Blue Nile

Rating:
Summary: I agree with A Reader
Review: ... when he expressed disappointment about Morrell's constant complaints about the tour guide, Mike Speakes. The book-long litany of criticism for Speakes is what stands out for me - more than the scenery, the people, the history, etc. Morrell suggests that she chose not to address her concerns with Speakes directly out of deference to others in her group. Instead, with the exception of one instance late in the game, she saved all of her venom to share with thousands of readers. I don't know Speakes; I never heard of him before reading this book. I don't know Morrell; I never heard of her before reading her book. I did not read any of the Amazon reviews of the book until after I read the book. What I do know is that Morrell's mean-spirited jibes at Speakes so permeated the story that my opinion of Morrell's character is perhaps as low as she wanted the reader's opinion to be of Speakes.

Rating:
Summary: Blue Nile
Review: I am informed that the review appearing on this page by the "reader from Denali" is not Michael Speaks, the chief boatman on the river adventure described in this book. I sincerely regret the error, which was based purely on an assumption, and apologise to Speaks. The review was written by a friend of Speaks who lives in Denali.

Rating:
Summary: Blue Nile
Review: I am informed that the review appearing on this page by the "reader from Denali" is not Michael Speaks, the chief boatman on the river adventure described in this book. I sincerely regret the error, which was based purely on an assumption, and apologise to Speaks. The review was written by a friend of Speaks who lives in Denali.

Rating:
Summary: Blue Nile: The big and the small
Review: I have read books about rivers and waters, but I'm yet to read one as wonderfully written as Virginia Morell's "Blue Nile". Virginia Morell interweaves the history of the Blue Nile, its political and religious mysteries, its daring explorers and the people whose lives are dependent upon it, with a great mastery of language and detail that hooks the reader from cover to cover.

Virginia's novel encounters are told with an art that leaves the reader amazingly enlightened about Ethiopia's landscape. The history of the Blue Nile is the the history of Ethiopia. The adventures of the Blue Nile are the adventures of Ethiopia.

Rating:
Summary: The Blue Nile
Review: I loved this book! Blue Nile carried me fully on a compelling journey by river raft through the physical and cultural landscape of Ethiopia's primary river. Virginia Morell tells the story of the people who inhabit the highlands and plains of the Blue Nile with such vivid and intelligent descriptions that I felt I had met them myself, participated in the adventures and foibles of river-travel(raft),witnessed moments of danger and intrigue, and accepted their gracious hospitality. The brilliance of Morell's story is her weaving of her personal experiences throughout the larger background of the country itself, its political, geological and cultural histories ever expressed within the present. A lovely book, heartfelt, informative and rendered by a true storyteller with a painterly stroke of hand.

Rating:
Summary: Blue Nile: The big and the small
Review: I truly found this to be a wonderful book with a far more human and intimate view of Ethiopia: her people and her jewel... The Blue Nile.
From the more mystic/historic background surrounding the still mysterious river... to the individuals and unique stories that live along her banks and canyons. I found Virginia Morell's voyage to be refreshing in its focus... and successful in putting a human face on a country and a people that are soo much more than famine, war and isolated despair.
Truly a wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: Blue Nile
Review: In the interest of fair disclosure, the anonymous "reader from Denali Park, Alaska" who gave this marvelous book a one-star rating is Michael Speaks, the chief boatman on the expedition. Read the book to understand why Speaks dislikes the book so much. For an unbiased review, may I direct your attention to the comments of Publisher Weekley, posted on this site.

Also in the matter of fair disclosure, I am married to the author of Blue Nile.

Michael McRae

Rating:
Summary: A perfectly told travel adventure....
Review: The Blue Nile is a perfectly told travel adventure by a smart, interesting person who writes with complete honesty and empathy. Reading her book is like sitting down with a fascinating friend who tells of her experience in details that make you see what she saw and feel what she felt, with the political history of Ethiopia put into context. Morell is observant, insightful, and open-hearted. Especially for those of us less adventurous types, Morell brings the experience of traversing the rarely travelled path along the Blue Nile right to us. She is a thoroughly engaging travel companion. Her book inspires understanding of a culture and place quite distant to most of us. I love her clear, intelligent writing.

Rating:
Summary: A perfectly told travel adventure....
Review: The Blue Nile is a perfectly told travel adventure by a smart, interesting person who writes with complete honesty and empathy. Reading her book is like sitting down with a fascinating friend who tells of her experience in details that make you see what she saw and feel what she felt, with the political history of Ethiopia put into context. Morell is observant, insightful, and open-hearted. Especially for those of us less adventurous types, Morell brings the experience of traversing the rarely travelled path along the Blue Nile right to us. She is a thoroughly engaging travel companion. Her book inspires understanding of a culture and place quite distant to most of us. I love her clear, intelligent writing.