Rating: 
Summary: Could have been better
Review: "Emma's War: An Aid Worker, a Warlord, Radical Islam, and the Politics of Oil--A True Story of Love and Death in Sudan" by Deborah Scroggins has plenty of fine moments and interesting insights into the aid industry and those who work in it -- the problem is that the good parts are few and far between. This book is not focused on its supposed subject (Emma McCune, a one-time British aid worker who married a Sudanese "warlord"), and its many excursions into other seemingly related topics somehow distract more than enlighten. A very good editor could have made this a much better book. As it is, I can only recommend it to people who are very, very interested in the aid biz or Sudan. I am sure that there are many other books on these subjects that would be more useful to the general reader.
Rating: 
Summary: a must read
Review: Anyone with any illusions about serving as an aide worker needs to read this book - if only to see the seemier side of an occupation that appeals to many jobless college graduates.Scroggins opened my eyes, at least, to what goes on behind the news of wars in Africa. She has untangled the web of tribal and clan animosities which propel events there, and through the story of one misguided Englishwoman, shows us how good intentions (not to mention the dollars we donate to aid organizations) go astray.
Rating:
Summary: Tragic but not especially gripping
Review: At first blush, Emma's War seems to be about the life of Emma McCune and her pathetic attempts to wrap her arms (and legs) around practically anything African in a droll attempt to lend meaning to her otherwise empty, flaky life. I came close to putting the book down several times and walking away. Emma's War does evolve, however into a tale of naive tragedy as Emma tries to continue to delude herself that she is anything more than a pawn in the army of her bloody-handed husband, Reik (who, polygamously, has another wife and several children and will have yet another wife after Emma's death). Despite Emma's almost childlike conviction that her marriage is really based on mutual true love, it is painfully obvious that Reik is really just using her and her past as an aid worker to keep "humanitarian" supplies coming in to support his army. It is really a very sad tale. My particular criticism of Emma's War is that it tries to be a personal tale of Emma's life and a historical work on the Sudanese civil war and doesn't really do either very well. Emma's life is told in inconsistent patches and, while there is the standard war-poverty-famine African themes, the players and factions become very confusing. For those looking for a good narrative on modern Africa, try "Dark Star Safari" by Theroux. Emma's War has further convinced me that no amount of Western lives or dollars will help Africa and that is perhaps the most profound tragedy of all.
Rating: 
Summary: Friend Of The Devil
Review: Deborah Scroggins gives voice to a tsunami of human suffering in the Horn of Africa while exposing the cynicism of Southern Sudan's rebel "leadership" and the shallow vanity of the Western aid establishment. Though there is fodder aplenty for condemnation here, Scroggins restrains herself ably (save for an occasional swipe at the usual Western conservative bogeymen). In the end, this book is a mirror from which the reader cannot escape: How many innocent Africans must starve before I will really care? If not me, who? If not now, when? And once read, Scroggins' frustrating work refuses to rest politely on the bookshelf: this is a real Tragedy, and now the reader, like it or not, has a supporting role. "Emma's War" marks Deborah Scroggins' first bow on the literary stage since her triumphant screenplay "Death In Decatur." Let's hope there's much more to come from this talented writer.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable - wonderful book
Review: Deborah Scroggins has given us a gift of a book - wonder and awe as I read it. This book reminded me how much I do not know about other cultures - but I learned so much from her book- it makes me want to learn even more. Her book reads like a novel - and is for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: a must read! excellent!
Review: Deborah Scroggins has given us a gift of a book. It reads like a novel yet you learn so much about other cultures at the same time. Not once did I want to put this book down. Articulate, precise in sentence and chapters, and always interesting. I want to learn more about the region now than ever before. Thank you Ms. Scroggins for such an excellent book - my book club has selected it for next month.
Rating:
Summary: Brillantly Written History of Southern Sudan
Review: Deborah, an credialble story teller one can see by reading the first page. From there on one is caught the with amazing written history of Southern Sudan from the religious aspect to the Oil dealings. She manages to combine, passion and intellect in such a way with so much emotion one does not want the book to finish. It teaches the unfamilair with what is happening with Sudan today. A much read for all.
Rating:
Summary: I have been there
Review: Having made 3 trips to Sudan doing some medical missions work I found this to be a very interesting book, giving good insight to the terrible situation of that country. Much more a story of the country than just about Emma. Probably is best for me to remain anonymous.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning Book
Review: I also loved this book and couldn't put it down. Scroggins is a great reporter. I'm amazed by how far she went to get this story -- farther than I believed it was possible for a Western journalist. So I'm impressed by the work that went into it. But it's also just a great read. I got through it in two days or so, because it's all I wanted to do. I've never seen another book about humanitarian aid like it. So captivating and devastating.
Rating:
Summary: Emma's War: An Aid Worker, a Warlord, Radical Islam, and the
Review: I could not put this book down once I started it: even though I was in between exams. It's well written and an easy read. Although the book is centered on Emma, it also includes some very educative elements of Sudanse history and that of the Sudanese Civil war. The only parts I found disturbing is the typical generalizations that's often found in a lot of writings about Africa and the peculiarity of certain attitudes often presented as only African. For example: The author introduced the reader in the first pages to what she refers to the Politics of the belly as being what all African politics is about; she also interpretes popular proverbs as confirming her theory that all of African politics is centered on the belly. I think she misses the point that; whereever you have a situation in a community or a country for that matter where the playing field is terribly skewed or the political structure is clientelist, or a political/power structure where the Big Man dominates all works of life, the politics of the belly inevitably results. When you hear the expression " oh he eats from Mr.T" for example: this translates to meaning that he earns his exisistence from Mr.T who is connected enough (usually politically) to make these provisions available. It's not necessarily FOOD. It could be opportunities!! occassional gifts of money or expensive presents in return for loyalty for instance. The relationships can be clan based, nationalistic, friendships, common business interest. You find these relationships and politics of the belly all over the ex soviet states, from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bellarusia, Moldova.. it's rampant in these parts of the world not only Africa as seems to be suggested by the author. It's also not inherently African either. Take out the rule of law that levels the playing field in any community and you will immediately see the emergence of the Politics of The Belly!! It's nothing inherently African - it's Human!!! I just thought I clarify this point.
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