Inner Trek : A Reluctant Pilgrim in the Himalayas by Mohan Ranga Rao - [Book Review]

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Book Details:

Title: Inner Trek: A Reluctant Pilgrim in the Himalayas

Author: Mohan Ranga Rao

Genre: Non-Fiction, A travel Memoir

Publisher: Coriander Press (November 30, 2021)

Print Length: 248 pages

Source: A free review copy from Rachel's Random Resources

Blurb:

After being threatened by a Bangalore mob boss, a retired Indian businessman Mohan Ranga Rao makes a vow: if he somehow gets out of the situation, he will thank the gods by going on Kailash Mansarovar, a holy mountain pilgrimage in Tibet. What starts out as merely a challenging high-altitude trek soon becomes a life-changing adventure. With a blend of humor, honesty, and keen insight, Mohan journeys toward a deeper understanding of the world around him.

A memoir of a road less traveled and a true story of self-discovery at 18,000 feet.

“A modern Canterbury Tales, telling of a fascinating real-life adventure.“ Dr. C Naganna, University of Mysore

“A heartwarming read; a spiritual adventure.” Anuradha Goyal, The Mouse Charmers

Purchase Links:

Amazon

My Review:

Inner Trek is a travel memoir of Mr. Mohan Ranga Rao, a businessman in Karnataka, India. The book is specifically about the Mt. Kailash Parikrama (Circumbulation) and the visit to Manasa Sarovar lake. This trip is considered holy and auspicious by many religions including Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism.

This trip is not only sacred as Lord Shiva's adobe, considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience but also very dangerous due to the unpredictable weather at high altitudes.

The author mentions in the prelude itself that he is not a religious, but a spiritual person and he is taking this trip seeking an adventure. Eventually, he experiences a spiritual inclination at the end of the trip. He feels insignificant and small leaving all his ego before the majestic mountains in the treacherous trip.

The trek around Mt.Kailash covering 52 km in 3 days through the highest pass Dolma La reaching an elevation of 18000 ft above sea level is an impossible task for a normal person without fitness. Even for a fit person, the high elevation, and less oxygen might become dangerous if they are not acclimatized to the altitude.

What do I like?

I usually don't read non-fiction and I don't quite enjoy that genre unless it feels honest. I liked this book as I felt the author's experience was genuine. Unlike some biographies/memoirs that gravitate towards boasting about their good qualities, the author of this book focused more on the Mt Kailash trip and his experience keeping the unnecessary details to a minimum.

 Like many other Hindus, I also learned and read a lot about Mt.Kailash and this impossible trek. The mystery of the mountain attracts me to learn more. I am happy to have read this book and to know about the weather, sherpas helping the trekkers, treacherous conditions affecting the trip, the people visiting from places around the world, the beauty of nature and the experience of people who could complete circumambulation, etc.,

The photos printed in the book and the maps gave an idea of the trek and helped me to imagine the beauty of the place. By the end of the book, I was elated and had the great satisfaction of knowing about the myths, legends, and facts about Manasa Sarovar. The book is riveting throughout and I never felt bored reading it.

A few snippets that I liked from the book:

There is nothing that I didn't like about this book. It gave me immense satisfaction and I would recommend this book to many other readers who love to read about Mt Kailash and the experience of trekking the Manasa Sarovar. I would also recommend it to the readers who want to know about this life-changing adventure and the spiritual significance of this holy pilgrimage.

My Rating: 5/5

PS: I have received this print copy from Rachel's Random Resources in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.

About the Author:

Mohan Rango Rao is an accomplished businessman, an avid traveler, and a generous philanthropist. He has visited over thirty different countries and is drawn to places of natural beauty and physically challenging trails. He plays tennis daily, takes frequent hikes, and reads anything from scotch labels to quantum physics to Vedanta.

Until next time,

The Winter Song by Saurav Dutt - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title: The Winter Song

Author: Saurav Dutt

Print Length: 171 pages

Genre: Memoir, Contemporary Literature

Source: A free review copy through Rachel's Random Resources

Blurb:

From the acclaimed Author of 'The Butterfly Room' comes a powerful afterlife drama conveying how great gifts can be hidden in death and how they can bear fruit in our lives if we have the faith to let them unfold.

Somewhere between the mountains and the mist in Simla, India a widower must reconcile himself to the loss and grief that haunts him after the recent death of his wife.

Unhinged by grief, anger, and guilt, John Perera has set off on a journey, a journey to honor the love of his life and to fulfil the promise he made to her to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of their son. It is a journey of extraordinary self-discovery that will take him to the extremities of his soul and question all he believes about life, death, and faith.

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Song-Saurav-Dutt-ebook/dp/B08NFD2ZNS

US - https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Song-Saurav-Dutt-ebook/dp/B08NFD2ZNS

My Review:

The Winter Song is about how death impacts loved ones. It is a poignant story of John who embarks on a journey to fulfill a promise given to her dead wife Asima. On this journey, he realizes the mistakes he made in his life. He also thinks of the opportunities he missed to change some circumstances.

This is the story of grief and guilt. The message is clear - we love our family a lot but we don't show it enough to the family members when they are alive. Of course, the guilt remains when they are no more to express our love and care.

What's great?

The writing is beautiful. A great literary work. But, it is emotionally wrenching and it is a sad read around the death. So, if you are mourning for someone, you will immediately connect to it. If not, it will definitely give you an emotional ride.

The book cover is beautiful and well done. The title is apt too.

The emotions are well expressed - grief, guilt, and love.

What might have been better?

The sequence of events seems abrupt. It would have been good if they had a smooth and clear transition when the narrative goes between current and past. This part is a bit confusing at some times.

It is a slow read and it will take time to get into us (if that's a concern to you as a reader).

My Rating: 3.5/5

PS: I am thankful to Rachel's Random Resources for a free review copy and this is my honest opinion on the book.

About the Author:

Saurav Dutt is an Author, Political Columnist and Human Rights Campaigner. A journalist in three continents, his acclaimed debut novel 'The Butterfly Room' explored issues of domestic violence and homophobia within South Asian communities and has been showcased alongside leading political figures and human rights campaigners. His work for human rights and charity campaign work has taken Dutt to speaking engagements at the WEF, IKWRO, IWN, Houses of Parliament and TEDx.

After exploring the issue of psychological abuse and domestic violence in 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out' Dutt was commissioned by a major Hollywood production house to pen the official novelization of the major motion picture 'Tiger' (starring Golden Globe winning and Academy Award nominated actor Mickey Rourke) and he commemorated the centenary of the infamous Amritsar Massacre in India with 'Garden of Bullets: Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh' which was featured in TIME magazine. TIGER is the biographical account of Parminder Singh Nagra, a trailblazing Sikh boxer who fought successfully for the right to compete in the ring with his beard, an essential part of his faith.

A syndicated political columnist, Dutt writes for the International Business Times, The Times of Israel, Human Events, and American Herald Tribune. He has featured on CNN, GQ, Huffington Post, Business Insider, BBC television and radio, RT (Russia Today), Press TV, Sky News, and more. He has been shortlisted several times for the Asian Achievers Awards and Asian Media Awards. He resides in the United Kingdom, Los Angeles, and India.

Social Media Links – @sd_saurav on Twitter

Until next time,

Adventure by Chicken Bus: An Unschooling Odyssey through Central America by Janet LoSole - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title : Adventure by Chicken Bus: An Unschooling Odyssey through Central America

Author : Janet LoSole

Genre : Memoirs, Non-Fiction

Publisher : Resource Publications

Print Length : 217 pages

Source: A free review copy from the author

Blurb:

Embarking on a homeschooling field trip to Central America is stressful enough, but add in perilous bridge crossings, trips to the hospital, and a lack of women’s underwear, and you have the makings of an Adventure by Chicken Bus…a tale of one family, buckling under a mountain of debt, who sells all worldly possessions and hits the road.

Adventure by Chicken Bus demonstrates how to travel sustainably, but more importantly, how to nurture the next generation of environmentalists and social justice activists by exposing them to the conditions faced by those in the developing world.

From a remote monkey sanctuary tucked into an enclave on the Panama-Costa Rica frontier to the overdeveloped beaches of the Mayan Riviera, we endure chaotic border crossings, infections and injuries, learn about the history of the civil war in Nicaragua, visit UNESCO heritage sites, and hike the ancient Mayan temples of Tikal in Guatemala.

For the sake of safety, we plan our route down to the kilometer, navigating the region by chicken bus, an eye-opening mode of public transportation ubiquitous in the developing world. Along the way we re-connect with each other, re-kindle our commitment to the environment, recognize the privilege into which we were born, and become compassionate global citizens.

My Review:

A couple leaving their jobs as school teachers in Canada travel to Costa Rica with their 2 kids to work at an organization that saves endangered sea turtles. This is their story of homeschooling their children while learning the native cultures of the places they visit to live like a local with meager income without any luxuries like electricity and a refrigerator.

This is about their travel experiences and their hurdles. This is kind of a homeschooling field trip but a long one to Central America.

While reading the book, at some points I got a chill in my spine, when they had to stay in musty, Narrow rooms, travel in overcrowded buses without enough air to breathe, when their daughter misses an accident in seconds, etc.,

I appreciate and understand  Janet and Lloyd's interest in community-based travel supporting local businesses and homeschooling their kids.👏

Why the name Chicken bus? 🐔🐣

Chicken Bus is a colloquial term used to describe the run-down, discarded school buses from North America sold to Latin American countries, where they are repainted in bright colors, outfitted with stereo speakers, and upcycled with more seats to accommodate more people with their potatoes, avocadoes, and chickens. 

What's great?

Loved the book cover and the title is appropriate. The map at the beginning of the book is very helpful to understand the route they travel and the places they visit.

The Author's passion to homeschool their kids by showing the local people and their culture are worth an appreciation. 

What might have been better?

I felt the book is too verbose. Some photos might have made reading easier.

The font might have been larger.

The book ends with this line which I agree 100%

" Yes, The Chicken buses, crammed full and whistling down a bumpy road, unveil a great deal indeed"

My Rating: 4/5

About the Author:

Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist. She writes in both Turkish and English, and has published 18 books, 11 of which are novels. Her work has been translated into 54 languages. Her latest novel 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and RSL Ondaatje Prize; and chosen Blackwell's Book of the Year. Her previous novel, The Forty Rules of Love was chosen by BBC among 100 Novels that Shaped Our World. Shafak holds a PhD in political science and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK, including St Anne's College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow.

Shafak is a Fellow and a Vice President of the Royal Society of Literature. She is a member of Weforum Global Agenda Council on Creative Economy and a founding member of ECFR (European Council on Foreign Relations). An advocate for women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of speech, Shafak is an inspiring public speaker and twice TED Global speaker, each time receiving a standing ovation. Shafak contributes to major publications around the world and she was awarded the medal of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. In 2017 she was chosen by Politico as one of the twelve people "who will give you a much needed lift of the heart". Shafak has judged numerous literary prizes, and chaired the Wellcome Prize and is presently judging the PEN Nabokov Prize.
www.elifshafak.com
Twitter @Elif_Safak
Instagram @shafakelif

Until next time,

From Fostercare to Millionaire by Cody McLain - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title : From Fostercare to Millionaire
Author : Cody McLain
Genre : AutoBiography, Parenting & Relationships, Memoir
Print Length : 332 pages
Source : A free print copy in exchange for a review

Blurb:

Cody's story offers all the components you'd expect from the success story of a young entrepreneur with Aspergers-motivation, drive, perseverance, focus, and passion. 

You might call it a rags-to-riches tale, and you wouldn't be wrong. But that here-to-there narrative is only the top layer. 

Cody's story unfolds to reveal a narrative that is more complicated and yet simpler, more central, to the human experience. 

What remains is the story of a boy, burdened like all of us with deep wounds and great gifts, searching for a purpose. What remains is a story that will inspire readers to find their true calling and work like hell to achieve their dreams.

My Review:

I am usually not into biographies and memoirs, but I loved this book. This is not preachy but genuine. 

Cody's life is an inspiration to many and this book sure motivates us. Cody's story proves that when there is a will/desire, there will definitely be a way to achieve it. Irrespective of multiple failures, with very little family support, no good friends and no educational support, Cody achieves success in his business through hard work and perseverance.

While we see that these generation kids disappointed by small failures and give up so easily, this book will surely be a motivation for them. 

What I liked?

The narration is genuine, authentic, inspiring and we could really feel what's happening in Cody's life. It is motivational to read about someone who didn't give up even after he fails in the business which he builds from scratch. For any other person, it is a big deal to overcome this and start anew. 

The photos of the people and places in the book helped with understanding the circumstances better. 

What might have been better?

The whole book is good except for the last 2 chapters. The last chapters felt like they were written in a hurry. I would have loved to read more about what happened after selling the company. 

My Rating: 4/5

PS: I have received this book for free in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book. 

About the Author:

After starting his first company at the age of 15, Cody has gone on to start a string of successful (and unsuccessful) businesses, many of which grossed millions. 

Today, Cody is the founder of SupportNinja, a company which employs hundreds of people worldwide and services some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley. He has been featured on Forbes, Mashable, Entrepreneur and more for his expertise in Entrepreneurism, Productivity, and Outsourcing.
Until next time,

The Alcoholic Doctor by Dr Anish Kurar - Book Spot light

Summary:

Retired orthopaedic consultant Dr. Anish Kumar Kurar has worked in three countries accruing a wealth of experience managing critical conditions as well as taking fundamental steps to succeed amidst a climate of harsh reality.

From scarring childhood memories during an impoverished upbringing, he has managed to climb to the top of his profession. Childhood abuse, a shift to alcohol as an insurance measure during adulthood, and the intense clinical demands of medical practice has resulted in a tough exterior; the journey from his primitive youth to an experienced consultant has been no holds barred. He has been publicly acclaimed in the media and presented with international awards from the Saudi Arabian government.

Dr. Kurar proves that a little bit of grit can go a long way. This is his story.

Information about the Book

Title: The Alcoholic Doctor

Author: Dr Anish Kurar

Release Date: 28^th January 2020

Genre: Non-Fiction

Page Count: 76

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50254820-alcoholic-doctor

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alcoholic-Doctor-Dr-Anish-Kurar/dp/1912850621

Author Information

Dr Anish Kurar is a retired consultant orthopaedic surgeon. Now retired, he lives in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, with his family.

Tour Schedule

Monday 27^th January

The Bookend Reviews

Tuesday 28^th January

Books and Cwtches

Wednesday 29^th January

Luna’s Little Library

Thursday 30^th January

Donna’s Book Blog

Friday 31^st January

Between the Pages Book Club

Saturday 1^st February

A Book Lover’s Diary

Until next time,

Motherhood, Martyrdom, and Costco Runs by Whitney Dineen - [Book Review]

Parenting/Humor/Memoir

Date Published: May 15, 2017

Publisher: 33 Partners Publishing

Join bestselling romantic comedy author, Whitney Dineen, as she discovers the three Es of parenting:

•         Exhilarating—when you first discover you’re pregnant.

•         Exhausting—when you realize you’ll most likely never sleep again--like EVER.

•         Explosive—OMG these kids spew from both ends!

And that’s just the beginning. Whitney shares the ridiculous highs and excruciating lows of her catapult into motherhood. Enjoy the ride as this new mom vows to give up profanity while falling in love with… you guessed it, Costco. Be careful, because if you’re anything like Whitney, you may just pee a little. 

Motherhood Martyrdom & Costco Runs takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions as Whitney plummets into postpartum depression, desperately tries to get her kids to stop yodeling in public restrooms, and comes to terms with the fact she’ll never quite be queen of her own kingdom. Get ready to laugh, cry, cheer, and pat yourself on the back for the sake of mommies everywhere. And while you’re at it, stop by Costco for a case of toilet paper and a Very Berry Sundae. You won’t regret it!  

My Review:
I usually don't pick non-fiction books to read. This might be one of the very few non-fiction books that I read. I chose this book as it is related to parenting and it's fun to learn about other parent's exepriences and hardships, right?

This book is like having a conversation with the author who is a mom of 2 girls. The writing style is casual with a tinge of humour. The chapters and incidents are picked random. The author doesn't say what is ideal or that her parenting style is best but she admits her issues about parenting with grace and is proud to raise 2 lovely children.

Read some snippets from the book to get an idea of the book.

In fact,  they’re  so curious when  they first see  her,  my six-year-old yells out,  “Are you  some  kind  of superhero?” The  four-year-old contributes, “Halloween isn’t  until  October!” Of  course,  I’m  mortified  and try to  shush my  little troublemakers  as I  glance  apologetically  at the  hijab-donned stranger.

Trying  to explain  to  your  children  which truths they’re allowed to  talk about openly,  and which  they aren’t,  is like  trying to dismantle  a  mine  field,  in  a hail  storm,  without  a map,  while on fire.  If you  tell  them there’s  nothing  wrong  with  being  fat, they assume  telling  people  they’re  fat  is  okay.

 I’d  met  a woman  in  the  doctor’s  office  the  week before,  who  told me  she’d  had an  amniocentesis and  the  test came  back positive  for  Down  syndrome.  She  said she  and her husband struggled with what to  do.  They  already  had two  other children.  Both of  them  needed to  work to  support their  family. They didn’t know  how  they  could afford  or  cope  with  a  special needs  child.  They ultimately  decided to  have  the  baby,  but they both stopped  enjoying  the  pregnancy.  The  day she  went into labor  was  a solemn  one.  Then she  delivered.  And  you  know what?  Her  beautiful little  boy was born  perfectly normal,  no genetic  anomalies  whatsoever.  Surely that’s a  very rare  case,  but still,  it gives you  food for  thought.

Overall, it's a light read about parenting experience. We can have a hearty laugh comparing with our own experiences as a parent. 

My Rating:
4/5

Ps: I have received this free review copy through RABT book tours and this is my honest opinion on the book.

About the Author

While attending the University of Illinois in Chicago, Whitney Dineen was discovered by a local modeling agent and began an unexpected career as a plus-size Ford model. She modeled in New York City before moving to Los Angeles with her husband.

During “The Hollywood Years,” Whitney was bitten by the writing bug and started creating characters that are inspired by strong women with a great sense of humor. Her first romantic comedy, She Sins at Midnight, won a silver medal in the 2015 Reader’s Favorite awards. Her second, The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan, is a finalist in the 2016 RONE Awards, won a silver medal at the 2016 Reader’s Favorite Awards and won Honorable Mention at the London Book Festival. Her third chick-lit book, Mimi Plus Two, is causing all kinds of controversy and who the heck knows where it will land. Although, it was a finalist in the Reader’s Favorite Awards and a Runner-Up at the London Book Festival.

In addition to her love of chick-lit, Whitney has also written a series of adventure books for middle readers. The first two books in her series, Wilhelmina and the Willamette Wig Factory and Who the Heck is Harvey Stingle? are both available now. Book three, Beware of the Basement, is due to be released in the spring of 2017.

Whitney and her husband, Jimmy, have relocated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest to raise their children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Goodreads

Purchase Link

Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time,

Date like a girl, Marry like a woman by Jessica - [Author Interview]& Giveaway

Book Description:

Navigating our romantic lives can be filled with incredible highs and unfathomable lows. Everyone enters relationships with a unique idea of what makes connection work. But even with our differences, we have a common thread running through all of us: the deep desire to love and be loved.

Based on her experiences, and with the help of her closest friends and the men in her life, author Jessica R. Bunevacz created a series of guidelines for women looking to enjoy dating and romance and avoid common pitfalls and difficulties.

Whether you're dating, getting ready to walk down the aisle, or are already married and looking to take your marriage to the next level, it's profoundly important to celebrate where you are on your journey and make every day special and meaningful for yourself and those around you.

Date like a Girl, Marry like a Woman incorporates Bunevacz's own stories of love, dating, and marriage with practical advice for today's modern relationship and reminds readers not to settle for anything less than the best.

Buy the book: Amazon


Author's Bio:

What do you get when you mix a strict Catholic upbringing, a strong curiosity for the opposite sex, and the need to grow up quickly? If you are lucky you get an outcome like Jessica Bunevacz, the vivacious first time author behind "Date Like a Girl, Marry Like a Woman: The Polished Woman's Guide to Love, Romance and Sex."
​

Jessica is a former actress and fashion model born and raised in the Philippines, and currently living in Los Angeles. A happily married mother of three, she has made the journey from MANnizer to the quintessential polished woman. Utilizing her own past experiences and a passion for helping others, she will quickly become the best friend you wish you had!

Connect with the author: Author Website ~ Book's Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview

1) Who were the hardest to write about? The easiest? 

Answer: The easiest were the men I dated. Because every single one had some sort of effect in my life. The hardest was writing about myself. It was hard going back to the past. The dating was fun and easy but the painful ones were hard. Especially the part when my husband had an emotional affair. That was tough on me going back to that situation. 

2) Is there any ritualistic thing you do during your writing time? 

Answer: None really, I just need to be in a quiet place which is my bedroom. I can incline my bed so that was helpful in writing and I made sure my phone was off. 

3) Any favorite thing to do during weekends? 

Answer: My date nights with hubby is on week days. So I make sure I have once or twice a month girls night out on weekends. I need that for myself. But most of the weekends I am with family and kids. Sundays is our church day when there are no sport games. :)

4) Why did you write this book? 

Answer: Because of my love for women. I want every woman to find the man of their dreams, to find love and once they've said their I Do’s, I want to be able to help them maintain a happy marriage.

5) Did you write every day? 

Answer: Yes, only on weekdays. When the kids were all in school. It’s very hard to write on weekends especially where we live, I feel like we drive the whole day. 

Until next time,

The Black Sheep Shadow by Ashley Terell - Book Promo

Non Fiction / Self-Help / Memoir

Date Published: April 19, 2016

Blurb

The city lights blind your amazement. The sound of the traffic challenges you to be alive. Families ask bystanders to make magic and capture the moment with photographs. Newly engaged couples seal their union by kissing under shooting stars while loving by crossing their hearts.

But if your heart was under arrest, wouldn't you want to embrace something to feel like others?

Go insider the world of one courageous sheep as she discovers that her heart was under attack by darkness. As she travels on a spiritual journey to understanding her purpose, overcoming the undertones of low confidence, self-acceptance, and the importance of inspiration, she rose against the odds with forgiveness and strengthening her faith.

An Excerpt

Your past does not define your future.

In the dark, we do not have shadows.

In the light, we do.

Even me.

Even you.

Even sheep.

It is time out for hiding the scars and pain.

It is time out for disguising when we need help.

It is time to stand up and embrace yourself.

Regardless of violence.

Regardless of opinions.

Regardless of loneliness.

Regardless of beauty.

You are who you are.

Your future is what you want it to be.

You have a shadow. You have an identity.

Even black sheep have shadows.

God’s sheep are only black because society locks us in a room with the light off.

What’s going to make you determined

to turn the light on?

 Here is my story.

About the Author

Ashley Terrell is the founder of Stella Bistro Foods and Black Sheep Inc. Terrell is the host and co-director of Cooking with Stella (2016).  She resides on the East Coast where she enjoys blissful sunsets and sounds of ocean waves.

Contact Links

Website: www.aterrellenterprises.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ashleyterrellllc

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dang3rouzvixen

Purchase Links

Amazon:  http://goo.gl/MuCYIv

Publisher: www.aterrellenterprises.com


Until next time,

In the belly of an elephant by Susan Corbett - Book Spot Light

Non Fiction / Memoir

Date Published: December 18, 2013

Book Description:

Everybody needs to run away from home at least once. Susan Corbett told people she was out to save the world, but really she was running — running from her home as much as to anywhere. Like many women, she was searching for meaning to her life or for a good man to share it with. In Africa, she hoped to find both.

Compelling and compassionate, In the Belly of the Elephant is Susan's transformative story of what happens when you decide to try to achieve world peace while searching for a good man. More than a fish-out-of-water story, it's a surprising and heart-rending account of her time in Africa trying to change the world as she battles heat, sandstorms, drought, riots, intestinal bugs, burnout, love affairs and more than one meeting with death. Against a backdrop of vivid beauty and culture, in a narrative interwoven with a rich tapestry of African myths and fables, Susan learns the true simplicity of life, and discovers people full of kindness, wisdom and resilience, and shares with us lessons we, too, can learn from her experiences.


An Excerpt:

Prologue 

Liberia--March

The first time I met Death was in a tiny bush-town called Foequellie. It was said that the bush devil who sometimes came to town, dancing to a chorus of drummers, was Death. But he was just a local man dressed in rags and a wooden mask.

On a blue morning of sailing clouds, I crossed the clearing that separated my house from the two-room clinic—the only health facility within a 20-mile radius of thick bush and rain forest. A breeze carried the voices of chatting mothers and crying babies. It was Under Five’s Day, the weekly clinic for babies and children up to five years old. Well into my second year as a Peace Corps volunteer, I worked there, giving nutrition demonstrations and vaccinating children.

Awake from my morning cup of Nescafé and ready for the day, I passed through the dappled shade of a cottonwood tree. This was the town’s Ancestor Tree where the ghosts of great-great-grandfathers, great-aunts, uncles, and cousins hid in the hollows of the trunk with the snakes and spiders, and high up in the branches among the leaves and the ricebirds. The Ancestor Tree loomed next to a red dirt road that twisted its way around the clinic, past my house at the end of town, and on through hillside plots of rice, potato greens, and cassava.

Women with babies tied to their backs in cloth slings gathered at the clinic door. They entered and stacked their yellow “Road to Health” cards in a pile that reserved their place, and then sat on benches to wait their turn and catch up on local gossip.

James, the clinic janitor and local translator, joined me in the waiting room, a 20-by-10-foot space with a dirt floor and mud-plastered walls that smelled of baby pee and sweat.

We said our good mornings; then James explained the causes and treatment of diarrhea. I stood in the center, squeezing oranges into a bowl. As I demonstrated the pinch of salt and teaspoon of sugar needed to make rehydration fluid, a woman came in with a round-faced little girl in tattered shorts and cornrow braids. The two of them sat at the end of the bench, and the little girl laid her head on her mother’s shoulder and closed her eyes.

Over the next few hours, James and I worked with Francis, the local physician’s assistant and clinic “doctor.” We weighed babies, treated skin and stomach ailments, gave out malaria medication, and vaccinated against smallpox, whooping cough, and tetanus. Morning cool gave way to the heat of day, and the rooms grew stuffy. Sometime before noon, I walked back into the waiting room to call the next in line.

The woman with the little girl took her daughter’s hand to lead her in. The girl, about five years old, tried to stand but collapsed. Her mother caught her, and I ran to grasp the girl’s arm. Her skin burned, and her lips were chapped and dry. She breathed out a rattled sigh, and her head lolled to one side.

“Frances! James!” I called, and they came in an instant.

James laid the little girl down, her skinny arms and legs limp against the floor. Frances bent his ear to her nose, then felt her wrist for a pulse. He looked up at us and shook his head. Her mother began to wail.

I knelt, unable to believe, unable to understand. In my two years at the clinic, this had never happened. I had never seen a person die. The spark of the little girl who had been with us only a moment before was gone.

Without thought, I propped her head back, pressed my mouth over hers, and blew my breath into her limp, dehydrated body. Her skinny chest lifted then deflated. Francis pumped her chest, and I blew into her lungs again, then again.

There was no ambulance to call, no emergency room to whisk her to. This was the only place. We tried for a while longer until Francis put his hand on my arm.

“She is gone,” he said.

Her black irises were dull, as if a door at the back of her eyes had shut, blocking out the light. But her skin was warm and smelled the way children smell, an earthy sweetness that no amount of dirt can hide. Francis gently pressed her eyelids closed. The bleat of a baby goat echoed across the clearing.

Amidst the mother’s wails and the silent grief of the other women, the muscles of my throat closed into a fist. The woman had brought in her child, sick with dysentery, dehydrated, dying, and she had sat and waited her turn. Why hadn’t I noticed when they first came in? Why hadn’t I done something sooner? I looked around at the faces of the women and children who still crowded the room, and I started to cry. The mothers all turned to me, eyebrows raised, mouths open, as if they realized for the first time that I, too, was made of flesh and bone.

A week later, several of my students put on a skit at a school gathering. A young man lay on the ground while another pantomimed blowing air into his mouth. Everyone laughed, inviting me to share in the jest.

Foolish Miss Soosan, thinking that by blowing, she could chase away death.

My flushed cheeks and blank face must have moved them. They patted me on the back and spoke kind words; the way one treats someone who simply doesn’t know any better.

Foolish Miss Soosan, crying because she could not make someone stay when they had already left.

About the Author:

A writer, community organizer, and consultant in program management, micro-enterprise development, family planning, and HIV/AIDS education, Susan Corbett began her community development career in 1976 as a Peace Corps Volunteer, working in a health clinic in Liberia, West Africa. In 1979, she joined Save the Children Federation as a program coordinator for cooperative and small business projects in Burkina Faso. In 1982, Susan returned to the States where she has worked with local non-profits in drug and alcohol prevention for runaway youth, family planning, homelessness prevention, and immigrant issues.


Susan has traveled to over 40 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Caribbean, and Central and North America and has lived and worked in ten African countries over the past thirty years (Uganda, Tanzania, Mali, The Gambia, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mauritius, Tunisia, Nigeria, and Liberia). She lives in Colorado with her husband, Steve, her sons, Mitch & Sam, and her dog, Molly.

Contact Information
Website: http://www.susancorbettbooks.com/

Purchase Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/In-Belly-Elephant-Susan-Corbett-ebook/dp/B00HEXVXNE

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Until next time,