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Story Behind The Book
While on a safari in Masai Mara, I discovered a stone with some gold in it lying on the savannah. Being both of us old gold panners we decided to investigate that a little. The camp chef told us that he came from a town in Western Kenya - a town that was a real Eldorado for gold panners...
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<p><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><strong>An Authentic View of Africa</strong>, June 2, 2010</span></p> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2DT1D2JHH0HAS/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;">A. Ashdown <span style="white-space:nowrap;">"Sitatunga"</span></span></a> -</div> </div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><br /><strong><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land (Kindle Edition)</strong></div> <p>This is that rare thing an original, authentic and unvarnished view of Africa as told by an unbiased, idealistic yet pragmatic witness. This is a highly individual and admittedly European perspective but it may be more useful to establish here what it is not. It is not a travelogue, a sentimental sightseeing safari; it is not sensationalist journalism; nor is it a political manifesto with the familiar pre-packed conclusions; not an 'I was there' self-congratulatory and self-important tale of heroism, not another empty instalment of the New Age agenda. Rather, it is a factual, human (originally diarised) account of a remarkable and ultimately tragic adventure which took place in the unfamiliar, remote region of Western Kenya, deep in the emerald green forest on the slopes of Mount Elgon and close to Lake Victoria. Here, in the most densely populated yet least known, least 'developed' part of Kenya, there existed (still exists) a world remarkably untouched by western influence. This provides the backdrop to the couple's valiant efforts to establish a livelihood - through farming, then building and running a hotel (with a bit of gold-panning thrown in for fun) and finally pioneering a new form of enterprise in the form of mushroom cultivation. The scenes towards the end of the book (glimpsed in the opening chapter), of the couple literally fleeing the threat of mob violence, is as gripping as any fiction, with all the vividness and stark brutality we associate with the worst side of Africa, all the more powerful for its gradual build up through the story and, of course, its utter veracity.<br /><br /> This is a good antidote for the all too numerous superficial, lightweight and stereotypical pot-boilers coming off the press and jumping into airport terminal bookstalls (where they belong). Beautifully written, keenly observed and with a true sense of narrative, I found it hard to put down once caught up in the unerringly convincing and intensely human story.<br /><br /> ----<br /><br /><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><strong>The adventures of moving your life to a corrupt society</strong>, April 8, 2010</span></p> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A219NT0WQ3BIV5/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;">F. Erik "the <span style="white-space:nowrap;">traveller"</span></span></a> (Stockholm, Sweden) - </div> </div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><br /><span class="crVerifiedStripe"><strong class="h3Color tiny" style="margin-right:.5em;">Amazon Verified Purchase</strong><span class="tiny verifyWhatsThis">(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/community-help/amazon-verified-purchase">What's this?</a>)</span></span></div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><strong><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land (Kindle Edition)</strong></div> <p>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land is a non-fiction adventure story, which I recommend to every adventure-loving person having a dream of exchanging his/her sheltered and comfortable life for a new one in a developing country.<br /><br /> A middle-aged Swedish couple moves to Africa in full assurance that the public law of their new country, like it has been in Sweden, will guarantee them protection and freedom of action. But as they are trying to build a new and better life, they find that they can not trust anyone or anything. Their dreams fall apart in a harsh reality where no laws are carried out in a correct way and where bribery is expected if you want to start any project, even if it is for the benefit of the suffering locals. Their life turns out a real roller-coaster ride; from one moment to the next they never know what will happen.<br /><br /> In their rural village, near the rainforest, corruption is regarded as normal; death is hiding behind the corner; your best friends steal your belongings but still expect to be regarded as friends. It is impossible to communicate because words do not mean the same thing for you as for them. The couple's dreams about helping others are gradually destroyed as they, the hard way, find out that tribal traditions and loyalty, witchcraft and violence are stronger than their wish to succeed. The couple and their belongings seem to be fair game for everyone. And they can not expect any help from the authorities either... Will the blue-eyed couple succeed or will they be defeated by local traditions, witchcraft and violence?<br /><br /> This book, in certain aspects, reminds me of another book that I liked very much as a child: Alice in Wonderland.<br /> Erik<br /><br /> -------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><strong>Bente</strong> from Denmark:<br /><br /> So I have finished your book. I have been completely lost - just been<br /> reading. I have been in Luhyaland, seeing all the beauty, smelling,<br /> listening to the birds and all the noise from people. I like the book very<br /> much and it is very well written. You describe the nature, the people and<br /> the daily life very good.<br /><br /> ------------<br /><br /><strong>P. Eng</strong>, USA:<br /> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb"><strong><em>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land </em></strong>- a review</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">"Blue-eyed" is a charming book. It is the account of a Swedish couple,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">weary of the back-home greyness, that decides to move to Kenya to start a new life in a simpler setting, away from the Nordic cold and the modern treadmill.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">So, meet Gunilla, the author, and her husband Bertil, the driving motor</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">behind the Kenya project.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">The plan: To establish a hotel/resort in the Kenyan highlands.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">All doesn't go well. Almost from start there is a clash of cultures</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">between the Scandinavian couple and the local population. Gunilla and</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">Bertil refuse to adjust to the more-than-a-little corruption that</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">permeates the life in their new home. Firstly, there is an almost complete lack of infrastructure, from water to telecommunications to electricity to - worse! - the social and legal network that Europeans are accustomed to and depend on. Which means that if you encounter people and situations that don't treat you fairly, you are pretty much on your own.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">Most striking is the utter lack of forward thinking on the part of local</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">dignitaries and the local population. You would think that the influx of</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">foreigners and especially foreign currency to an area that depends on</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">subsistence farming would be a good thing, and that the people and their</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">leaders would see this and support the venture. Not so. An immediate</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">handout (as a bribe is politely called) is chosen every time over the</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">establishment of a job-creating enterprise, just as the trinkets that can</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">be pilfered are chosen every time over job retention. This, unfortunately,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">is very common and very international, I have seen charity hospital</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">projects in Asia go belly-up because local politicians asked for</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">"handouts" to grant the necessary permits that the donors simply couldn't afford.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">The end of Gunilla's and Bertil's venture, not unpredictably, is defeat,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">with their resources severely depleted and in disgust over the way things</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">are.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">I recommend reading "Blue-eyed" in part for its entertainment value, in</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">part because there is actually quite a lot to learn from it: Build a local</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">alliance with a local strongman, even if you have smoothed the way.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">Understand the local culture for what it is, rather than for what you are</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">used to or would like it to be, and sit on top of employee production from</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">day one.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">Sadly, the only perfect vision is hindsight. I am sure that the Riverdale</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">Gardens venture would have ended differently if Gunilla and Bertil had the</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">insight then that they have now. It's too late to change that now, but any</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb">reader with similar plans can profit from these experiences.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm .0001pt;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;" xml:lang="en-gb"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Happy reading!<br /><br /> ----</span><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><strong>A Swedish couple in Kenya</strong>, </span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;">I'm in the safari business, so I have been to Kenya many times and made many friends in Kenya. I love that country very much. The people are so genuinely friendly and accommodating. However, I've never lived in Kenya, I always wanted to, but .... Anyway, it was with great anticipation that I embarked on reading this book, in my native Swedish. What an eye-opener! Wow! This very brave couple gave up all their comforts, everything they were accustomed to in their Swedish socialistic society and moved to Kenya where you are on your own to fend for yourself as they quickly found out. The laws of Kenya are not there to protect you, as they so naively thought, but to be used by those in power. I give this book three thumbs up for suspense and adventure with some very powerful witchcraft thrown in. A very different book from your regular safari journal.</span></p> <p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <div style="float:left;"> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="en" style="font-family:Tahoma, 'sans-serif';color:#333333;font-size:8.5pt;" xml:lang="en"> </span></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AIWB5URB6L370/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Kristina Trowbridge "WinWin <span style="white-space:nowrap;">Vacations"</span></span></a> (Seattle, WA USA)<strong><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">----</p> <h1 class="entry-title" style="font-size:17px;">Review: Blue-Eyed in Luhya-Land</h1> <div class="entry-meta"><span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://shawndaviswrites.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/review-blue-eyed-in-luhya-land/" title="6:49 pm"><span class="entry-date">October 27, 2011</span></a> <span class="meta-sep">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="http://shawndaviswrites.wordpress.com/author/shawndaviswrites/" title="View all posts by shawndaviswrites">shawndaviswrites</a></span></div> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8546152-blue-eyed-in-luhya-land" style="float:left;padding-right:20px;"><img alt="Blue-eyed in Luhya-land" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278452130m/8546152.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8546152-blue-eyed-in-luhya-land">Blue-eyed in Luhya-land</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4056660.Gunilla_Fagerholm">Gunilla Fagerholm</a><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/228192235">4 of 5 stars</a></p> <p>When circumstances and medical issues urge a Swedish couple to consider living abroad, they are captured and captivated by the beauty of the wilds of Kenya. Their dreams of owning and operating a modest resort soon run into the realities of living on the edge of civilization and all that entails. From the constant problems with power, phone lines, and water distribution to the constant betrayal by those they trust and ever-present issues of theft, Gunilla and her husband Bertil tried desperately to live where modernities are clashing with ancient tribal beliefs.</p> <p>I picked this book up because, looking at an upcoming move to Africa, I am reading as much about the continent as possible. The experiences of Ms. Fagerholm and her husband are eye-opening, to say the least. And, having discussed them with people who have traveled back and forth to less developed areas Africa themselves, they are also completely believable.</p> <p>Ms. Fagerholm’s first language isn’t English, and I was very pleasantly surprised at how well she translates her story. She is very descriptive, and you can sense the building desperation and exhaustion of their Kenyan life. What she does not do, however, is denigrate Kenya and its people. I think that after her experiences – which included times when the family legitimately feared for their lives and constant theft by employees – she might be forgiven for being overwhelmed with anger. And yet, what comes through most of all in her book is a feeling of sadness – of regret for what might have been.</p> <p>The book begins with the end – so you know what the outcome will be. But it is the details in how that ending is reached that make the story so interesting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">------</p> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span style="margin-right:5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_3_0" title="3.0 out of 5 stars"><span>3.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span> <span style="vertical-align:middle;"><strong>An Insider's Look Into Living In Kenya</strong>, March 2, 2011</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AIJSVP1IVCSFL/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mandy</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AIJSVP1IVCSFL/ref=cm_cr_dp_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview">See all my reviews</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><br /><strong><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land (Paperback)</strong> <p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left;text-indent:0cm;"><span lang="en-gb" xml:lang="en-gb">Cover<br /><br /> I love the colors and photo editing on this cover. It has drawn me in since the first time I looked at it.<br /><br /> Plot<br /><br /> This is a very in-depth look at two people's new lives in a strange country. I was amazed at the situations that took place in the lives of Bertil and Gunilla while they lived in Kenya. These two individuals have to be made of strong fortitude and a determination that won't quit. There is no way that I would have lived five years in the same place going through all of the stress and worry they did.<br /><br /> Characters<br /><br /> Gunilla is the author and one of the people whose story is written in this book's pages. To make the decision to leave home and live in a foreign land (Kenya) is admirable.<br /><br /> Bertil is Gunilla's husband and lived with her in Kenya. He is Gunilla's calming influence and support system ... although there are times when he gets upset enough to speak and act out.<br /><br /> Overall<br /><br /> Blue-eyed in Luhya-land is a very enlightening look into what life is/could be like in Kenya for outsiders. I would recommend this to those who enjoy reading about other countries and ways of life.</span></p> ----- <div class="mt4 ath"><span class="gr10"><span class="txtsmall"><span class="gry">By</span> <a class="noTextDecoration" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AJJW7T7GHIYTX/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp">C. Young</a></span> </span></div> <div class="txtsmall mt4 fvavp"><span class="inlineblock formatVariation"><span class="gr3 gry formatKey">Format:</span><span class="formatValue">Kindle Edition</span><span class="gl7 gr7 gry">|</span></span><span class="inlineblock avpOrVine"><span class="orange strong avp">Amazon Verified Purchase</span></span></div> <div class="mt9 reviewText"> <div class="drkgry">Enjoyed this book. During parts of it I could feel myself getting discouraged along with the author because of all the mishaps they faced. However, if you have been to Africa, that is the general way things run - TIA.</div> </div> <p><br /> ---------------</p> <h2><strong><span class="userContent">*****</span></strong></h2> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="userContent">fascinating tale, December 7, 2012<br /> By<br /> Christian H. Gortz (australia) - See all my reviews<br /> (REAL NAME)<br /> Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)<br /> This review is from: Blue-eyed in Luhya-land (Kindle Edition)<br /> I enjoyed this book tremendously.Having spend time in Africa myself it was gripping to read about this weird/odd couple.I understood the dynamics and immersed myself in the writing .Moving story teller and very talented author. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">----------------------</p> <h2 class="MsoNormal"><strong>***</strong></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><b>Easy, engaging read</b>, February 19, 2013</span></p> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2DR4QZ8JLCOUP/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;">D. J. Tait "living in paradise"</span></a> (Paradise, MI USA) - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2DR4QZ8JLCOUP/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview">See all my reviews</a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_rn_bdg_help?ie=UTF8&nodeId=14279681&pop-up=1#RN"><span class="cmtySprite s_BadgeRealName"><span>(REAL NAME)</span></span></a> </div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span class="crVerifiedStripe"><b class="h3color tiny" style="margin-right:.5em;">Amazon Verified Purchase</b><span class="tiny verifyWhatsThis">(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/community-help/amazon-verified-purchase">What's this?</a>)</span></span></div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><b><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land (Kindle Edition)</b></div> <p class="MsoNormal">Blue-eyed in Libya-land was an interesting glimpse into rural life in Kenya. It forced me to pause and consider my own preconceived notions about other cultures. I wish that chapters had been formatted chronologically with dates.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">----</p> <h2 class="MsoNormal"><strong>*****</strong></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><b>What a story I could not put it down!</b>, February 18, 2013</span></p> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1B0MDBTIUWF9Z/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Yvonne</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1B0MDBTIUWF9Z/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview">See all my reviews</a></div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span class="crVerifiedStripe"><b class="h3color tiny" style="margin-right:.5em;">Amazon Verified Purchase</b><span class="tiny verifyWhatsThis">(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/community-help/amazon-verified-purchase">What's this?</a>)</span></span></div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><b><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land (Kindle Edition)</b></div> <p class="MsoNormal">These people are amazing most people would have given up. What courageous people and what insanely generous people. I wanted so much for them to succeed against incredible odds. Whatever you are doing now I wish you luck,you deserve it. Great writing,riveting experiences. Compulsory reading for anyone planning a life change in Africa.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">---</p> <h2 class="MsoNormal"><strong>***</strong></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><b>An average story.</b>, February 12, 2013</span></p> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1O62ZIBZPPNWC/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Avalon</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1O62ZIBZPPNWC/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview">See all my reviews</a></div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span class="crVerifiedStripe"><b class="h3color tiny" style="margin-right:.5em;">Amazon Verified Purchase</b><span class="tiny verifyWhatsThis">(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/community-help/amazon-verified-purchase">What's this?</a>)</span></span></div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><b><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land (Kindle Edition)</b></div> <p class="MsoNormal">Appreciating that English is not the author's first language it was an 'okay' read. The author put her heart and soul in to her new life in Kenya which sadly it not work out.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">---</p> <h2 class="MsoNormal"><strong>*****</strong></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><b>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land is worth reading</b>, February 12, 2013</span></p> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2NV7UANWGBJ2L/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;">David</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2NV7UANWGBJ2L/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview">See all my reviews</a></div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><b><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land (Kindle Edition)</b></div> <p class="MsoNormal">This is the story of a middle-aged Swedish couple trying hard to help people in a rural Kenyan village. The book is full of different emotions; many of which are of frustration. They can not understand why persons they are trying to help turn against them by stealing and even destroying help projects meant to help the villagers. At the end, they get to understand who was actually staging those incidents...<br /><br /> In other villages in the neighbourhood the Swedes have no difficulties; on the contrary, people are very friendly.<br /> The couple can not stand watching people suffer. They give away whatever they can spare - sometimes even more - to help with medicine, hospital stays, funeral costs, school fees, house repairs, school books etc.<br /><br /> The author has managed to paint the scenery so well that I can actually imaginge what it looked like. And her interest in medicinal plants and her description of them is really interesting.<br /><br /> Having read a couple of negative reviews on this book, I must say that I do not understand them. I can see no complaints about the dishonesty of Africans; I only see a most normal reaction to being robbed by a few individuals. I think the couple's reactions would have been the same, had the thieves been Europeans.<br /> I give this book five stars and hope that more reviewers will find it as good as I did.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">---</p> <h2 class="MsoNormal"><strong>***</strong></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><b>Typical story of foreigners living in Africa</b>, January 2, 2013</span></p> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/ARR2QDCHPHLSI/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mrs. Ca Schulze</span></a> (South Africa) - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/ARR2QDCHPHLSI/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview">See all my reviews</a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_rn_bdg_help?ie=UTF8&nodeId=14279681&pop-up=1#RN"><span class="cmtySprite s_BadgeRealName"><span>(REAL NAME)</span></span></a> </div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span class="crVerifiedStripe"><b class="h3color tiny" style="margin-right:.5em;">Amazon Verified Purchase</b><span class="tiny verifyWhatsThis">(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/community-help/amazon-verified-purchase">What's this?</a>)</span></span></div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><b><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>Blue-eyed in Luhya-land (Kindle Edition)</b></div> <p class="MsoNormal">I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline but found the poor English a bit 'off putting'. They must have been crazy to live as they did. I'm amazed they got out alive. I would never have stayed as long as they did. Living in Africa is not for sissies!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>