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Summary: Wariyama pori - Swahili for wild animals...
Review: ...and the immediate question this book raises is exactly who are the animals? On one level, and for about two-thirds of it, the book DANGEROUS BEAUTY is a well written, evocative retelling of the author's life as a safari guide in Kenya. His adventures and close encounters with tembo (elephant), chui (leopard) duma (cheetah) and of course simba are par for the course for someone who makes a living from tracking, studying and photographing the wild animals of East Africa's savannahs.However, neither he nor any of the four American tourists that he took on safari to Uganda in March 1999 in search of the Mountain Gorilla could possibly have anticipated this particular wild animal encounter. The only guerillas found were near the border with Congo and were in fact machete-wielding Rwandan Hutu rebels who pounced on them and another group of mostly European tourists and promptly kidnapped 14 of them. They were bundled into the Impenetrable Forest region of Southern Uganda with no idea of what fate lay in store for them. I remember the news stories of the events, the burnt-out vehicles and rest-huts as the first clues that something horribly wrong had happened to them; and the subsequent man-hunt by the Ugandan army. Ross's telling of the story of their capture and the cruel and senseless murder of eight members of the group is harrowing. He led five other survivors to safety. They emeged from this ordeal stunned, numb, and shocked. Ross says his relationship with Africa was changed. "The continent has always been the love of my life. Now there is trouble between us." This gruesome lesson about man's inhumanity and capacity for violence far beyond anything in the natural world remained with Ross. Nevertheless he eventually was able to put it into perspective and still carries on with his safari's from Kenya. Here the reality is that the danger from animals rather than man remains both much more likey, and also a much more acceptable risk.
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Summary: First class
Review: Africa commands the attention, curiosity, and primal emotions of most human beings. Mark Ross says that people who come to Africa to go on safari with him almost always report that for as long as they can remember they have had a deep yearning for Africa, to see the animals roaming the Serengeti as they have been doing for millions of years, and to FEEL the place where human life first emerged. The book is elegantly written -- Ross describes settings and events beautifully and meticulously but makes/allows the reader to fill in the emotional content. He recreates a perfect-pitch Africa for those of us who have been there (I once spent three weeks in Kenya and Tanzania) and also, I feel certain, for those who have never been. Ross is a trained biologist, and it shows. He delivers a deep experience of Africa's animals, geography, people, and politics -- that alone would make for a satisfying book. But the chilling beauty of this one is that, while we're immersed in our on-the-ground experience of the place, Ross also forces us to confront another question that lurks within us all: "What would it be like to experience a sudden emergency -- and how would I, personally, react?" Ross' account of the tragedy in the rain forest is riveting and sickening -- I would recommend reading that part of the book (the last 70-some pages) early in the day, not before bedtime. But its pages are hard to resist. By the end I felt like I had stalked lions in the bush (and like I knew their thoughts) and also felt personally violated, as though I'd stared down the barrel of a gun held by someone else, and then seen that someone else casually murder people I was very close with. Like the safaris he leads, Ross' book is first-class in every way. You put it down knowing that you've just spent twenty years and 322 pages with a remarkable individual. And you've learned quite a bit. If it cost $..., it would be more than worth it.
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Summary: Dangerous Beauty
Review: An absolutely fascinating book - well worth every one of the 5 stars, unput-downable throughout, for many, many reasons. I thoroughly recommend anyone who has an interest in Africa to read this book. In his writing, the author both adds to the mystique of the country and dispels many romantic ideals one may have about it.
Rating:
Summary: Dangerous Beauty
Review: An absolutely fascinating book - well worth every one of the 5 stars, unput-downable throughout, for many, many reasons. I thoroughly recommend anyone who has an interest in Africa to read this book. In his writing, the author both adds to the mystique of the country and dispels many romantic ideals one may have about it.
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Summary: Great stories from Africa
Review: Dangerous Beauty is a great storybook. Mark C. Ross shares his incredible life stories in this book, and their fascinating. The way he encounters the same animals again and again and creates special bonds with them, even babysitting their children, to me is amazing. The book is impossible to put down because there is a new story with every five pages or so. The book leaves you breathless, wanting more. It's an awesome book, read it!
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Summary: Tiresome Tripe
Review: Definitely not worth its price. I kept waiting for the book to start, to inform me, to entertain me, to even tell me something which I already knew in a fresh manner or from an engaging perspective. I came away thoroughly disappointed. I would return the book in a flash if I could muster the energy.
Those interested in this genre would be much better served by anything written by Peter Hathaway Capstick or even the more recent ruminations of Philip Caputo in "Ghosts of Tsavo". This book is not beautiful; it is silly and self-pitying.
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Summary: An excellent account of Africa's wildlife
Review: I have been on safari in Africa numerous times throughout the past several years...most of which I have served as a safari escort. When I first heard of the tourist killings in Uganda in 1999, I was stunned that something so horrific could happen at a time when it was presumed safe to view the mountain gorillas. Upon reading Mark Ross's chilling account of what actually did happen, I felt extreme sadness for not only the victims, but for Mark as well. It is obvious that he cares very much for his clients, and works very hard to ensure that they get the most from their safari experience. However, what impressed me the most about this book was Mark's extensive knowledge about Africa's wildlife. While I am certainly not an expert on this subject, I am fairly knowledgeable, so it was a pleasure to learn so many new things about some of the species of animals that Mark and his clients have encountered. Also, although he doesn't let on about this, it can be a real challenge to be in charge of a group of people in Africa. It is not for the faint of heart. Mark really seems to have a passion for safari work. I just hope that the readers don't let the Uganda event deter them from ever visiting Africa. Other countries such as Kenya and Tanzania are considered safe and should not be missed! I highly recommend this book!
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Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I love this book. I thought Wilderness Family by Kroger was great, but this one is even better. I love Africa and hope to get back some day. It would be a dream to have this guy as a guide!
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Summary: Warning: This Book Will Whet Your Appetite for Safari!
Review: I picked up Dangerous Beauty as an antidote to my post-safari blues upon returning home from my first trip to East Africa. By chapter one, I was so impressed by Mr. Ross' approach to safari and his passion for wildlife, especially the predators, that I just knew I had to weasel my way onto one of his future safaris, which I was lucky enough to do in the Summer of 2004.
If you've been to Africa, and already know you love the place, this book will give you a closer glimpse into this special world through the eyes of a man who has made it his life's passion, and loves it, despite its troubles. If you've yet to go, well, this book may very well push you in that direction, or at least give you a very tangible feeling of what a transformative experience safari can be when it's just a small group of clients and a guide who is simply the best there is. Mark Ross truly has a wonderful spirit, an infectious sense of humor and a flair for sharing this elusive place that few others possess.
I'm already planning my next Ross Safari... wanna join me? Seriously! My e-mail address is included in my Reviewer Profile, so please contact me. I'd love to hear from you!
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Summary: Thumbs up to Mark Ross and Dangerous Bearty
Review: I recently saw the story of Mark and the incident at The Impenetrable Forest on Dateline. I was so intrigued by the story that I immediately got the book. I thought it was an excellent account of that terrible horrific day from a man who had lived to tell about it. He truly loves Africa and all it has to offer. He tells of incredible animal encounters and how Africa is truly a beautiful place that leaves one in awe of its power and harshness. I will someday travel to Africa to visit places Mark tells of in the book. I can only hope that it is in time to be one of his clients. If you are looking for a great reader that is full of entertainment, humor, charm, and intrigue....this book is for you.
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