I drove to and from the church for a wedding weekend. Six hours in the car allowed me to finish The Poisonwood Bible. What a relief to finish the story. I kept thinking the author had nothing more to say during the final three audio CDs but on she went. The Price women kept going with more aphorisms, cruel and brittle insights and descriptions of Africa. On the sixth hour of driving, as I entered my home county, the story ended.
The Congo is in the news again. Has been for years. I googled info about the current situation even going to the gov CIA site, though after reading the book I doubt the contents. The history from our perspective I ignored but the health stats broke my heart. Nothing is better there. Not enough food, bad health care, violence beyond reason (isn't all violence this?), dictators, no infrastructure, and more.
Lord, for all those who teach, for healthcare workers,for the people of the Congo, for those who love and serve the people of the Congo, have mercy.
St.Casserole
3 comments:
In the end, St.C., how did you feel about the book? I remember being devastated and loving it. And feeling that I was so, so ignorant about African history.
I wonder if the audio experience would have been different than the reading experience? Was it read by a woman or a man?
The child looking down from the perspective of the... lizard? Iguana? made me weep, but also hopeful.
The history of the Congo is horrific. I read a book about Leopold some time back and it was heartbreaking. I remember a while back reading about rebels who would enter villages and cut off the hands of men. This broke my heart. Here men were left helpless. Cutting off their hands takes two workers from the village: the man who has lost his hands and a caretaker who much now do everything for him. Then I found out it was the Belgians who first used this against the Congolese. The entire history of Africa, at least subSaharan Africa is one of unimaginable exploitation by white powers. If you wonder about leaders like Mugabe and Amin, look only to those they learned from. White westerners raped, murdered, exploited, took what was valuable and to hell with the rest. We have much to answer for. (Don't ask me about Central America for which we Americans are very responsible.)
Peace
Mags, I am glad I read the book. I am ignorant about Africa, I can't seem to keep up with the news so it sticks in my brain. The images the author painted made a place for me to put information.
The audio book is read by a wonderful woman reader. Her voice helped me get through the book.
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