This autobiography starts with an absolutely chilling picture of 5 year old Alexandra Fuller loading her father's rifle. The opening of the book has stayed with me for years (I've read this book twice):

Mum says, "Don't come creeping into our room at night."
They sleep with loaded guns beside them on the besdie rugs. She says, "Don't startle us when we're sleeping." "Why not?" "We might shoot you." "Oh." "By mistake."

Alexandra was born in England, but her family moved to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) when she was three. This is the story of their family's struggles with drought, malaria and with the civil war that led to independence. Most of the story is told from the perspective of a child. It is unflinchingly honest, relaying her parents' racism and alcohol abuse as well as their better qualities.

The strength of this book is in the telling of the story through the eyes of a child. As the book evolves, and the child ages, the perspective broadens. But never enough to let me know how Ms. Fuller feels about her childhood and about the kind of beliefs she was raised with now that she is an adult living in North America. ( )

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. ( )