Green City In The Sun Author:Barbara Wood A saga of four generations of struggle between two families in Kenya--one white and one Black--begins in 1918, when Dr. Grace Treverton and her brother are cursed by Wochera, a witch doctor.
This is the book that got me hooked on reading for pleasure. It's a biggie (699 pages), but I was sad to finish such a wonderful story. In 1917 pioneer Dr. Grace Treverton arrives in Kenya determined to bring modern medicine to the natives. Her brother, Sr. Valentine Treverton has his own dream: to establish an agricultural empire. The siblings dreams collide with those of the African family that has lived on the land for generations. The beautiful descriptions of the land was wonderful...made me feel like I was there. A great read!
There is only word the describes Green City In The Sun-Mesmerizing- you never will want to put it down but you don't want this captivating story to ever end, you are trasported into another world everytime you pick it up. Green City In The Sun will make you smile and cry. It is a book about dreams and dissapointments, of courage and fear and of hatred and love. You see the rise of Kenya, and its fall and how it rises again. Green City In The Sun a book filled with memorable characters that you won't ever forget.
Unexpectedly, this very entertaining book captivated me with its sweeping descriptions of the Kenya plains and jungles, the well-researched, deep history of the country, and the rounded and real characters. The way the author explained the reasons native Kenyans hold on to their beliefs and the way that the British settlers hold onto theirs. The concept of home is used in a unique way, and one in which I didn't expect.
The saga begins with the first Trevertons clearing land for crops and homes and for some reason a polo field. A baby, Mona, is born along the way and her story is just tragicher mother, Rose, seemingly incapable of love, doesn't want anything to do with her. Her father wanted a boy. The details of each of their lives holds both the best and the worst of life.
The two constants throughout the book were Grace Treverton, the dedicated (almost unrealistically so) doctor and mission founder, who brings medicine and aid to the Kenyans; and the Kikuyu medicine women, commonly known as "witch doctors." Both women strongly believed that their brand of healing was the one that worked. In many ways, they were both correct. The juxtaposition of "old" Kenya vs. "new" Kenya fascinated me. Wood effectively explained both sides of the colonization debate and was, I believe, fair in her treatment of their positions.
This story is so large and encompasses such a long amount of time, complete with many a tragedy (supposedly due to the curse placed upon the Trevertons), that I feel like these people were my friends. The feeling is similar to when I read Rosamunde Pilcher books.
I especially liked how Grace Treverton tried to get the native Kenyans to accept western medicine: she put drops of colors into clear, liquid serums so that they appeared magic. In addition, she did several other things to try to understand things as they understood them.
Finally, if you've ever had difficulty understanding interracial relationships - how they develop, defying obstacles of social acceptance, etc., Wood explains this well, too. Where I'm from it's generally not an accepted practice and my instincts from childhood initially had me bristling up at certain parts. But after reading the explanation, after following the characters, after seeing the world how they saw itit seemed strange *not* to have things any other way. People are people, wherever you are. This book was undoubtedly one of the best-researched ones I've come across - not just historically but also culturally. Just amazing.
I can't claim to be happy with part of how the author chose to end the story but the ultimate ending, I thought, was nothing short of beautiful.
Another gripping novel by Barbara Wood.
With World War I behind them, the Treverton family set out from England to make their fortune in the unspoiled paradise of Kenya. But nothing could have prepared them for what they found in their new world: the harsh, beautiful land and the Kikuyu people who live there. We follow them through several generations; tragedy and triumph, the Mau Mau movement and forbidden love. Green City in the Sun is a novel as magnificent as the continent of Africa itself.
A saga of the generations of a powerful family in colonial africa from the age of Victoria, through the Mau Mau uprisings, to the 1990s. Very colorful and rich in detail.
With World War I behing them, the Treverton family set out from England to make its fortune in the unspoiled paradise of Kenya. sir Treverton, eccentric and handsome, vowed to c arve a vast coffee plantation out of the virgin wilderness. His frail wife Rose followed him, as she did in all things. And his strong-willed sister, Grace arrived with the mostambitious dream of all; to bring modern medicine to Africa.
But nothing could have prepared them for what they found in their new world; the harsh, beautiful land, the proud people, and the medicine woman, Wachera Mathenge, a member of the revered Kikuyu clan. The antagonism between the Trevertons and Mathenges continued into the next generation, and as the Mau Mau movement ignited the country, the rivalry exploded, threatening to bring tragedy to both families. A moumental story of murderous hatred, forbidden love and violent revolution. Green City in the Sun is a novel as mangificient as the continent of Africa itself.
This book is a little worn; cover has bending cracks, but all pages are in tact.
