- Paperback: 269 pages
- Publisher: Scribner Book Company; Reprint edition (8 July 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0743286804
- ISBN-13: 978-0743286800
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 13.7 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 720,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from the various anecdotes on bush life, local characterizations and the old "product" reminders. It does encapsulate the rose-coloured view many of us teenagers held of our country growing up in this period, despite the horrors of the bush war. Her descriptions of many areas of African life brought back vivid memories, and whilst many of my fellow ex-countrymen are often accused of too much nostalgia, how many of the "critics" can pick up such literature on their own childhood memories that will bring a smile to their face. If you are from the Southern African region you will enjoy this book for the images it will envoke. If you are not, you will enjoy it for the wistful look at African life as lived by a minority society, before the sweeping reforms transformed a nation.
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Whilst browsing through a bookstore last week, I found myself drawn to the cover photograph on the dustjacket of Rainbow's End. The child on the front reminded me of someone. Upon discovering what the book was about, I rushed to the till, paid my money and before I knew it, found myself sitting at home reading.
It didn't take too long to realise that this book could have been written about ME. Lauren St John writes about her childhood on a farm in Zimbabwe in such a way that I found myself transported back in time. I was reminded of memories that had been all but forgotten. I caught myself laughing out loud at the references to zambezi mud, corn curls, lifebuoy soap and creme soda, nodding my head in agreement to thoughts about the wonderful African staff who worked for our parents and of lying awake at night awaiting the sounds of gunfire, thinking back to picnics on river beds surrounded by crocodiles and hippos and, ultimately, sitting in my bed reading the last chapter with tears streaming down my face.
It was a privilege to live in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe during this time and, although my farming father was threatened with his life and felt he had no choice but to remove his family from the situation, my memories are primarily positive. Ms St John and I grew up leading very similar lives and our thoughts and fears, whilst reading every page, seemed to merge into one. I will be forever indebted to Ms. St John for her ability to awaken all those memories that had been tucked away for some time.
It didn't take too long to realise that this book could have been written about ME. Lauren St John writes about her childhood on a farm in Zimbabwe in such a way that I found myself transported back in time. I was reminded of memories that had been all but forgotten. I caught myself laughing out loud at the references to zambezi mud, corn curls, lifebuoy soap and creme soda, nodding my head in agreement to thoughts about the wonderful African staff who worked for our parents and of lying awake at night awaiting the sounds of gunfire, thinking back to picnics on river beds surrounded by crocodiles and hippos and, ultimately, sitting in my bed reading the last chapter with tears streaming down my face.
It was a privilege to live in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe during this time and, although my farming father was threatened with his life and felt he had no choice but to remove his family from the situation, my memories are primarily positive. Ms St John and I grew up leading very similar lives and our thoughts and fears, whilst reading every page, seemed to merge into one. I will be forever indebted to Ms. St John for her ability to awaken all those memories that had been tucked away for some time.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Whilst browsing through a bookstore last week, I found myself drawn to the cover photograph on the dustjacket of Rainbow's End. The child on the front reminded me of someone. Upon discovering what the book was about, I rushed to the till, paid my money and before I knew it, found myself sitting at home reading.
It didn't take too long to realise that this book could have been written about ME. Lauren St John writes about her childhood on a farm in Zimbabwe in such a way that I found myself transported back in time. I was reminded of memories that had been all but forgotten. I caught myself laughing out loud at the references to zambezi mud, corn curls, lifebuoy soap and creme soda, nodding my head in agreement to thoughts about the wonderful African staff who worked for our parents and of lying awake at night awaiting the sounds of gunfire, thinking back to picnics on river beds surrounded by crocodiles and hippos and, ultimately, sitting in my bed reading the last chapter with tears streaming down my face.
It was a privilege to live in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe during this time and, although my farming father was threatened with his life and felt he had no choice but to remove his family from the situation, my memories are primarily positive. Ms St John and I grew up leading very similar lives and our thoughts and fears, whilst reading every page, seemed to merge into one. I have never been so profoundly touched by a book, and will be forever indebted to Ms. St John for her ability to awaken all those memories that had been tucked away for some time.
It didn't take too long to realise that this book could have been written about ME. Lauren St John writes about her childhood on a farm in Zimbabwe in such a way that I found myself transported back in time. I was reminded of memories that had been all but forgotten. I caught myself laughing out loud at the references to zambezi mud, corn curls, lifebuoy soap and creme soda, nodding my head in agreement to thoughts about the wonderful African staff who worked for our parents and of lying awake at night awaiting the sounds of gunfire, thinking back to picnics on river beds surrounded by crocodiles and hippos and, ultimately, sitting in my bed reading the last chapter with tears streaming down my face.
It was a privilege to live in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe during this time and, although my farming father was threatened with his life and felt he had no choice but to remove his family from the situation, my memories are primarily positive. Ms St John and I grew up leading very similar lives and our thoughts and fears, whilst reading every page, seemed to merge into one. I have never been so profoundly touched by a book, and will be forever indebted to Ms. St John for her ability to awaken all those memories that had been tucked away for some time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A good read
Rainbow's End: A Memoir of Childhood, War and an African Farm
A book with which I can associate and empathise. Read more
A book with which I can associate and empathise. Read more
Published on 21 July 2009 by J. Wiseman
Difficult read
I wish I had heeded the review by Historian. Having read Alexandra Fuller, Chris Cocks and Peter Godwin I imagined this would be in a similar vein. Read more
Published on 5 May 2009 by Turner
Growing Pains
A book which challenged my assumption that all white Africans are the 'bad guys'. St John gives an honest account of the changing viewpoint and perspective of a girl growing up... Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2008 by L. Hyde
Everything you never knew about Zimbabwe
I don't usually read this kind of book but this is not your usual "poor me" memoir. It is the exact opposite in fact. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2008 by Donna Thomson
Rainbow's End by Lauren St John
Being ten years older than Lauren St John I had an even more idyllic childhood than she did, growing up in the "sticks" in Zimbabwe. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2007 by Mrs. G. C. Thornton
Derivative
I have to agree with Historian. Being an ex-Zimbabwean myself, and also Lauren's age, I gobbled the subject matter up. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2007 by Ex-Zimbabwean
Imitative, "When we were in Zimbabwe" tell-all....
Rainbow's End is an addition to the expanding genre of wistful, `When we were in Zimbabwe', autobiographical tell-alls in the line of Alexandra Fuller and Peter Godwin, except that... Read more
Published on 15 May 2007 by Historian
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