...by Rosamond Halsey Carr (with Ann Howard Halsey)
I picked up this book because I am going to Africa this summer, and want to read as much African adventure biography as I can---I am very excited, and very much into everything-Africa these days…
This review on the inside cover helped, also:
“Many lone women seem to have a deep affinity for Africa. Thankfully, they continue to record their memoirs and enrich our understanding of this vast continent…Carr thoughtfully examines the bliss and turmoil of life near the Rwandan-Congo border for over fifty tumultuous years…[She] has articulated a new world for those who have not experienced the paradox that is Africa…Readers will continue to be captivated.”
---The Christian Science Monitor
Rosamond Carr moved from the U.S. to Africa in 1949 with her husband Kenneth. This is her story, including several pages of her personal photos. Her marriage strained even before they left, Rosamond and Kenneth divorced, but she had already fallen in love with Africa. She spent the next 50+ years of her life there, making it her home, and the people there her family. She paints a breathtaking picture of the landscape and the culture where she lived in peace, and a terrifying picture where she barely escaped a brutal war. She survived set-back after set-back, but always found her way to happiness again in this uncommon setting. She dined with nobles and danced with the local tribes. She describes in detail the events leading up to the most brutal of genocides, giving the reader her point of view as someone caught in the midst of it, as well as that of both the Hutu and Tutsi people, whom she knew well. She describes a tragic story of revenge that should serve as warning to us all. As usual, mainstream media covers what it chooses to cover, rather than the whole story. Beautifully told, I’d like to say this is reminiscent of Out of Africa, but I’d hate for Rosamond’s remarkable story to have to share a spotlight. Her story is her own; that of a determined woman who fell in love with a country, became an important part of its history, and found her heart’s desire. I could not put this down (which is unusual for me with non-fiction; I usually read a chapter here and there over a month or more).
A very good, and I believe, a very important book.
5 comments:
I am so thrilled to find someone else who loved this book as much as I did - I also couldn't put it down, she writes so much from the heart, and so much which rings true. There are some great African books out there, have you read any by George and / or Joy Adamson ? All about their lives in East Africa, raising orphaned Lions ("Born Free", "Living Free", "Forever Free" and autobiographies).
Lynda,
I saw the movie "Born Free" years ago, but should read the book (books are always better). I'd also love to read the biographies. I'll look for those at the library---Thanks!
Hi Robin - I made my way to your blog from Lynda (above post comment) as hers was one of the first blogs I started to follow when I started blogging 2 months ago. And I was intrigued by a reference to this book, I haven't read it but intend to track it down. I have Rwanda very close to my heart having lived and worked in Tanzania with many Rwandan refugees back in the 80s and 90s, right up to the genocide of 94. I have posted a blog post on books about Rwanda and colonialism in this part of Africa in general - you might like to read it so please check it out and if you wish to follow my blog please do so. I like your book blog, great idea! I have a number of books reviewed on Facebook on iRead and Virtual Books but haven't yet posted much more than a Library Thing widget with links on my blog. Good luck!
Catherine, thank you for visiting (and following) my blog! I am very interested in reading more about colonialism in Africa, or in Africa in general, and will be visiting your blog. Don't you love librarything?
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