Advantages: Some history of place and politics. Disadvantages: Too self-involved.
Way down deep in the middle of the Congo,
A hippo took an apricot, a guava and a mango.
He stuck it with the others, and he danced a dainty tango.
The rhino said, "I know, we'll call it Um Bongo"
Um Bongo, Um Bongo, They drink it in the Congo.
The py ...
Advantages: An honest portrayal: something that started as a travelogue but ended up as a history book Disadvantages: The fact that it's capable of being writtten
Tim Butcher started working as a journalist in Africa in 2000…15 years after “Live Aid” gave us all hope that maybe the continent’s problems were solvable…and almost as long since we’d begun to realise that it wasn’t going to be that easy. Two y ...
Advantages: I did learn things about the modern DRC and some of the history of the country Disadvantages: The authors obsession got a bit boring, really
Blood River
What is this book about?
This is a factual account of a journey through the heart of Africa, crossing from side to side of the enormous country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The author Tim Butcher is appointed as Africa ...
Advantages: Plenty of information conveyed in this book Disadvantages: some might find it a long read or not be interested in the subject matter
Blood River is the most compelling, memorable, educational and insightful book I have read for a long time. It is in the travel category here, and yes it is an account of the author's journey down the Congo river, but the book is also a throughly research ...
Advantages: Wonderfully written, the joy of getting to know Zachary Bissinger Disadvantages: Not so much of a travelogue as a memoir, Buzz Bissinger can be unpleasant at times
Buzz Bissinger is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer who has a mentally disabled son called Zach who is now in his late 20s. Zach is the younger of Bissinger's twin sons who were born 13 weeks early. Zach was born a mere 3 minutes after his brother Gerry but ...
