The Garden Of Burning Sand (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
This book was an eye opener for me. Reading this book I got a peek at how people like us, with just the same needs, feelings and rights live in fear of living with nothing. Unprotected, physically, mentally and lawfully. It is so not fair but what do I know, a white teenager in a country that most people don't starve or aren't afraid of leaving their house at night. Someone that has all the basics and doesn't give a second thought at how lucky I am. The novel deals with rape, AIDS, superstition and poverty. It shows how a simple DNA test could save children's hope by putting away criminals that violate their person. How a lot of death could be prevented by knowledge and self preservation. Many people in Africa are suspicious of white doctors and medicine (I don't blame them, mind me)still believe in healers with herbs and potions and only think of going to the hospital as a last resort, and most of the time too late. The story was very interesting, fast paced and mysterious. It was a good blend of love, family, respect,courage, willpower and what's right or wrong. All of the characters were very well developed and two of my three favorites didn't ever show up in the book. Charity/Bella, Zoe's mom, and Kuyeya. After reading all the glowing reviews given to this book I have to admit that I found it a disappointing read. I am not disputing in any way that AIDS is not a major problem in Africa, but so is malaria and other endemic diseases such as Ebola which has caused so many deaths in the past months.I grew up in Zambia and have many fond memories of a beautiful country populated with some very wonderful people. I also spent many years living in South Africa and herein is the problem with a book of this type. Unless you have actually lived in Africa and discovered for yourself the continent and its people, writing a book after a visit gives readers a rather false impression of the realities of every day life there.A small point perhaps is that I found the writer's description of taking this exit number from this motorway to get from A to B rather like a travel journal and somewhat irrelevant. Not what I expect to read in a well written book. As one of the main characters Zoe is the typical archetype rich woman who thinks that she has an answer to all of the problems in Africa, without understanding the cultural identity of its people. I do have to wonder why such people do not look into the problems in their own countries, of which there are many, before even trying to change the rest of the world.Africa does have problems with corruption, greed etc but when reading the daily press it is not difficult to realise that this is the case in many countries, including those in the so called first world.Finally I have just read an excellent quote from Fuse ODF, an English musician of Ghanaian descent:'I, like many others, am sick of the whole concept of Africa – a resource-rich continent with unbridled potential – always being seen as diseased, infested and poverty-stricken. In fact, seven out of 10 of the world’s fastest growing economies are in Africa.'I could not have worded it any better.
What do You think about The Garden Of Burning Sand (2013)?
So much to talk about-Africa, AIDS, disabled children, rape.....a great book group discussion read.
—nick
I really enjoyed this book. Fast paced thriller with a great story. Great read!
—phoen08
