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Bill Bryson's African Diary [Hardcover]

Bill Bryson , Julia LLoyd , Jenny Matthews
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
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Book Description

2 Dec 2002

Bill Bryson goes to Kenya at the invitation of CARE International, the charity dedicated to working with local communities to eradicate poverty around the world. Kenya, generally regarded as the cradle of mankind, is a land of contrasts, with famous game reserves, stunning landscapes, and a vibrant cultural tradition. It also provides plenty to worry a traveller like Bill Bryson, fixated as he is on the dangers posed by snakes, insects and large predators. But on a more sober note, it is a country that shares many serious human and environmental problems with the rest of Africa: refugees, AIDS, drought, and grinding poverty.

Travelling around the country, Bryson casts his inimitable eye on a continent new to him, and the resultant diary, though short in length, contains the trademark Bryson stamp of wry observation and curious insight. All the author's royalties from Bill Bryson's African Diary, as well as all profits, will go to CARE International.

Illustrated with 8pp of colour.


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Product details

  • Hardcover: 60 pages
  • Publisher: Doubleday; 1st. Edition edition (2 Dec 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385605145
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385605144
  • Product Dimensions: 13 x 1.3 x 18.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 20,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Book Description

Bryson travels to Kenya in support of CARE International and brings his inimitable humorous and humane view to Africa.

From the Publisher

Bryson travels to Kenya in support of CARE International and brings his inimitable humorous and humane view to Africa.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
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First Sentence
In the late 1940s and early 1950s after he became a little too saggy to fit into a Tarzan loincloth without depressing popcorn sales among cinema audiences, the great Johnny Weissmuller filled the twilight years of his acting career with a series of low-budget adventure movies with titles like Devil Goddess and Jungle Moon Men, all built around a character called Jungle Jim. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Very good....needed to be longer 25 July 2004
Format:Hardcover
Bill Bryson tells us all about the Care Projects in Africa in this wonderful little charity book. The book is well written, even funny in places, and touches on poverty in the third world. The problem is that I felt that a six day diary in just over sixth pages was not enough. I wanted to know more about these people and their lives. I believe that this book could have been far greater if far more of the same quality of writting had been included.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a short read, not someone who wants to get their teeth into what lives are like in Africa.
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46 of 49 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant, funny, moving book 14 Dec 2002
Format:Hardcover
When I unpacked my order, my first impression was to feel cheated by how slender it was. That feeling vanished somewhere around the middle of page 2; and I didn't put it down until I reached the end.

This book is a wonderful, funny, moving account of 8 days Bill Bryson spent in Kenya at the invitation of the charity CARE. He recounts, with his usual brand of humour visits to slums, village pumps and refugee camps. Bill doesn't hide the fact that he was clearly affected by some of the things he saw.

If you like Bill Bryson, don't be put off by the size. Buy a copy.

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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars A good little bookette! 10 Dec 2002
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Being an absolute avid fan of Bill Bryson's work I eagerly awaited this little bookette to give me a good top up of Bryson's humour and observation before his next 'proper' book is released next summer.

African Diary did not disappoint. Bryson goes to Kenya at the invitation of CARE International, a charity dedicated to working with local communities to eradicate poverty. All royalities and profits from the book are donated to the charity.

Despite being only 63 pages (I say despite as I just love his work) the book uses Bryson's humour as well as his power as a writer to bring to the attention of the reader the poverty and hardship faced in places like the slums of Nairobi and Mombasa and the incredible strength, optimism and persistence of those who live there. Bryson does not make you 'pitty' the people, more give you a sense that they just want a chance - the ability to look after themselves, support their families and get a good education. Something we in the Western World take for granted.
It is an eye-opener with coloured photography illustrating places along Bryson's Journey.

If you love Bryson, then buy the book. If you support charities and feel you want to help, then buy the book purely as a donation to CARE.

I remember Bryson saying in an interview he only had 2 weeks in which to write this book and my only criticism is that is it relatively short. Just as you get into the book and the feel of his writing, it ends. I'm sure there is the potential to turn African Diary into a full-length book, but then then impact on price/publishing cost etc. would probably do the charity a dis-service.

Bill Bryson is simply the best in his field :)

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Can't go wrong with Bill Bryson
I bought this as a present and the person I bought it for loved it! Hence the five star rating! :)
Published 11 days ago by James Mills
5.0 out of 5 stars As always a great read
Good service and good price, arrived promptly and well packed. Product was exactly as described all in all very good.
Published 1 month ago by Sheila Rowbottom
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed
This was published for charity and as such a good booklet. I expected the usual Bryson book and was dispapointed. I read it in less than an hour
Published 1 month ago by Susan M Watt
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
excellent especially as the purchase price is a donation to a worth while cause that will help less advantaged people
Published 1 month ago by Jonathan Wheway
2.0 out of 5 stars It is a donation not a book
I love BB but this is not a book you are buying. The charity is cashing in on his fame and that may be ok but don't buy this for something to read.
Published 2 months ago by Steven Webb
4.0 out of 5 stars An unexpected donation
Only missed five stars due to brevity!

Vividly brings the atmosphere of Africa to the reader and the work of the aid agency into perspective on the ground. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Birdie
4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read
As usual, a very enjoyable read. Disappointingly short but as it was written for charity It's good value for money.
Published 3 months ago by LR
2.0 out of 5 stars Short and sweet
I was disapointed with the book as was expecting a book to read didnt send it back because proceeds were for charity! I shall read discriptions more in future.
Published 7 months ago by Debby pell
4.0 out of 5 stars Bill's African Diary
To call this a book is a bit of a misnomer it's only 63 pages long but don't let that put you off or give you the impression African Diary is inferior to Bill Bryson's usual... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Andrew Whitby
3.0 out of 5 stars african diary
this was another entertaining book by bill bryson about his travels in africa it was a bit too short but does give an incite into africa which wouldnt normally be available. Read more
Published 10 months ago by sweetpea
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