saw that this graphic novel (I love graphic novels thanks to Mr.Turning The Pages!) was available for review on NetGalley I HAD to have it. Lucky for me they accepted my request.

Once I first opened the Galley on e-pub I was blown away by the art work. It's superbly illustrated by a true master of sequential art. For me this was my first time reading anything by this legendary writer and illustrator. The artwork is perfectly suited for the story line and you can tell that the whole piece was put together with a deft hand and it is in fact a masterpiece.

While it is only 64 pages long the graphic novel seems much longer than that due to the way the story of Dario is told through both the written word and the artwork. While reading it much of Dario's nature come out not only by what is being read but through the illustrations which Huppen coordinated beautifully.

This is definitely for a more mature audience just because of sex, swearing and mature situations, but really who am I kidding the kids are still going to read it. At least they can learn how to appreciate artwork from a master. I love the mastery in which the tale was woven and it gave me a real sense of adventure to read it, almost as if I were there with Dario hearing the gunfire or trapezing through the bush.

To "Add" the book to Goodreads CLICK HERE

To visit the author's website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

 

★ ★ ★ ★

 

 

Tales of an African Vet by Roy Aronson

Summary:

The heart-wrenching and adventure-filled stories of a South African wild animal vet and his colleagues.

When do you watch a wild animal suffer and let nature take its course, and when do you intervene? In his more than twenty-five years as an African vet, Dr. Roy Aronson has seen and done some remarkable things. He has tracked lions and cheetahs, anesthetized rhinoceroses and king cobras, collared rogue elephants, performed eye surgery on a lion out in the bush, been attacked by a puff adder, come face to face with an angry hybrid wolf, and nearly lost a foot to a crocodile. Dr. Aronson has also worked with some of Africa’s most dedicated conservationists and wildlife veterinarians. He has witnessed their passion and bravery and been with them when hard decisions had to be made.

Tales of an African Vet brings together Dr. Aronson’s adventures in a rare behind-the-scenes look at those who treat wild animals in their natural habitat. For those drawn to outdoor adventure stories, African wildlife, or the veterinarian’s trade, it is a riveting book replete with rich insights into both the animal and human cultures of Africa.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 227 pages
Source: Toronto Public Library
Publication Date: March 11th 2008

The time was October 19th 2010.
The place was World's Biggest Bookstore in downtown Toronto.

Mr. Turning The Pages had just taken me out to a nice romantic dinner and we were walking down the aisles (of the bookstore) and I saw a book on display that I knew I had to read but unfortunately I had already surpassed my book buying budget for the month and I sadly had to leave the book sitting there. Lonely and calling me back, begging to be taken home with me but it was not to be.

However, the title of this book never left my mind and a few weeks ago I was finally able to put it on hold from the Toronto Public Library. As you already know if it has anything to do with animals or Africa it's pretty much a guarentee that I may want to read it but if it has both than I am most definately going to give it a try.

I was so excited to read it, that I finished it the next day! Roy Aronson wrote the book with passion. You can tell right off the bat that he loves animals and hates to see them suffer. He writes with conviction about the plight certain species are facing like the rhinos who are being poached all for their horns. It's evident that he also harbours a deep respect for all creatures from hamsters, to cobras, to wolf hybrids and seals.

I loved the stories he shared within his book, he certainly has lived an exciting life and he is lucky to have been able to experience the wonders that he has and to have met so many interesting people that like him are involved with animals and their healthcare.

His accounts will strike a cord in you and make you want to head to your nearest zoo, aquarium, lake, ocean or forest just to see the natural world as it is. It will also make you think that things do indeed have to change if we are to ensure the survival of all the creatures great and small. I loved this book!  Roy Aronson wrote his book in an easily accessible way so that the young and the old can enjoy what is between it's covers and I can't wait to get my hands on his other book that he has written.

I would recommend this to anyone who has a soft spot for animals. This is also a great read for fans of James Herriot's books on being a yorkshire vet. It will make you really want to thank your vet when you see them, their jobs are hard and often dirty but they do reap the rewards when their animal patients get better but they are also human too and they hate losing a beloved patient to illness or natural causes. It's a must read in my opinion!

To purchase the book from Amazon CLICK HERE

To visit the author's website CLICK HERE

To follow the author via Twitter CLICK HERE

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Part of the Pride: My Life Among the Big Cats of Africa by Kevin Richardson with Tony Park

Summary:

About a year ago, film started to circulate on YouTube® of a remarkable man named Kevin Richardson, an animal custodian in a South African animal park. The film showed Richardson in his day-to-day work, looking some of the world's most dangerous animals directly in the eye, crouching down at their level, playing with them and, sometimes, even kissing them on the nose--all without ever being attacked or injured. The films’ popularity skyrocketed and Richardson became an international sensation. In “Part of the Pride”, Kevin Richardson tells the story of his life and work, how he grew from a young boy who cared for so many animals that he was called “The Bird Man of Orange Grove” to an adolescent who ran wild and, finally, to a man who is able to cross the divide between humans and predators. As a self-taught animal behaviorist, Richardson has broken every safety rule known to humans when working with these wild animals. Flouting common misconceptions that breaking an animal’s spirit with sticks and chains is the best way to subdue them, he uses love, understanding and trust to develop personal bonds with them. His unique method of getting to know their individual personalities, what makes each of them angry, happy, upset, or irritated—just like a mother understands a child—has caused them to accept him like one of their own into their fold. Like anyone else who truly loves animals, Richardson allows their own stories to share center stage as he tells readers about Napoleon and Tau, the two male lions he calls his “brothers”; the amazing Meg, a lioness Richardson taught to swim; the fierce Tsavo who savagely attacked him; and the heartbreaking little hyena called Homer who didn’t live to see his first birthday. Richardson also chronicles his work on the forthcoming feature film “The White Lion” and has a lot to say about the state of lion farming and hunting in South Africa today. In “Part of the Pride”, Richardson, with novelist Tony Park, delves into the mind of the big cats and their world to show readers a different way of understanding the dangerous big cats of Africa.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 256 pages

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: September 1st 2009

In this book I headed off to my favourite country South Africa for my Around the World in 52 Books Challenge and what an adventure it was! Lions, hyenas and jaguars oh my!

A few years ago I watched a short documentary called Dangerous Companions about Kevin Richardson and his friends (lions, hyenas, giraffes etc.) I like many other people was amazed by the connection he had with them and every time I see a lion special on I think of him. So it was much to my surprise that while looking for another book in the library database that I found that he had a book! Of course I had to put it on hold immediately and within 2 days I finished it.

I love the way that the book was written. It wasn't written in away that was too "uppity". It was written in a very casual manner and I really think that worked to the books advantage because lets be honest we want to read about this man and his bond with the animals he undoubtedly loves a great deal.

I enjoyed learning about his early life which he says was far from perfect and freely admits that he was a troublemaker in his youth. Which to me made it even more appealing because who wants to read about someones perfect life? Not me. I think that the reason he's so good with animals is because he feels more of a connection to them than the people in his life. I understand that bond but on a smaller scale...with my house cats, rodents, birds and our dog. I know it's not incredible but trust is trust.

I loved reading about his animals, and learning their stories, learning their little quirks, and seeing just how unique each of them is. But what I loved most was learning how he had to work for them to accept him. Many people think that he has a special gift but I believe that maybe he knows how to read these beautiful and powerful animals better than the rest of us because he pays a little more attention to the rest of us. I mean there is something about him that allows him to be "part of the pride" or else the lionesses would not let him near their newborn cubs, allow him to sleep with them play with them. These animals are beautiful souls with feelings and this book proves that they are capable of having a remarkable bond with this man built on mutual trust and respect.

His stories are incredible and breath taking when you think about the animals that he's talking about. Now I won't spoil any of the book for you by talking about the different animals, I think it would be much better if you read it yourselves.

I highly recommend any and all animal lovers to read this book it's amazing and inspiring!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Men Who Killed Me: Rwandan Survivors of Sexual Violence by Sandra Ka Hon Chu, Anne-Marie de Brouwer (Editor), Samer Muscati

Summary:

"I urge you to be disturbed by what you have read here, really disturbed. And then I urge you to get angry, get bold, become determined to do everything in your power to end this heinous violence everywhere in the world."-from the Afterword by Eve Ensler" "These brave testimonies about the sexual violence in Rwanda in 1994 should remind us of the urgency to fight the ongoing atrocities in Darfur, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo."-Major General (ret.) Patrick Cammaert" "Graphically, and without doubt, this book makes the case that rape is no lesser a crime than murder."-Lieutenant-General the Honourable RomTo A. Dallaire (ret.), Senator" "Survivors choose to tell their stories in the hope that others will hear. These searing testimonials of inconsolable anguish and awe-inspiring resilience will change you forever and spark you to act to honour dignity."-James Orbinski, former international president of Doctors without Borders/MSF and author of An Imperfect Offering" "In the 100 Days of genocide that ravaged the small Central African nation of Rwanda between April and July 1994, approximately one million Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed, and an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 women and girls were raped. Almost all Rwandan women who survived the genocide were victims of sexual violence or were profoundly affected by it, and an astounding 70 per cent of survivors are HIV positive. To a lesser extent, boys and men also fell victim to this kind of violence during the genocide." "The Men Who Killed Me features searing testimonials from seventeen Rwandan survivors. Through their narratives and Samer Muscati's powerful portraits, these sixteen women and one man bear witness to the crimes committed in their country and to the suffering they continue to endure. In speaking out, they exhibit incredible strength and courage, challenging the stigma they face both as survivors of sexual violence and as people living with HIV. Their stories, along with the accompanying photographs, make an indelible impact." "Proceeds from the sales of this book will go to Mukomeze, a charitable organization established to improve the lives of girls and women who survived sexual violence in the Rwandan genocide." "Anne-Marie De Brouwer, associate professor of international criminal law at Tilburg University, has worked in Rwanda in various capacities, focusing on the rights of girls and women." "Sandra Ka Hon Chu, a lawyer and senior policy analyst with the Canadian Hiv/aids Legal Network, has worked promoting women's rights in East Timor, Hong Kong, Canada and the Netherlands." Samer Muscati, is a Canadian lawyer and former journalist who has worked widely in the field of human rights and international development. His photographs have been featured in many publications, including Time magazine.
Summary taken from GoodReads.com
Length: 184 pages
Source: Toronto Public Library
Publication Date: March 23rd 2010

I read this book for my Around the World in 50 Books Challenge. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. It will disturb you. If it doesn't disturb you than you're really messed up. Seriously. That's just how I see it whether you agree or not.

"Whether I'm in the fields, or at home, or at the market, I will never get the smell of semen out of my nostrils." that is a quote from one of the survivors of the Rwandan genocide. She was chained to a bed and raped repeatedly for 3 months. This woman among 2 others are the reason that this book was even written.  For me that sentence is the most powerful sentence I have ever read in a book. When I read it for the first time it evoked several feelings in me. The first was disgust, then came anger and then an overwhelming feeling of sorrow. I read that quote several times and each time my feelings intensified. I knew no matter how disturbed I would be that I had to continue reading the book. If I didn't I felt as though I would be letting the survivors down.

The book opens with a brief overview of the cause of the genocide followed by information on sexual violence rape reports by country and era(I think). I found both of these features to be helpful as they gave both background information as well as information on other countries that I did not know about.

Inside there are the horrific accounts of 17 survivors of the "African Holocaust" .16 women and 1 young man were brave enough to share their stories with the world in the hope that they will bring attention to the plight of the people of Rwanda.

To me it seemed as though each account of sexual violence became more and more extreme as the book went on. There were stories from women who were still little girls at the time the genocide occurred many of them if not all ended up contracting HIV from their rapists.

Each account broke my heart. I wanted to reach through the pages of the book to hug these survivors, to show them that someone cares, that someone has them in their heart. The violence that these people suffered is incomprehensible. 800,000 people were murdered in 90 days of fighting while the international community did nothing. That is what made me the angriest I think. Knowing that nothing was being done to help end the genocide that wiped almost one million people off the face of the earth. Men, women, and children were butchered regardless of age or status. The young and the old were treated like "cockroaches" as the Hutu fighters called them. It's unfathomable to me that this was allowed to happen.

When the genocide was happening I just turned 4. I was celebrating my fourth birthday while other children younger than I were being hacked to death in an effort to wipe out the future generation of Tutsi people. that really put the accounts into perspective to me. It made me think...what right to a childhood did I have one so many others were cut short? What right to complain did I have one other children were being abused and murdered? The answer...is none. I don't have that right. That's the way I see it you don't have to agree but that is my opinion and this is my blog.


As disturbing as the book is, the people who told their stories still manage for the most part to keep holding on to one thing. Hope. How inspiring is that? After everything that happened to them they still manage to hope for something better and they do not give up. Far from it these people are still fighting. They're fighting for survival for themselves and their families while living in poverty. These people are true heros, true survivors and they deserve more than what they are getting in life.

Many of the women have to live in the same communities as the men who attacked and raped them, killed their families or raped their family members. For them their nightmares will never end as long as the current legal system in Rwanda stays the same. Bribery is common place and often the sentences for the criminals do not fit the crimes. sometimes the victims are bought off and sometimes so are the judges. Very little is being done for the Rwandan people by the international community that stood by and let the slaughter...there is no other word for what happened during those 90 days it was a slaughter. It sickens me.

While the subject matter was difficult to read I highly recommend it to all. These stories must be read. To not do so is the equivalent to sweeping these people under the proverbial rug. The people who wrote the stories down for the victims did so in such a way that they were not offensive. I applaud the survivors of the genocide and I hope that things get better for the people there but I know this will only happen if people, every day regular run of the mill average people do something to help. I urge you to research charities (make sure they are reputable) and donate your time, money, possessions where and when you can. Please read this book and educate yourselves so that we can avoid things like this from happening in the future. This is by far the most powerful book I have ever read and now I'm reading other books to educate myself further on this topic. I hope I encouraged someone else to read this book. It's worth it. Trust me it will make you value things a lot more.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★