This book is actually well written which is why I gave it four stars. I was engaged by it but I didn't like the book. As with so many of the people who have reviewed the book, I too have a connection with Zimbabwe, having been born there in the 1950's and having lived there until I was about 21. Members of my family continued to live in Zimbabwe until the early 1980s and there was always some contact with a circle of former residents as well as with friends who still lived there via my family.
One of the reasons I bought the book was because many reviewers commented that the book was amusing. I thought it would be good to be able to feel some positive emotion about life in Zimbabwe. However, I actually found the book harrowing. The lengths Douglas Roger's parents have to resort to in order to maintain their home and livelihood and the degeneration of society and communities at all levels struck me as deeply tragic. Above everything else, the description of the alcohol fuelled craziness just depressed me because it was so accurately reminiscent of my childhood experiences of white adults who just could not get their heads around the reality that their lifestyle was unsustainable and of black adults who needed escapism. (If you want to be even more depressed, read "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight" by Alexandra Fuller.) Needless to say, my family has now banned me from reading any more books about Zimbabwe that are described as "funny" or "hilarious".
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Amazon Price | New from | Used from |
|
Kindle Edition
"Please retry" | — | — |
|
Audible Audiobooks, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
£0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
- Read with Our Free App
-
Audiobook
£0.00 - 7 Used from £4.31 1 Collectible from £62.95
- 5 Used from £0.77 1 New from £9.98
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
A story of great courage, empathy and wisdom..
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2013
You might say I'm biased as Umtali was my home town.. so this was a real walk down memory lane and what an exiting treat at that! To recognise all the old places and even people's names! What wonderful characters the author's parents must be (I wonder if it's still running?), it makes me want to go there so badly. All the characters come to life and help weave this funny, sometimes tragic story together. Douglas Rogers is an author extraordinaire, and hardly surprising with such talented parents! I enjoyed the intrigue, the sensitivity of it all, each guest with his own set of circumstances, each member of staff with their peculiarities, those intrusive, scary visits by the menacing hoodlums.. all superbly weaved together to form this compelling and very heartening story of his parent's struggle to survive, seemingly against all odds and often at great risk to themselves. Such empathy for their fellow countrymen, both black and white. Such courage. I salute them, I salute their son and can't wait to read his next book!Reviewed by author of:CHECKMATE and Veiled Madness and soon to be [...]
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2013
Images in this review
Top reviews from United Kingdom
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 August 2017
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 November 2013
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 January 2022
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 November 2010
