shlackspot's review against another edition
5.0
pero qué libro más espectacularmente bueno me encanta me fascina lo amo me encanta el principio el medio y el final me encanta todo. jamás me aburrió estaba tan bien escrito todos los personajes eran queribles a su manera de verdad ctm que librazo. grace treverton, desde que apareciste te recé y rezaré por siempre!!! es que diosmio no puedo expresar en palabras y sin spoilers lo mucho que me ultra mega encantó este libro. 100% recommended no se qué voy a hacer ahora con mi vida
marieliebtbuecher's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
bookrec's review against another edition
5.0
I may have loved this book more because we were in Kenya last year but the story kept me from putting the book down. The stories of the Treverton women enthralled me. The description of Kenya was so accurate I could see it again. Despite its length it took less than a week for me to read.
jljaina's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
Overall I enjoyed this. I loved the setting and how vivid it felt. The conflicts that arose were heartfelt (and some heartbreaking!). However it felt overly romanticized in the early to mid book and I felt that was either a distraction from everything else happening or more energy should have been spent on the inter-racial relationship. And then, after I get invested and they have a kid and then wham-the book takes a serious tone to it and the romance is gone!
Now I liked how well written this was. It really brought Kenya (a historical Kenya) to life! TO see the differences of the colonists versus the natives of the land and how the interactions might have happened. It is a beautifully written saga that can both delight and have you questioning who we are as people.
Overall I enjoyed this. I loved the setting and how vivid it felt. The conflicts that arose were heartfelt (and some heartbreaking!). However it felt overly romanticized in the early to mid book and I felt that was either a distraction from everything else happening or more energy should have been spent on the inter-racial relationship. And then, after I get invested and they have a kid and then wham-the book takes a serious tone to it and the romance is gone!
Now I liked how well written this was. It really brought Kenya (a historical Kenya) to life! TO see the differences of the colonists versus the natives of the land and how the interactions might have happened. It is a beautifully written saga that can both delight and have you questioning who we are as people.
leighnonymous's review against another edition
5.0
Unexpectedly, this book captivated me with its sweeping descriptions of the Kenya plains and jungles, the well-researched, deep history of the country, and the rounded and real characters. The way the author explained the reasons native Kenyans hold on to their beliefs and the way that the white, European settlers hold onto theirs. The concept of home is used in a unique way, and one in which I didn't expect.
The saga begins with the first Trevertons clearing land for crops and homes and for some reason a polo field. A baby, Mona, is born along the way and her story is just tragic…her mother, Rose, seemingly incapable of love, doesn't want anything to do with her (foreshadowing to Mona's relationship with her own daughter). Her father wanted a boy. The details of each of their lives holds both the best and the worst of life.
The two constants throughout the book were Grace Treverton, the dedicated (almost unrealistically so) doctor and mission founder, who brings medicine and aid to the Kenyans; and the Kikuyu medicine women, commonly known as "witch doctors." Both women strongly believed that their brand of healing was the one that worked. In many ways, they were both correct. The juxtaposition of "old" Kenya vs. "new" Kenya fascinated me. Wood effectively explained both sides of the colonization debate and was, I believe, fair in her treatment of their positions.
This story is so large and encompasses such a long amount of time, complete with many a tragedy (supposedly due to the curse placed upon the Trevertons), that I feel like these people were my friends. The feeling is similar to when I read Rosamunde Pilcher books.
I especially liked how Grace Treverton tried to get the native Kenyans to accept western medicine: she put drops of colors into clear, liquid serums so that they appeared magic. In addition, she did several other things to try to understand things as they understood them.
Finally, if you've ever had difficulty understanding interracial relationships - how they develop, defying obstacles of social acceptance, etc., Wood explains this well, too. Where I'm from it's generally not an accepted practice and my instincts from childhood had me bristling up at certain parts. But after reading the explanation, after following the characters, after seeing the world how they saw it…it seemed strange not to have things any other way. This book was undoubtedly one of the best-researched ones I've come across - not just historically but also culturally. Just amazing.
I can't claim to be happy with part of how the author chose to end the story but the ultimate ending, I thought, was nothing short of beautiful.
The saga begins with the first Trevertons clearing land for crops and homes and for some reason a polo field. A baby, Mona, is born along the way and her story is just tragic…her mother, Rose, seemingly incapable of love, doesn't want anything to do with her (foreshadowing to Mona's relationship with her own daughter). Her father wanted a boy. The details of each of their lives holds both the best and the worst of life.
The two constants throughout the book were Grace Treverton, the dedicated (almost unrealistically so) doctor and mission founder, who brings medicine and aid to the Kenyans; and the Kikuyu medicine women, commonly known as "witch doctors." Both women strongly believed that their brand of healing was the one that worked. In many ways, they were both correct. The juxtaposition of "old" Kenya vs. "new" Kenya fascinated me. Wood effectively explained both sides of the colonization debate and was, I believe, fair in her treatment of their positions.
This story is so large and encompasses such a long amount of time, complete with many a tragedy (supposedly due to the curse placed upon the Trevertons), that I feel like these people were my friends. The feeling is similar to when I read Rosamunde Pilcher books.
I especially liked how Grace Treverton tried to get the native Kenyans to accept western medicine: she put drops of colors into clear, liquid serums so that they appeared magic. In addition, she did several other things to try to understand things as they understood them.
Finally, if you've ever had difficulty understanding interracial relationships - how they develop, defying obstacles of social acceptance, etc., Wood explains this well, too. Where I'm from it's generally not an accepted practice and my instincts from childhood had me bristling up at certain parts. But after reading the explanation, after following the characters, after seeing the world how they saw it…it seemed strange not to have things any other way. This book was undoubtedly one of the best-researched ones I've come across - not just historically but also culturally. Just amazing.
I can't claim to be happy with part of how the author chose to end the story but the ultimate ending, I thought, was nothing short of beautiful.
mauro_mdc's review against another edition
5.0
A book that has everything (not just love as I thought before starting it). I really enjoyed it and recommend it!
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