A great book that really explores some key issues behind development through the lives of several characters.

From Amazon:
Fiona Sweeney wants to do something that matters, and she chooses to make her mark in the arid bush of northeastern Kenya. By helping to start a traveling library, she hopes to bring the words of Homer, Hemingway, and Dr. Seuss to far-flung tiny communities where people live daily with drought, hunger, and disease. Her intentions are honorable, and her rules are firm: due to the limited number of donated books, if any one of them is not returned, the bookmobile will not return.

But, encumbered by her Western values, Fi does not understand the people she seeks to help. And in the impoverished small community of Mididima, she finds herself caught in the middle of a volatile local struggle when the bookmobile's presence sparks a dangerous feud between the proponents of modernization and those who fear the loss of traditional ways

To the finder:
Welcome to bookcrossing! You have "caught" what we call a "travelling book." It is now your book to keep or to read and pass on to another reader and follow where the book goes. This is done by journal entries, so I really hope you'll journal it, if only to tell me you found it. You can do this anonymously, or sign up (free and private, no spam) and also be able to follow the book as it travels! If you do, please consider listing me, megami-no-ushi as your referring member.

My contribution to the wrapped book holiday exchange!

To the finder:
Calgary has an active group of BookCrossers that meet to swap books and discuss book crossing every second Saturday of the month at 11am at Cravings Market on Fairmount Drive SE. We always love to meet new crossers, so please join us any time you like!

This book was chosen as a wrapped book exchange present at a Christmas Tea for Calgary BookCrossers.

A great time was had by all - fabulous food, yummy teas, tons of friendship and laughter!

Thank you for choosing this book to gift. It looks very thought provoking.

What a thought-provoking story. The central character, Fi, was both naive and fearless as she began her journey to the remotest regions of Africa. With the viewpoint alternating between the various characters in the village, we were able to understand that not all intervention from outsiders is welcome.

The village had deep-rooted traditions that had allowed them to survive for hundreds of years and the new books and language caused considerable dissent. (Picture used here is close to a quote within the book.)

This story is based on an actual Camel Bookmobile. More information can be found at: http://camelbookdrive.wordpress.com/

Taking to the November meet-up of Calgary BookCrossers at Cravings Market Restaurant.

Picked this up at the November Book Crossing meeting. This sounds interesting.

I expected this to be a bit more lighthearted than what it was. A very interesting and thought provoking book.

Taking this book to the July Book Crossing meeting to be enjoyed by the next reader.

Picked up at get together

In some ways this book was what I thought it would be, and it other ways it was not what I thought it would be. The timing was a little odd to me in that some of it was stretched out, and then a lot happened within like five days. It was an interesting collection of characters, though I didn't really care for the teacher's wife. I thought it did a good job presenting many different view points on the advantages and disadvantages of a camel bookmobile, and also pointing out some of the ridiculousness of some of the items which others donate thinking they're useful. I think the story lines also resolved in a fairly natural way. And I really liked how the one pessimist still came through for Fi despite his own opinions.

Thanks for the interesting read.

Taken to get together

Had a delightful meetup at Calgary Zoo. Had books displayed in trunks before the visit to the Zoo. There were THREE BookCrossing babies there! I ended up taking home more books than I was able to pass on!

Delightful book. And to think this is based on a camel bookmobile that was a real thing, just the story was created. Interesting characters and plot line.

A game of cards and a bunch of books. Thanks sing song

Took me awhile to get into but was an interesting read. I am so NOT an adventurer like Fi! I need my full on makeup and multiple changes of clothes when I travel. Interesting pull of the old ways and the new ways.

I am returning to Sing song. To return to her daughter. She is coming over for a movie, supper and cards!

Got this back from crossingguardma after a delightful evening of movie, supper and cards. a warm end to this snowy day!

I was at a meetup at Cravings and passed this along to another reader.