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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
My 12 year old nephew suggested this one for me--I thought it would be a nice, straightforward account of a boy who built a windmill ... but it turned out to be one of the more moving experiences I've had reading this year. There's a harrowing longish sequence in the middle involving famine which gives the rest of the book its emotional gravitas.
It certainly makes me feel privileged to be so blasé about things like the Internet, Starbucks, sandwiches, etc. Malawi is a very different place--more different than I would have thought prior to reading the book. Very much recommended.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
It certainly makes me feel privileged to be so blasé about things like the Internet, Starbucks, sandwiches, etc. Malawi is a very different place--more different than I would have thought prior to reading the book. Very much recommended.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
I really enjoyed the completeness of the story. Each part flowed into the next and I never had to figure out what was going on. I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narrators accent really helped to immerse me into William's story. His story was funny and I laughed out loud. It was so sad I nearly cried. I could feel William's pride as he talked about his windmill and his enthusiasm as he talked about his next step. He didn't dumb anything down, just explained things as he saw it. Even though I couldn't always understand his process or the mechanics I found myself still enthralled in the story. William is truly inspiring.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
A great story and Kankwamba is a great story teller. He is funny and lighthearted even discussing the famine and his hardships. Loved the book and it’s inspiring message.
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
“What would I do next? What was in my future? Looking across the field of windmills, I saw how the mountains seemed to tumble and dance along their twirling blades. They seemed to be telling me some thing – that I didn’t have to decide right away. I could return to Africa and go back to school. And after that, who knows? … Whatever I decided to do, this lesson would stay with me: If you want to make it, all you have to do is try.” -William Kamkwamba
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced