Love In The Driest Season: A Family Memoir (2005) - Plot & Excerpts
This memoir covers the life of Neely Tucker, a journalist, who while stationed in Zimbabwe, falls in love with a sweet little African girl and begins the difficult journey of international adoption. The book discusses racial matters: Neely is a white male from the deep South of Mississippi, his wife, Vita, is an African American woman from Detroit. These characteristics actually prove to be hindrances to the obstacle of adopting Chipo. The book is actually pretty intense, Neely is an active journalist correspondent, who travels to some dangerous places and lives the complete jet-set lifestyle. After reading this I could never be an internationalist journalist, at least not one that covers the subjects he did, and I could not be married to one. It is touching to see the sacrifices and changes he is willing to take to adopt his daughter. It was so frustrating to read how inept and corrupt the Zimbabwean government system proved to be, especially in regards to foreign adoptions. The descriptions of the orphanages were so heart wrenching. The AIDS epidemic/statistics/consequences were very sobering. Although depressing at times, this book is about perseverance and the triumph of a family against all odds. Favorite Quote:Sitting in that chair, my blue store apron on and a stupid look on my face, I think I understood for the first time that the word I had used said nothing about Theron, about the actor, or even about black people in general. It said boatloads, however, about me.”
I've read a handful of journalists' memoirs, and while they tend to be (unsurprisingly) written well, they're also often bogged down with external detail -- facts, history, context. All of that it important, of course -- perhaps critical -- but too much of it can overshadow the author's personal experience.What I loved about this, then, was that there is a fair amount of context (for both Mississippi and Zimbabwe), but the bulk of the story is the author's. If I could, I'd give the book four and a half stars -- I would have liked to see a bit more discussion of how Chipo's adoption might have seemed from a Zimbabwean perspective (given the importance of ritual and family ties and so on, and given how rare international adoptions are there). Granted, we get some of that in the shape of the people Tucker and his wife dealt with along the way, but perhaps a little more of the more general? I suppose I'd like to know more about views of international adoption from average Zimbabweans (i.e., ones not deciding whether or not someone may adopt.)That said, he paints a fascinating -- and often bleak -- picture of Zimbabwe from a (resident) foreigner's perspective, and Chipo's tale -- whether they'd be able to foster or adopt her; whether she'd be okay in the long run -- was extremely well written.
What do You think about Love In The Driest Season: A Family Memoir (2005)?
I have had this book for several years but only now picked it up to read. I was surprised to find it so interesting. I could not help but sympathize and cheer for the couple through every step of their torturous adoptive process. I have an adopted daughter and did adoptions when I was a social worker, so the subject was of interest to me. Learning more about the prevalence of Aids in Zimbabwe, the large number of orphans, the many children who died horrible deaths, the atrocious conditions in the orphanages, and the political climate in the country were all discouraging and depressing factors. This book should teach us to persevere and never give up if something is really important to us.
—Ellen Moore
This is such a compelling story that paucity of dialogue wasn't such a detractant, although I noticed it throughout. The story is told by a journalist, thus it reads more like the account that it is instead of a fictional story. And it's a powerful story indeed. The reader feels frustration and numbing realities along with the author. I loved this story. It's well worth the read; I listened to it on CD. The reader learns along the way, always a good thing. And the realities in Africa are chilling. This is a historical snapshot in time as well as a family memoir. I have deep respect and admiration for the author and his wife after reading this account. Books like this one bring us greater understanding of the world than we'll ever find in the nightly news in America or in newspapers. Stories like this one bring situations to a personal level, something we tend to forget that every situation really is. We need more stories like this, though the dangers to those who report them are overwhelming. Thanks to all brave enough to bring us stories of stark reality, and those brave enough to make a difference in even one life.
—Sharon
All other reviews give a thumbnail of the story which was rivoting, I want to review it's effects on me. Even though I was marginally aware of the turmoils of Africa and the AIDS epidemic there at that time I was too involved with raising my own family and dealing with related demands and problems. Reading this now and getting a glimpse of the harrowing experience Mr Tucker (and other foreign correspondents) endured for the 'sake of the story' in a timely fashion effected me profoundly. Not to mention his personal drama trying to adopt an abandon infant. Reads like fiction but NOT!
—Leila
