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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
This is a short autobiographical novel of Karen Blixen's experience on her farm in Africa, published under a pseudonym. Karen was obviously very fond of her corner of Africa - Kenya to be precise - and the people that lived there. Although the story focuses of a simpler, innocent time, there are hints of issues with white colonialism. The natives on the land are called squatters and they are depended on the farm (indentured service?) for their livelihood and land, as they cannot own a property on their own land. Karen has the greatest intentions and obviously cares deeply, but that doesn't make up for the fact that colonialism sets up rules that don't benefit the people that have always been there. The book is not political, but the politics are part of life and cannot be avoided.
The book provides an interesting insight in the lives of people living in Kenya at the time (Karen and other white African residents, natives) and is told with great respect care for its subjects.
The book provides an interesting insight in the lives of people living in Kenya at the time (Karen and other white African residents, natives) and is told with great respect care for its subjects.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
Prachtige omschrijvingen van de omgeving, maar rondom de benadering van de inheemse bevolking heb ik soms mijn twijfels. Sommige momenten voelen heel respectvol, andere weer heel koloniaal. Ik zie een beetje op tegen de verfilming, want die schijnt te focussen op het liefdesverhaal wat in het boek niet eens bij naam genoemd wordt en daarnaast maar zo'n 30 pagina's in beslag neemt.
Horribly boring. I love the subject of life in Africa and the cultures there and the animals but the writer is just not compelling. It’s stiff and journalistic and in no way a riveting story. Just first hand accounts of facts this person experienced. Realistically will never bring myself to finish it so removing from my shelf.
A beautifully written memoir of Karen Blixen's experiences in Kenya, reflecting the times in which she lived but also showing her love for the country and her respect for the culture and for the beliefs of the people around her.
I picked up Out of Africa during my most recent trip to Africa. The continent holds such a draw to me that I I was curious to read this firsthand account of the land in days gone by. It is an interesting and sometimes challenging experience reading Blixen's account, as some of the views toward the native tribes expressed are very backwards and a sad result of the colonial days. Also, there is the disgust I felt at the narrator's hunting activities that I had to take in stride as part of the experience of reading of a different age. In spite of these challenges, I found the author's perceptiveness absolutely brilliant, and her memories of the land and the people she knew on her farm incredibly engaging. You are introduced to so many wonderful characters, who you wish you knew yourself. Her experiences running a coffee farm must have been incredible, and I would encourage anyone with a love of Africa or an interest in it to pick up this beautifully written memoir of someone who loved the land dearly.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
medium-paced