Book Description:

Kate Adie's story is an unusual one. Raised in post-war Sunderland, where life was 'a sunny experience, full of meat-paste sandwiches and Sunday school', she reported memorably and courageously from many of the world's trouble spots since she joined the BBC in 1969. THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS encompasses Adie’s reporting from, inter alia, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Tiananmen Square and, of course, the Gulf War of 1991. It offers a compelling combination of vivid frontline reporting and evocative writing and reveals the extraordinarily demanding life of the woman who was always at the heart of the action. Although an intensely private person, Kate Adie also divulges what it's like to be a woman in a man's world – an inspiration to many working women.

I received this as a gift, but I'm not a great fan of biography and haven't got round to it in three years. I'm going to take it to the UnConvention in Birmingham on 1 July and pass it on to Forager, a book from his wish list.

Thanks to Herrgirl for spotting it on my WishList and taking the trouble to bring it to the UnConvention, passing it on to me via WormyOne. I'm sorry I didn't get to thank her in person. The title seems particularly appropriate!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Hoping to read it myself eventually, but hope pageturner2006 enjoys it in the meantime.

To be given back to Forager when I have finished!

This book is so excellent it leaves you feeling there should be shrapnel dust on your fingers and desert sand in the pages because everything is made so real...The telling of her story leaves you able to appreciate that you can never know what it feels like unless you experience it. A real serious must read, however, while parts are hilarious its not a great holiday read even for those who like a serious minded book to take.

Will be returning to forager very soon.

Back with me now. Pageturner2006's enthusiasm means this one might have just jumped a few places in the TBR queue, although I won't be taking it with me on holiday now!

"You witness other people's grief and anger and excitement and joy; and you also feel it; however, rather than becoming part of the scene, you take away with you a sense of wonder that survival and humanity are stronger than violence and suffering."

A thoroughly readable and fascinating insight not only into the life of one impressive reporter but also the way that reporting itself has changed over the decades. The chapter on Tiananmen Square could be published as a book in its own right. If you decide to do that please mention me in the credits.

On one of the shelves. Happy hunting!