I just got "Nomads of the Serengeti" by Robyn Stewart for Christmas. It's more of a picture/coffee table book, but ... Oh So Nice. It has loads of information about the migration. I think this book belongs on every coffee table whether you drink Starbucks or not! (a Seattle joke).

I just finished reading Exhile by Richard North Patterson and highly recommend it. It is fiction based on fact and is a story about a Jewish man and a Muslum woman. It revolves around the entire political and religious situation between Israel and Palestine.

I received a copy of Elephant! by Steve Bloom for Christmas. Its a coffee table book with wonderful photos of eles both African and Asian.

Some of the photos include other animals and birds which bring back so many happy memories.

Cheers,

Pol.

My last night at Mala Mala, 31 Oct 2007, I was alone with my Ranger and he said that we would be joined for dinner by "one of the managers." Had a very pleasant evening with this long-time MM employee, formerly a Ranger, now a manager, with lots of great stories to tell -- a guy named Nils. It wasn't until the next day, as I was browsing in the gift shop before leaving to catch my plane, and browsing a copy of "Living With Leopards" that I realized the gentleman I had dinner with the night before was Nils Kure -- the author and photographer of "Living With Leopards." Of course, I bought the book!

Just started reading it yesterday, about halfway through it now. A bit old-fashioned in some of its prose and phrasing, but lots of fascinating anecdotes, insights, and descriptions of Leopard behavior. And plenty of fantastic Leopard photos -- some really unusual scenes (and a smattering of also excellant photos of other animals). A really enjoyable read!

Nils mentions that this book is an abridged version of a larger "study," complete with data, tables, graphs, etc. documenting Leopard behavior at MM which he hopes to publish "in the fullness of time." Does anyone have any knowledge about this larger study and when, or if, it might be published?

Nils and the fullness of time. Knowing Nils very well, my guess is that won't be published except maybe as a scientific paper.
I find Nils great company, though his sense of humor has not impressed everyone on this board.

Also Ken Follett - The Pillars of the Earth

"Stalking the Wild Dik-Dik" by Marie Javins... the title alone had me hooked! It's subtitled, "One Woman's Solo Misadventures Across Africa."

I have just finished "World Without End" by Ken Follett, the sequel to "Pillars of the Earth" - and just couldn't put it down. Nothing to do with Africa of course, but fascinating nevertheless. I notice others are reading it now - Enjoy!

Have "Exhile" "Three Cups of Tea" and "World Without End" (an Oprah recommendation, so flying off the shelves) - one of which I hope to open.

To read or finish my trip report? Which to do first?

I just got an alert from Amazon about a new book on Botswana that is ready for pre-order. Anyone heard of it?
The San Piper: Encounters with an Otherworldly Bushman by Uys Lafra (Paperback - Jan 25, 2008)
Buy new: $19.95 Amazon price is $13.57 - Available for Pre-order

well Sandi, of course you should finish your trip report first then immediately get into 3 Cups of Tea.

It is a great read so far.

Thanks Wayne for the encouragement. But, still deciding. So much to do, not enough time! Days seem to get away from me. Ugh!

Bulletin, Bulletin!

Just learned that the next in the series of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency is due in March.

For those who have read Caroline Elkins work, I just came across her Washington Post article dated the 6th of January with her opinion about Kenya (I am probably the only one who missed this tho)!

http://tinyurl.com/26op4m

Den

Thanks, Den. I had not seen that article

Just finished "Nervour Conditions" by Tsitsi Dangarembga.
<i>&quot;That rare novel whose characters are unforgettable. It is an expression of liberation not to be missed&quot;</i>
Very good book about a young girl growing up in Rhodesia. Two thumbs up!

Birds of Africa Vol. VII, a little light reading.

Karl Hiassen's (sp) books are a great read. His characters are &quot;Eco-terrorists&quot; who punish those who punish nature. Great humour, good messages. Wish I could be one in real life, anybody want to sponsor me? &quot;Sick Puppy&quot; is a classic.

Just finished My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I usually prefer non fiction, but this was one novel I couldn't put down!

Just finished <b><font color="RED">Three Cups of Tea</font></b>

I could sing the praises of this book for hours. Saying it is inspirational is almost cliche. I highly advise this true life story. After failing to climb K2, Greg Mortensen accidentally wandered into an impoverished village in Pakistan. After being impressed by the people, he promised to return one day and build a school for their children. Little did Greg know that he was beginning a lifetime mission...

There was an article in Parade magazine on April 6th 2003 that details his story:
http://www.parade.com/articles/editi...Greg_Mortenson
also you can go to
http://www.threecupsoftea.com
http://www.gregmortenson.com/
http://www.ikat.org/ (his organization)

The part of the book that stood out for me: It costs $840,000 for ONE of the Tomahawk missles that was hurled into Afghanistan after 9/11, over 100 of them were fired. That same amount of $$$ (840K) could build dozens of schools and give thousands of these kids a non-radical non-extremist education. (and even pay a bunch of teachers) <i><font color="GREEN">What do you think will make us safer?
</font></i>

Enough soapboxing for now....

New reading:

a religious book, 2008 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses

Then I just ordered all the books in The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I will be starting the first one soon.