Rating: 
Summary: Enraging!
Review: I've always fantasized about how life was like for the Nuba before the ravaging war. The book had a brilliant start - a poignant description of what life was like for Mende in the Nuba mountains: how her people lived, her most memorable moments, her daily activities, her joys etc. We are shown the beauty of her people and we get a glimpse into her culture.
It all takes a sudden turn when the Arabs come, of course. I wish I was surprised by the horrid story that ensues, but I've seen similar things happen before, although not to this extent. By reading this book, I think people will realize that the world is not all honey and jam. There is a lot of injustice taking place in many parts of the world. The story was very touching - and enraging. I hope that the situation in Sudan will change for the better, and that peace prevails. With the attention now presently being given to the atrocities in the Darfur region, maybe something will happen. The strange thing is that people think that these atrocities are only found in this particular region of Sudan, which couldn't be farther from the truth.
People must also realize that these ages-old cultural conflicts don't just vanish spontaneously through "peace talks, sanctions, and food aid" - which has been the general formula used. It hasn't always worked. It takes time and relentless effort, especially by the Sudanese people themselves.
Indeed, the story of Mende Nazer is one of courage and strength - a must-read for all. A truly empowering story.
Rating:
Summary: 'My life as a modern-day slave'
Review: By Joseph Winter
BBC News Online On the surface, Mende Nazer is a bright, bubbly, confident young woman, quick to break into a beautiful infectious smile, which lights up her whole face. Nothing to suggest that she spent eight years of her life as a slave after being captured from her village in Sudan's Nuba Mountains. But the smile soon disappears when she talks about her past and her eyes start to well up with tears. "I still have nightmares," she told BBC News Online in London three years after she managed to escape to freedom. She was just 12 when one night her village was targeted by Arab slave raiders, who snatched her away from her loving family to be a slave in far away Khartoum. The story of her capture and life in servitude, published in her book Slave, reads like something from the Middle Ages but it happened in the early 1990s and she says this is still the lot of many young girls from southern Sudan. She worked from first thing in the morning until late at night, washing, cleaning and ironing, without any pay or days off, sleeping in a locked shed in the garden. At first, her mistress thought she was unclean and diseased, so she wouldn't let Mende touch the children. But after a while, looking after the children and cooking for the family were added to her list of duties. She only ate the scraps left by her mistress' family - "like an animal," she said. Eating these leftovers on her own in the kitchen was particularly demeaning for her, as sharing food is a central part of her Nuba culture, where no-one eats alone. She was often beaten and on one occasion, after preparing fried eggs instead of poached eggs, her mistress "seized the ladle out of the frying pan, and thrust the burning hot metal against my forearm. "I cried out in agony, as she ground it, sizzling, into my skin," she wrote. Her left arm is still badly scarred. 'Terrified' This is the life she was leading at the start of the 21st century. Then, a train of events began which would eventually lead to her freedom. Her mistress's sister, married to a Sudanese diplomat in London, had twins, so she was "given" to her to help her out. "Well, it's easy for us to get you another abda [slave]... whereas I understand it's impossible for people to find one in London," the wife of a slave-dealer told her mistress. Her new "owners" returned on holiday to Sudan, leaving her in the custody of some colleagues and she realised this was her chance to escape. But she spoke no English and had no concept of claiming asylum or how to survive in a bustling city of eight million people. She went up to anyone she saw on London's streets who looked like they could be from southern Sudan and greeted them in Arabic. After receiving endless quizzical looks and dismissals, she found someone working in a garage from Sudan and who knew someone from the Nuba Mountains. A few days later, they waited for her outside her owner's house and told her to run away. What was that first taste of freedom like? "I was terrified that they would come and capture me again," she says. After eight years of being beaten and threatened into submission, physical freedom was one thing, mental emancipation would take far longer. Family reunion When she first escaped, her family was taken to Khartoum and told to try and persuade her to return home. They were told she had been kidnapped and forced to renounce Islam and convert to Christianity. But once the family spoke to her, she was able to tell them her true story and is now in regular contact with them. But she can't go to Sudan and so once every three months or so, her mother makes a day-long trip by lorry from her village to a town where there is a telephone, so they can talk. She hopes one day to meet them again - if she can get them to another country. Although Slave has already been published in Germany, she says she is worried that the publicity surrounding its release in the UK might cause more trouble for her family. "I could keep quiet because I've had my freedom but while others are still in slavery in Sudan, a part of me is, too," she says. Launching the book and traipsing from one media interview to another, stoking up all the painful memories, is hugely stressful but she says this is the one thing she can do to help those she left behind. Last year, a study estimated that more than 11,000 southern Sudanese had been abducted in 20 years, many of whom probably remain in bondage.
Rating:
Summary: Horrific and educational
Review: Female genital mutilation, current active slave trading, crushing abuse, coupled with courage, faith and hope are clearly depicted in this story. A must read for those who want to be informed about the horrors that enslaved children have sufffered. I picked this up idly not realizing it was about a current ongoing situtation and could not put it down until I finished reading.
Rating:
Summary: Do not turn away...
Review: from this heart wrenching story.
I was browsing at the local public library when the word Slave caught my eye. I can not believe the life that Mende went through at the hands of her enslavers. I finished reading it in 1 day and could not believe how horrible it is that slavery exists today in the 21st century.
Mende's happiness, pain and suffering pulled me into her world through words. After I finished reading it, I went to research some information on Amnesty International and the Anti-Slavery's websites to learn more. I recommend this book to everyone because we must as a society learn about these acts and do something about them. Just because we may be a world away does not mean that they do not affect us.
Peace and love to all those suffering in our world.
Rating: 
Summary: * 4 . 95 STARS * (alert) READ ASAP
Review: Go to any local bookstore NOW read the initial excerpt (theres one on her publishers website)
( describes her kidnapping(from a beautiful and close knit family in the remote Sudan) by the arab muslim slave traders)
you WONT be able to just put it back down again and walk away.... This needs to be read here and now, by everyone.
The editors have already described the memoir so I wont bore anyone by repeating it, so just let me say this
I am predicting that this book is going to be winning some literary awards. Hey Mende, if youre reading this, I thank God that youre free and I will pray for a happy life for you from this day forward. There IS good in the world, you can be sure of that. Just look in the mirror.....
Rating:
Summary: Puts Your Life in Perspective
Review: I just finished reading this book yesterday. I had never heard of the story or the author. I just saw the cover in the library and borrowed it. The story is astonishing, heartbreaking, and triumphant all at once. I was heartened that Mende Nazar still had enough spirit to push on and experience the kindness of good people in the world. May God Bless her and all who supported and continue to support her in her journey. I was blessed to read this book because I was once again reminded that my life and how it turns out will be a fantastic journey as long as I remain hopeful and undeterred.
Rating:
Summary: The kind of book that too rarely comes around
Review: I purchased this book on a Saturday & began reading it around 11pm. By 6am Sunday morning, I was finished. This is an amazing story that will not only captivate your mind, but also clench your heart. As an avid reader of non-fiction books, this is the type of book that keeps my interest at peak!
Told exceptionally well, allowing the reader to develop a vivid mental picture of Mende's experiences. While it does touch on some unbelievable rituals & horrendous violations that continue today; the author maintains dignity and is vague where necessary.
I believe this book is appropriate for those over 12 & have recommended it to everybody I talk to. Buy it, read it, pass it on.
Rating:
Summary: The kind of book that too rarely comes around
Review: I purchased this book on a Saturday & began reading it around 11pm. By 6am Sunday morning, I was finished. This is an amazing story that will not only captivate your mind, but also clench your heart. As an avid reader of non-fiction books, this is the type of book that keeps my interest at peak!
Told exceptionally well, allowing the reader to develop a vivid mental picture of Mende's experiences. While it does touch on some unbelievable rituals & horrendous violations that continue today; the author maintains dignity and is vague where necessary.
I believe this book is appropriate for those over 12 & have recommended it to everybody I talk to. Buy it, read it, pass it on.
Rating:
Summary: A great book about a horrible nightmare
Review: I read this book a few months ago and have been thinking about it ever since. Mende's story is not one that will soon leave you.
From the official review here, as well as the customer reviews, you know the basic outline of the book already, so I won't go into that. One of the things that has most stuck with me about this book is Mende's gentle tone. Given what she has lived through, she could be furious and hate the world and no one could blame her, but she doesn't seem to be that way at all. Even after all she has felt and seen, she seems to have an innocence about her. Mende's life has been a nightmare, but there were a few times in this book where she says stuff that is really funny. I never thought I'd be reading this book and burst out laughing. It's quite a testament to her spirit and who she is. I cannot even begin to imagine living through the events of her life, much less coming through them and retaining her magical spirit and sense of humor.
She is certainly a better person than I.
Many of the generalities of her story weren't new to me since I've read on the subject of today's slavery in Sudan before... but still. The details, and her way with words will haunt you. I was in tears at least ten times throughout my reading this book. Also, if you really pay attention to this book, you realize it's not over. It's a masterfully crafted, circular way of telling the true stories of these remarkably strong, tortured women.
Mende's story is not directly related to the Darfur atrocities happening now, just in that it is a different region of Sudan. A couple of the motivations are different, but many/most of the horrific acts being perpetrated against Black Africans in Darfur are the same as what Mende and her region (Nuba Mountains) have been experiencing for a long time now.
It's impossible to hear these stories, or Mende's specifically, and not be infuriated by the United States' government's lack of caring. While yes "we" did recently label these events as genocide, that same resolution also went out of its way to say that it was not recommending any action be taken. How lovely of us. We're happy to write down on a worthless piece of paper that yes it's genocide, but being that it doesn't negatively affect us economically or politically, we can't be bothered with it.
I'm sure that piece of paper really means alot to the thousands of people everyday who are having their homes destroyed, having their families murdered right in front of them, being gangraped, getting infectious diseases in cramped refugee camps, etc...
Rating:
Summary: My eyes are now open
Review: I was completely appalled to find that slavery is still thriving in this world. Mende's story is horrific, and as soon as I started reading I could not put it down until I read about her getting her freedom. Unfortunately her life of slavery is not unique, and I now want to know how I can contribute to stopping this horrible injustice going on. I will research this but I hope her story becomes more publicly acknowledged here in the US. I want everyone to know that slavery does indeed exist in this world today. Thank you Mende for sharing your story with the world, I hope this will help to lead to a better life for the people whose lives have been affected by slavery.
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