toniclark 's review for:

Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen
5.0

I first read this book decades ago, but couldn't remember much about it, except the first sentence ("I had a farm in Africa") and that was a memoir by Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen). I saw the movie at some point, too, and remember it a wee bit better than the book, but not very well.

I decided to try this audiobook (mainly because it was short and included (at no charge) in the Audible Plus program. Wow, I just fell in love with it. I thought the story (vignettes, really), but especially the language, were beautiful. And the narration was wonderful.

The book is in many ways a product of its time. Some will find it dated, some racist. But there's much to admire — Karen Blixen's determination and strength, her lyrical language, her depths of emotion so beautifully expressed. Do see the excellent review here by Jeffrey Keeten, complete with photos.