Rating: 
Summary: Great Book!
Review: An accurate memoir of the history of Zimbabwe just wouldn't sell; there'd be no market for it. Yes, the writer may well have done his best, but within certain marketing parametres. Anyway, I don't feel like going back to the book for another pass so's to write a more detailed analysis. Suffice to say that, while it may not have been candy-coated, it necessarily had to have a fair few lashings of sweet stuff to make it palatable to ... well, for a start to the tens of thousands of former Rhodesians who'd want this book featuring on their bookshelves, along with "Flame Things of Thika" ... To those who disagree, go forth and enjoy your fairy tale world. Because I sure wish I had one too.
Rating:
Summary: Honest, exciting and well-written
Review: An unflinching look at the author's experiences growing up white in Africa. His accounts are riveting and straight-forward and not suffocated by too much introspection and guilt. Godwin takes his readers from his idyllic childhood, to his role as a soldier fighting to maintain white rule in the civil war, to his experiences covering the country as a "foreign" journalist. Not only does the book offer tremendous insight into Rhodesia / Zimbabwe, but it is a thoroughly entertaining read as well. I strongly recommend this book to everyone - one of the best African books I have read yet.
Rating:
Summary: A Patriot's Lamentful Memoir
Review: Even though Mr. Godwin is the consumate ex-pat, he will never be anything but a Mukiwa/Zimbabwean in his heart. In an age of pervasive political correctness (pc), it it so very refreshing to read a book that speaks from the head and heart with equal patronage, distilling all the pc off the top, and assigning it to the literary land fill where it belongs. Mr. Godwin is right on point with regard to the Mugabe pc, as evidenced by the
tactics that Mugabe and his hencemen are employing as I write this, in the current 2002 election campaign. Fraud is fraud, black or white, and Mr. Godwin illustrates this point so well.
Further, he exposes the good and bad of european rule, examines the concept of duty, and handles the affairs of his family with honor and love. This book is for all people, all races, all time.
And in the ultimate salute, Mr. Godwin is kind of person who I would love to share a pint with, and have a good chat up. Well done Sir.
Rating:
Summary: close to home
Review: For anyone who spent some of their formative years in Africa this is a truly magical book - the almost osmotic relationship with your nanny, the african words long forgotten and the mood of the times was brought back to life for me in 3d Technicolour and Dolby stereo sound. If nothing else buy this book to remember the appalling terror of the tokalosh....TFB
Rating:
Summary: A must read for all those interested in Southern Africa!!
Review: I was born in and lived in Rhodesia until the age of 16. I left the country in 1976, and left my heart there. Peter Godwin's recalling his childhood days and high school days could be my own story. After that, we have only one thing in common, an undying love for the land and the people. I have never been back. This book has brought me one step closer to the 'pilgrimage' that I hope to make some day. Mukiwa allowed me to stretch all my emotions. I laughed at all the familiar stories, I pondered the many things I never understood, I cryed with the people of Rhodesia, I was angered at events that should never have happened and finally, I began to see all a little clearer. Read this book and learn. God bless Zimbabwe
Rating:
Summary: Brings back great memories
Review: It is like reliving my childhood again. A truly great read.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining story--to those who would know no better.
Review: Oh sure, I expect votes for this review to be minimal; that doesn't phase me one bit. But the truth, the essential, untwistable truth is this: Zimbabwe is an occupied country. This is something the author fails to give proper weighting to. People of European descent own most of the land, and the best land at that. Think about it: do negro folk own most of the land in Europe? Yes, indeed there are the well-worn arguments ... the "White" farmers "bought" the land, that the nation would starve without their food-producing skills etc. But in actual fact, having lived in Zimbabwe and elsewhere (I was not born there), and having caught eerie glimpses of how the world is REALLY run, I'd say that any genuine progress by African blacks in modern times will meet with subtle & invisible sabotage from the highest levels of power. The argument that Mugabe is an inept/corrupt leader: No African leader with genuine aims to improve the lot of his people would ever be allowed to see the light of too many days. Lumumba of The Congo was one such sincere leader. His sincerity was rewarded by death; a Belgian police chief based in the Congo boasted of having dissolved Lumumba's body in an acid bath. Do you think Mugabe--always the pragmatist--would not be aware of this? Better a bad leader, one who allows certain interests (those at the highest levels of power) to have their way with his country & it's resources, than to be "good" (but dead) leader. People of Zimbabwe, Black or White, do not believe for one minute the "official" news that portrays leaders of Western countries as being so terribly upset with Mugabe. These are just illusions; the realities are much stranger. Regarding the White farmers with legal ownership of the land; yes, I have certain sympathies for them (though like most Southern African settlers, they are an arrogant and unlikeable bunch. People from my country (Australia) and elsewhere who have visited and mingled with S.African settler communities will know full well what I mean.) What I can point out to the settler farmers is that they are also pawns in the game. If they (or their parents/grandparents etc) legally bought the land from the British government, it is the British government who should meet their compensation & whatever other needs. I guess the British Government sees such settler-farmers as too valuble as pawns & spies to arrange resettlements of these farmers to other countries. Apologies for such a downcast view, and statements that reduce this book as a candy-coated fairy tale of a comfortable life somewhat disturbed by having to do Army Service. One more note: my opinions are NOT typical of MOST white Australians, who would be just as disdainful for peoples colonised by Anglo folk.
Rating:
Summary: Youth in Southern Africa
Review: Reading this book was a wonderfully rich and poignant way of stepping back through my own childhood and youth. As an adult living in the United States who lived a very similar lifestyle in Southern Africa, it is a cleverly written account of British colonial childhood innocence giving immediate way to the destruction of civil war where purpose and meaning are not always clear to those on the front lines until much later on in life. In an enlightening way, Peter's narration articulates my own youth. I look forward to reading more of his books, and I look forward sharing my background with others close to me through him.
Rating:
Summary: Great read! Sets context for Zimbabwe's current problems!
Review: This book is a great read whether or not you have any particular interest in Zimbabwe. The author's story is inherently interesting and well told. If you are interested in Zimbabwe, however, this book is priceless. It is the best of several books I have read about Zimbabwe. My wife, whose interest in Zimbabwe is much less strong than my own, also read this book and was equally enthralled with it.
Rating:
Summary: Great read! Sets context for Zimbabwe's current problems!
Review: This book is a great read whether or not you have any particular interest in Zimbabwe. The author's story is inherently interesting and well told. If you are interested in Zimbabwe, however, this book is priceless. It is the best of several books I have read about Zimbabwe. My wife, whose interest in Zimbabwe is much less strong than my own, also read this book and was equally enthralled with it.
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