Total Page : 304
Publisher : Random House Trade Paperbacks
Publication Date : 2010 05 04
>> Book Club Choice
Book was not easy to find As soon as it was announced as the topic of the club s review the two copies at the library were reserved None available at local book stores Amazon supplied a copy in a few days used copy purchased price was fantastic and book was in As New condition
>> Inspiring memoir
This is one of the best books I ve read this year Focusing on a man who is trying to make it in the United States but torn by his memories of life in Burundi Tracy Kidder describes with great honesty the reality of trying to find identity and how tied to one s culture it is
Although Deo the man at the heart of this book has to struggle to get by in America it is inspiring to read how he persevered even though the struggle took a toll on his spirits In the end he discovers that he can not simply leave Burundi behind but must find a way to integrate what he has learned in America with the pull he feels to go back to Burundi Geographical change does not erase memory and the tug on the heart that comes with that
Readers are likely to find Deo very puzzling at times even contrary But I found this book both inspiring and very hard to put down
>> Not as inspiring as it should be
The beginning of this book pulled me in quickly and then it lost me And the more Tracy Kidder pulled himself into the story the faster it lost me Some of his explanations of the political situation in Rwanda Burundi were confusing and hard to wade through I was most interested in following Deo and his personal account To me that s the most poignant way to learn about the struggles and situations in other countries and cultures is to truly see it through the eyes of the people who ve been there
It s tough to compare stories of Africa when I know there is tremendous suffering and struggle in so many countries Each story and each struggle is unique and to compare one to the other seems like it could minimize the horror That s not my intention but I ve read other true accounts of struggles in Africa that made me feel more made me care more Kidder s book lacks solid direction and wanders terribly I wanted to care more and instead I had a very difficult time even finishing it
