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Product Description
Observer
'a compelling portrait of a ruined country.'
Daily Telegraph
'she writes with sympathy and concision, and balances the needs of
her twin stories.'
her twin stories.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is riveting and nearly impossible to put down. I would highly recommend it.
House of Stone is written by Christina Lamb, an English journalist. In the opening passages I wasn't too sure if I trusted this author yet as I thought she was exaggerating (this is the scene where she describes a city's main market as reduced to rubble). I then turned the page to see a photograph depicting the rubble and it was there that my hesitation and disbelief dissolved.
The author takes the life story of two very different Zimbabweans and she chronicles this against the backdrop of the major political events of the past 45 years. She also interweaves the history of Zimbabwe dating back over a hundred years, to when the country was first colonised. The protagonists are a white educated male born into a wealthy farming family and a poor black female with only a primary education who hailed from an underprivileged rural background.
The book is incredibly informative and yet it is never laborious or dry. This is a book that took me through a range of emotions from shock and horror to disbelief and sadness. I thought I had very strong beliefs about Zimbabwe before I read this book. I thought I had a very politically left position on matters there and I was convinced Mugabe was an evil man and that gross human rights violations were taking place. The truth is that I had no idea and that my mind could not have even conceived how bad things really are there. The point is not to discuss my politics but that knowledge is power and I would urge everyone to read this book so that they too can get an idea of what is going on in Zimbabwe and once armed with the truth, they can act accordingly.
House of Stone is written by Christina Lamb, an English journalist. In the opening passages I wasn't too sure if I trusted this author yet as I thought she was exaggerating (this is the scene where she describes a city's main market as reduced to rubble). I then turned the page to see a photograph depicting the rubble and it was there that my hesitation and disbelief dissolved.
The author takes the life story of two very different Zimbabweans and she chronicles this against the backdrop of the major political events of the past 45 years. She also interweaves the history of Zimbabwe dating back over a hundred years, to when the country was first colonised. The protagonists are a white educated male born into a wealthy farming family and a poor black female with only a primary education who hailed from an underprivileged rural background.
The book is incredibly informative and yet it is never laborious or dry. This is a book that took me through a range of emotions from shock and horror to disbelief and sadness. I thought I had very strong beliefs about Zimbabwe before I read this book. I thought I had a very politically left position on matters there and I was convinced Mugabe was an evil man and that gross human rights violations were taking place. The truth is that I had no idea and that my mind could not have even conceived how bad things really are there. The point is not to discuss my politics but that knowledge is power and I would urge everyone to read this book so that they too can get an idea of what is going on in Zimbabwe and once armed with the truth, they can act accordingly.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
This book is an excellent read for anyone interested in knowing more about the current social and political situation in this beautiful country.
What I liked the most is the fact that the author describes the situation from the point of view of people from different backgrounds: a black lady raised in poverty and a white man born in a farming community, sent to good schools and well-travelled.
I absolutely loved. Fully recommend it,
Paola Barcacel.-
What I liked the most is the fact that the author describes the situation from the point of view of people from different backgrounds: a black lady raised in poverty and a white man born in a farming community, sent to good schools and well-travelled.
I absolutely loved. Fully recommend it,
Paola Barcacel.-
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Although a lot of books written about Zimbabwe may end up repeating the same story, Christina Lamb tells her story differently. In the past books would be about the black man and how much pain the white community had inflicted on them, then the white community started being under attack and the same stories were told but with the black community being the enemy. Today all Zimbabweans, black and white are victims of the power hungry government. Christina Lamb tells the story of Aqui (a black Zimbabwean) and of Nigel (a white Zimbabwean). In House of Stone you are presented with two sides of the same story.
If you don't know much about Zimbabwe, this is a great place to start.
If you don't know much about Zimbabwe, this is a great place to start.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent read
First class book.Factually correct, and a great story.If you are interested in recents events in Zim, you must read "House of Stone"
Published 19 months ago by G. H. Davies
A thoroughly gripping read on Zimbabwe.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and simply could not put it down. I liked the balance created by reflecting the lives of two characters on either side of the divide, so to... Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2009 by P. Groves
Time has already moved on...
...and the situation has changed already. However this did happen and it was a good read.
Published on 18 Jun 2009 by Enzo
Easy read but with distortions
This book is a very easy read but spoiled by several errors of fact, many of which do not materially affect the story, but definitely reflect the political views of the author. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2007 by Jeremy Evans
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