A review by dlberglund
The Village of Waiting by George Packer
4.0
This book sat on my to-read list for almost a decade before I finally prioritized it on my library hold list, and committed to reading it. Packer is a great writer who made me *think* all the way through the book. I have repeatedly described this book as "thoughtful". At times, that made for some dense prose; not a quick read, for sure. But it was reflective, history-minded, and thoughtful without being didactic. He doesn't wash his Peace Corps experience in sepia tones, or give in to easy characterizations of himself or the other people he meets. He tries to show the tightrope walk of development work, of colonization history and its repercussions, of economic colonialism, or misguided altruism, fatalism, and self-centered youth. Best of all, he shows a realistic picture of himself that is neither self-mocking nor self-aggrandizing.
I was a Peace Corps volunteer in East Africa, removed from Packer's experience by 15 years and more than 2000 miles. Though the colonial and atrocity history in "my" country was very different, it amazed me how much of his experience translated to what I experienced. He put to words things I had wondered about, noticed in my periphery, and he posed the kinds of questions that did not ever quite materialize for me.
Though there are other light, fun and funny, meaningful Peace Corps memoirs out there, this was the best balanced and reflective look at the tricky nature of volunteer "development" work. It is well worth the read.
I was a Peace Corps volunteer in East Africa, removed from Packer's experience by 15 years and more than 2000 miles. Though the colonial and atrocity history in "my" country was very different, it amazed me how much of his experience translated to what I experienced. He put to words things I had wondered about, noticed in my periphery, and he posed the kinds of questions that did not ever quite materialize for me.
Though there are other light, fun and funny, meaningful Peace Corps memoirs out there, this was the best balanced and reflective look at the tricky nature of volunteer "development" work. It is well worth the read.