'Don't let's go to the dogs tonight' by Alexandra Fuller.
This is the memoir of a girl growing up in a bunch of African countries in the 1970s and 80s.
A number of themes come through.
Her parents are dirt poor farmers who move from farm to farm depending on circumstances (civil wars, independence and majority rule, economics).
Life in rural Africa is very tough and often unduly fatal.
Justice in rural Africa is often swift and brutal, (especially if you happen to be black).
Racism.
Her family are well bred, slightly obsessed with the British class system and completely, stoically insane.
They are living remnants of the end of The Empire, who, despite their economic straits attempt to retain a superior lifestyle.
They drink a lot, sweat alot, send their girls to distant boarding schools, drive beaten up Land Rovers, watch out for terrorists and land mines and smoke profusely.
Throughout the book you become accustomed to their casual rascism, right wing perspective and exhaustingly rugged lives. It shook some of my ideas about Africa (A division of Mondale International are based in Capetown, SA where they lead a very 21st century, urban and urbane existence) and made me damned thankful for the comforts of my own little world.
Still, the love of Africa for all it's tremendous faults shines through. As does the adventure of childhood.
A good read.
4 comments:
Please, please tell me that this is like a cross between Burmese Days and one of those "Eighteen Years Up the Watusi by Herbert Carruthers-Smythe, ADC Nairobi District (Rtd)". Want to lend it to me?
I'm sure you have read it,but on the off chance you haven't, I'll offer Beyond a Boundary by CLR James on loan in return. Fabulous Marxism Today-meets-Wisden stuff about how the liberation struggles of the Caribbean and the institutional racism of empire can be seen through the lens of cricket.
It's a bit of a casual right wing rant a'la David LB form Wymcol. Anyway, it's in the mail, enjoy, just don't mind the stain, it got caught up with a mashed banana.
Do you want the James?
bring it on, is it stained?
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