I found the pace interesting in this book. Parts were long and incredibly detailed, and others went by in a blink. Very well told, but I finished wanting more in parts. ( )

It is always sad for me to read about Africa and this was particular sad. I always wonder how African people can be so wonderful to each other and add such joy to people's lives but are unable to run a country or not kill each other. Growing up white in Africa makes reading books like this so interesting.

Rollicking good story ( )

This book is my life. ( )

Opening Sentence: '...Mum says "Don't come creeping into our room at night." ...'

This is because Alexandra's parents sleep with loaded guns to shoot intruders. She was born in England but conceived and bred in Rhodesia during the civil war from 1971-1979. A dangerous time when children where taught how to load, strip and clean all the guns in the house, and shoot-to-kill. Fuller describes her parents' racism and the wartime relationships between blacks and whites through a child's eyes. Night curfews, riding in cars with guns to shoot back at snipers, mosquitoes, land mines, ambushes and lots of animals that can kill are the everyday occurrences of her childhood. She explains as a child best can how Robert Mugabe came to power, and how his strict control and reign of terror against his opposition began.

Some may find this memoir to be a little full on, and angry at her attitudes. It is a childhood that existed in a way of life that is fortunately dying out now. To a lesser extent it is the life of my childhood and I can understand how she can see, and relate, bigotry and racism, that occurred around her, without understanding the implications. I am not sure of how Fuller feels today - but I am horrified by racism - totally different to my parents who have a white supremacy attitude to this day. While there is war, atrocities and racism surrounding her - Fuller has much more important things in her life. The death of siblings, abuse by a neigbour, no food on the table, and a drunken mother. The rich and terribly beautiful life in Africa is just the backdrop to her family life. ( )