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.
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.
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