I read this book about 3 years ago in a college prepatory program called Upward Bound. We read the book in about 3 or 4 weeks, and I learned SO much in that time frame. I would reccommend this book to EVERYONE- it’s very eye opening. One of these days I’m going to go back and re-read it, I’m sure I’ll get even more out of it the second time around.

I struggled a great deal through this book, since most of the negative plot points come from the father, a minister/missionary, and/or stem from that work. As a Christian who has done mission work and studied it in college, it was hard for me to read such a negative perspective on it. But I continued reading it because it was compelling nonetheless. The stories of all the women are engaging – they are all such different characters, yet I found myself able to relate to at least part of each one of them. It was definitely worth the effort I put into it.

This is definitely a book I will re-read as well. I loved the epic feel it and the method used to tell the long story.

Re-reading one of my favorite books.

Lush, dark, wonderfully well-written. I found that I couldn’t put it down.

I wasn’t sure about this book when I first got it. I was curious about the title, but it sat on my bookshelf for a few months before I got around to reading it. A chapter in and I still wasn’t grabbed, but a few pages later and I was hooked. An amazing read. It made me go and read up on the Congo and it’s history.

The tales of 5 women merge into one beautiful, seamless story. Leaves you craving the Congo.