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. ( )

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. ( )

Wonderfully written, funny and poignant at the same time, sensual descriptions of Africa - made me want to go back to this powerful place. ( )

This was a very interesting look into one white family's life in south Africa (Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi) during the political turmoil of the 70s. Fuller's narrative is largely anecdotal, but I think this is an honest way to present a story that begins when she is a very young girl. The author does not romanticize Africa nor she sugar coat her family's life, attitudes or political beliefs. Though her family often seems callous and obtuse in their belief that whites "belong in Africa," their love for Africa is apparent on every page. ( )

I also highly recommend this memoir. It is, like [The Poisonwood Bible], by [Barbara Kingsolver], about a white girl growing up in Africa, but this time it is true. She grew up in then Southern Rhodesia, and lived through the revolution there was a child. It is excellent, very engrossing, and a quick read. You will not be disappointed ( )

OK memoir of growing up in Africa. ( )

Delightful read about the author's experiences while growing up as British "settlers" during the Rhodesian civil war. A bit irreverent and sad at times, but also very funny. An entirely satisfying story. ( )

I was in Zimbabwe in 2001 so this book had a fascination for me. Fuller is able to make us see what was going on through the eyes of a child. ( )

This is one of the freshest and unlimiting books I've read for months and on African upraisal for years. If I had to pick between Doris Lessing and Alexandra Fuller, I'd go for the latter definitely. The main reason is that she has a voice so distinctly modern and up to date that she relates much more to the current times than Lessing's bios do. ( )

Intense, frightening, humourous and life-affirming. ( )

A wonderfully written memoir of growing up in Africa . Fuller was born in Rhodesia now Zimbabwe in 1967. Living with her parents and sister on a farm , they are hardworking and serve as an example of those struggling to survive in a brutal land. Fuller tells her story with humour amidst such tragedy and horror in this war torn country. I found this insightful in regard to the current political climate in Zimbabwe with President Mugabe and the conflict with white farmers. Perceptive, political and tragic. Highly recommended. ( )

i love women's memoirs and this was a good one--about life in africa, about being white in africa, about being a white kid in africa, about how tough you have to be, about being the youngest, about having a drunk and mentally ill mom that you still love. ( )

Childhood during the Rhodesian Civil War in an English farming family

Wonderful memoir about growing up in Africa esp as the girl has crazy parents. ( )

A wonderful autobiography of an expat family in Africa. Dark so dark, and yet written with great grace and love for place and family. ( )

This is a remarkable memoir of a white African child growing up during the in Rhodesian
during civil war. She relates the trials of her daily life, the family problems, the racism, the horrors of an entire continent as they move from the country. I found it fascinating, especially since I have an uncle who grew up and lived in Rhodesia during the same period. ( )

A fascinating story of a childhood in Africa--Rhodesia during its civil war, Malawi and Zambia. The daughter of farmers, Fuller remembers the good and the bad, the bugs and the beauty. A great read, but does not induce me to visit Africa. ( )

3.5 out of 5: In Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, Alexandra Fuller describes her childhood in Africa. Fuller’s story, told in graceful prose, is brutal and touching and never overly sentimental. I enjoyed many of the stories Fuller includes in this memoir, but I found certain aspects tedious. Fuller’s family moves through many different living situations in numerous countries and confronts various unstable political regimes. After awhile, these places and politics run together and became repetitive. The tedium borne of this repetition somewhat lessens the overall power of this memoir, but Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight remains a worthwhile read.

This review also appears on my blog Literary License (short reviews, real opinions): litlicense.blogspot.com ( )

Loved. I thought about this book for weeks after I read it... ( )

good. interesting, at times depressing ( )

An unsentimental, but stirring autobiography about growing up in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe. Fuller's measured tone works well to paint pictures of the parents and sister--not necessarily sympathetic characters. She achieves a nice balance in communicating the foreign and the mundane of her home life. Worth a read. ( )