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"Every home should have this book."
--"The Baltimore Afro-American"
Product Description
After opening with a dramatic chapter about Lekuton's first encounter with a lion, the books covers his life from birth, through his early life as a cattle herder (starting at about age 5), his mischievousness, the way of life in the village (there was a nasty guy called the Pinching Man, who would punish kids if they were bad), school (including dealing with bullies), initiation, his time at boarding school and his journey to America to go to college (he was so worried about not eating the right way that he went without food for four days. His first meal in the U.S. was at McDonalds. He still loves the place.) The book ends with a chapter about going home to his mother and the sense of being at home in two very different worlds. Extracts from the book: During the middle of the night, I woke to this huge sound - like rain, but not really like rain. I looked up. The starlight was gone, clouds were everywhere, and there was a light drizzle falling. But that wasn't the sound. The sound was all of the cows starting to pee. All of them, in every direction. And that is the sign of a lion. A hyena doesn't make them do that. An elephant doesn't make them do that. A person doesn't. Only the lion. We knew right away that a lion was about to attack us. *** Cows are our way of life. They give us milk and blood and sometimes meat to eat and hides to wear. They're our wealth: We don't have money; we have cows. The more cows somebody has, the wealthier he is. My mother has lived her whole life in a hut made of sticks and mud, and you could put everything she owns on the seat of a chair. She lives entirely on the cow. For her, there's something wrong with someone who doesn't have cows. It's just not civilized. ***
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've just finished reading this book and have to say I did enjoy it. I hadn't realised though that it's a book for young people! My fault probably - should have read the Amazon small print.
The story of Joseph growing up is an inspiration to anyone who thinks they have it tough!
The story of Joseph growing up is an inspiration to anyone who thinks they have it tough!
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I live in Africa..... in fact i've lived here all my life..... but after reading this book i have a better view on Africa.... If you would like to learn more about nomadic and rural life in Africa then you should read this book... i really admire the author as he was just a nomadic cattle herder in rural Kenya and now he's a teacher in America.... This is a very inspiring book!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book chronicles the growing up of the author, divided between the Kenyan savannah and his education, which was mostly at least somewhat removed. In some ways the stories follow on to eachother, but not necessarily all in chronological order.
While the main message - that all hardships can be overcome if one perseveres - is present throughout, the rest provides a somewhat colourful background. Especially interesting were the episodes, where the author interacts with the then Kenyan president Arap Moi, presenting him in a rather better light than is usual (not a lot of his dictatorial characteristics comming through).
While the book is endearing overall and I can definitely see how it is something I would give my children to read, it falls a bit short in my opinion to make it into a real 5 star read - the language, descriptions, story, none of them have the quite vividness and energy for that.
While the main message - that all hardships can be overcome if one perseveres - is present throughout, the rest provides a somewhat colourful background. Especially interesting were the episodes, where the author interacts with the then Kenyan president Arap Moi, presenting him in a rather better light than is usual (not a lot of his dictatorial characteristics comming through).
While the book is endearing overall and I can definitely see how it is something I would give my children to read, it falls a bit short in my opinion to make it into a real 5 star read - the language, descriptions, story, none of them have the quite vividness and energy for that.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Read and enjoy.
A wonderful book if you have been or are going to go to Kenya and are interested in the Masai.It's well written factual as well as entertaining. My wife couldn't put it down.
Published 5 months ago by Christopher B jones
Absolutely loved this book - to read before and after your Kenyan...
I've just finished reading this book and I must say that I had tears all way along my reading.
I was very luck visiting Kenya last year and it would have better if I had... Read more
I was very luck visiting Kenya last year and it would have better if I had... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. D. Vaury
Unusual View point and a great cross cultural story
I didn't realise that this was a book aimed at teenagers when I bought it but it's really well written and actually a good read. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Icemaiden
Facing The Lion
Very interesting and informative book. Easy to read, it reminds people born into a material world of the real values of life. Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2010 by Mrs. Maureen Harper
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