I have these weird urges to organize pretty much all the time. I would love to be a professional organizer. I have accidentally spent hours in the Container Store looking at boxes (DH will not set foot in the store with me because I’m so out of control). One day last week I was getting particularly antsy, and decided to color coordinate all my books on the shelf near our dining table. So we have a shelf of red/orange, a shelf of green/blue, a shelf of white, a shelf of black, you get the idea. I LOVE it.
But even more than I love the color coordination, I loved going back through some of my favorite books and remembering how much I enjoyed them. In light of heading to Kenya in a few months, I decided that I would highlight some of my favorite books about Africa, for anyone looking for a new read.
Beware, these aren’t all happy-go-lucky books. Not only is that not my style, but I don’t think listing only happy books about Africa is either accurate or appropriate. While all of the places I’ve visited in Africa are truly stunning, both in culture and landscape, the problems in many countries–whether corruption, politics, historical/colonial tensions, health issues, or other–deserve recognition.
- Love, Life, and Elephants: An African Love Story by Dame Daphne Sheldrick. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have have a pet dik-dik (and if you don’t know what it is, you need to google it, like NOW because they are ridiculously cute), this is a must read. It’s the life story of Dame Daphne Sheldrick, and it’s a fun–though at times heart-breaking–read. She was the first person to successfully raise orphaned elephants. It’s a great story of the challenges of conservation in the bush (which continue) and life in east Africa.
- When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin. Peter Godwin has roots in Zimbabwe, and carefully traces Mugabe’s rise in coordination with his personal story after his father suffers a heart attack (and he ultimately returns to Africa). I think Peter tells the story of many of Zimbabwe’s white farmers during the Mugabe reign. Troubling and thought provoking, it’s a good read from an interesting perspective. Whether or not you agree with all of Peter’s sentiments regarding Zimbabwe and colonial history, there are certainly no winners (well…one winner…Mugabe) in Zimbabwe.
- Dancing in the Glory of Monsters by Jason Stearns. There is absolutely nothing happy or go-lucky about this book. It details the Congo War, and not just the atrocities: Jason explains the nuances, personalities, and complex histories that shaped the war. He also details the impact of the war on institutions, infrastructure, people, and culture in a manner that I found to be enthralling, though horrifying. If you are interested in the Congo, this book gives you past, present, and a look into the future from a remote village to the cities and high-level officials.
- Blood River by Tim Butcher. What would this list be without a good story of adventure?! In 2004, Tim Butcher journeyed to the Congo to retrace the incredible 1874 journey of H.M. Stanley. Forty days along the Congo river, Tim tells of allies, adversaries, corruption, war, atrocities–describing the Congo while also trying to work backwards to explain why it is the way it is today.
- The Teeth May Smile But the Heart Does Not Forget by Andrew Rice. Most definitely one of my favorites, but yet another story of dictatorship, hardship, and death. Andrew tells the story of Duncan Laki, who discovers new details about his father’s death (Eliphaz Laki). This ultimately leads him back to Idi Amin’s regime, at the highest levels. A detective story (who doesn’t love those), combined with Uganda’s history and the rise of Idi Amin, this story helps to shine light on the many that disappeared, and those they left behind.
Have any good suggestions for books about Africa? I’m always looking for new books!
