Helpful Score: 5
I never thought I would enjoy a book that a large portion of it had to do with the apartheid era in South Africa, but I found this book to hold my attention well and be educational. This story is told from a female reporter's point of view. It had me hooked from the very first chapter where she is beaten and left in a ditch to die by Mexican drug dealers.
Helpful Score: 4
Amanda Eyre Ward does an excellent job of twisting the past and present and catching you off guard once again in this book. Nadine, the main character, took awhile to warm up to - she's a bit prickly! But she grew on me as the story progressed and I ended up admiring her grit and gumption.
Helpful Score: 1
I LOVE Ward's stuff. I stumbled upon SLEEP TOWARDS HEAVEN about 2 years ago and have been hooked since. I did this one as a book on CD, but I was gripped from the first word and really was pulling for Dr. Duarte! I loved his character. Such a heavy subject dealing with apartheid, but the story moved quickly and logically and I had to see how it ended.
Helpful Score: 1
This is my least favorite of Amanda Eyre Ward's books, perhaps because the main character is so unlikeable. I enjoyed learning a bit more about South Africa and apartheid, but the story was a little confusing in some parts. An uneven read for me.
I love Amanda Eyre Ward, but I was so disappointed with this one. I read about 50 pages and just didn't care enough about the characters to continue on.
I loved Sleep Toward Heaven and How to Be Lost, but this book didn't grab my attention like they did. I just couldn't get into it.
I loved the book ..couldn't put it down..grabbed your heartstrings and wouldn't let go!!!
I liked this book but it was a bit hard to follow. There are a lot of different story threads running through this short book and it was sometimes hard to keep them straight. I'm not completely sold on why the Nantucket to Stardom bit needed to be included. It felt like it actually took away from the South African story line, although you can see the parallel themes of home, finding yourself, safety or illusion thereof. This book did make me want to read more about South Africa and I will most likely read more from this author.
The protagonist is a female reporter who thrives on going to world trouble spots seeking a scoop. "A steady paycheck still eluded her. It was part of the job: stringers paid their own way, hoping to sell enough stories to cover plane tickets, hotels (or crummy apartments), meals. Sometimes Nadine was forced to share a room with a more established reporter. Eugenia often bought Nadine's stories, but Nadine dreamed of a steady position (28)." I admire these reporters and was disappointed when Pacifica Radio began to use Al-Jazeera (I've never seen it spelled out) instead of various striving reporters, although it turned out the SOBs weren't paying the stringers and nearly put one operation that supplied them material into receivership. The author offers a nice contrast with Nadine's best friend from growing up who has a conventional life with husband and kids. Nadine is a tough bird but she needs to be in this business. Remember how badly Egyptians treated women reporting on and participating in their revolution.
