Uhuru

Rating:
Summary: "Uhuru" one of the most frequently heard words in E.Africa
Review: Absolute classic, a huge rollercoaster of a novel crammed with sizzling gypsies

Rating:
Summary: Bad? Certainly not. Disappointing? Afraid so.
Review: I've been wanting to read this book for many years. And now, thanks to Amazon.com, I have. I wish I could give it a more glowing review, but I can't. To be sure, the action scenes -- whether hunting animal or man -- are superb. They are also, however, few and far between. The book is overly long and congested with far more characters than Ruark knows what to do with. As a result, the reader is subjected to a dismaying amount of tedious character introspection, as well as to conversations that are redundant, inane, boring, and that never seem to end. While I agree with Ruark's analysis, through his characters, of the realities of "uhuru" (history has certainly proven him right), I found myself saying "All right, you've made your point. Now let's move on." And that's what I intend to do. My next book is "Something of Value," and I hope I can give it a better review.

Rating:
Summary: Bad? Certainly not. Disappointing? Afraid so.
Review: I've been wanting to read this book for many years. And now, thanks to Amazon.com, I have. I wish I could give it a more glowing review, but I can't. To be sure, the action scenes -- whether hunting animal or man -- are superb. They are also, however, few and far between. The book is overly long and congested with far more characters than Ruark knows what to do with. As a result, the reader is subjected to a dismaying amount of tedious character introspection, as well as to conversations that are redundant, inane, boring, and that never seem to end. While I agree with Ruark's analysis, through his characters, of the realities of "uhuru" (history has certainly proven him right), I found myself saying "All right, you've made your point. Now let's move on." And that's what I intend to do. My next book is "Something of Value," and I hope I can give it a better review.

Rating:
Summary: tale set in 1962 Kenya poised on brink of self-rule
Review: Robert Ruark captures the political turmoil that swept though Kenya, the Congo and is still going on in Africa today. The story centers on a professional white hunter, and his friends and family. Some may object to his usage of various deragatory remarks toward Africans. Slow in beginning but picks up pace. I couldn't put down during last 100 pages

Rating:
Summary: Ruark's relevance today
Review: Robert Ruark is complex and contraversial, but his books about the Mau Mau contain powerful and informed insights into the ways, mindset, and organization of militant terrorists. They are also fast moving and a "good read". After 9/11 I believe that his books should be read widely. While the specifics are very different, we can learn much from Ruark's insights into a microcosm of today's world with many parallels to think on. Buy "UHURU" and SOMETHING OV VALUE" (or get them from your library-- ... but the silly libraries have probably discarded them anyway). BUT by all means read them ... they will make you think-- and you will enjoy the read.

Rating:
Summary: Ruark's relevance today
Review: Robert Ruark is complex and contraversial, but his books about the Mau Mau contain powerful and informed insights into the ways, mindset, and organization of militant terrorists. They are also fast moving and a "good read". After 9/11 I believe that his books should be read widely. While the specifics are very different, we can learn much from Ruark's insights into a microcosm of today's world with many parallels to think on. Buy "UHURU" and SOMETHING OV VALUE" (or get them from your library-- ... but the silly libraries have probably discarded them anyway). BUT by all means read them ... they will make you think-- and you will enjoy the read.

Rating:
Summary: incredible
Review: This is one of the best books I've read in many years. Not only is Ruark's style incredible, it's amazing how he managed to ruthlessly portray the changes in Kenya. Some may say he was a racist, Uhuru however portrays some Kenyans as the most intelligent inhabitants of the country at the time. Unfortunately, , they were stuck to their traditions and unable to cope with modern times. Like the British colonialists however, who were insensitive to the changes going on in the rest of the world, which was at the time so incredibly far away from their farms, their own world.

A wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: A Sequel by any other name would be just as good.
Review: UHURU is Robert Ruark's sequel to his book "Something of Value." The names may have been changed, but the characters remain the same. In UHURU, freedom has come to Kenya, and Ruark describes what Kenyans, both black and white, do with it and how they celebrate and adapt to freedom. His picture is not particularly pretty, but it is accurate. Ruark is a remarkable author who catches the tribulations and trials of a country in turmoil attempting to find its way into the future. His characters from "Something of Value" return to help us understand what is happening in a nation suddenly catapulted into a post-colonial environment. Ruark's writing captures the emotions, thoughts, and attitudes from black and white Kenyans and what they experience as both try to create a new society. Though the book was written more than 40 years ago, it is a timeless classic and its topic can be taken from newspaper headlines of today. He presents a fair appraisal of both sides of the story, and he lets us see both the good and bad of everyone involved. I am an unabashed Ruark fan. My only caveat, read "Something of Value" first.

Rating:
Summary: A Sequel by any other name would be just as good.
Review: UHURU is Robert Ruark's sequel to his book "Something of Value." The names may have been changed, but the characters remain the same. In UHURU, freedom has come to Kenya, and Ruark describes what Kenyans, both black and white, do with it and how they celebrate and adapt to freedom. His picture is not particularly pretty, but it is accurate. Ruark is a remarkable author who catches the tribulations and trials of a country in turmoil attempting to find its way into the future. His characters from "Something of Value" return to help us understand what is happening in a nation suddenly catapulted into a post-colonial environment. Ruark's writing captures the emotions, thoughts, and attitudes from black and white Kenyans and what they experience as both try to create a new society. Though the book was written more than 40 years ago, it is a timeless classic and its topic can be taken from newspaper headlines of today. He presents a fair appraisal of both sides of the story, and he lets us see both the good and bad of everyone involved. I am an unabashed Ruark fan. My only caveat, read "Something of Value" first.

Rating:
Summary: A Sequel by any other name would be just as good.
Review: UHURU is Robert Ruark's sequel to his book "Something of Value." The names may have been changed, but the characters remain the same. In UHURU, freedom has come to Kenya, and Ruark describes what Kenyans, both black and white, do with it and how they celebrate and adapt to freedom. His picture is not particularly pretty, but it is accurate. Ruark is a remarkable author who catches the tribulations and trials of a country in turmoil attempting to find its way into the future. His characters from "Something of Value" return to help us understand what is happening in a nation suddenly catapulted into a post-colonial environment. Ruark's writing captures the emotions, thoughts, and attitudes from black and white Kenyans and what they experience as both try to create a new society. Though the book was written more than 40 years ago, it is a timeless classic and its topic can be taken from newspaper headlines of today. He presents a fair appraisal of both sides of the story, and he lets us see both the good and bad of everyone involved. I am an unabashed Ruark fan. My only caveat, read "Something of Value" first.