Black Papyrus [Paperback]

Bret Galloway (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

Life in Shakawe, a small village in northwestern Botswana, moves slowly, its days mesmerized by the rhythmic buzzing of locusts and its nights lulled by the plaintive chanting of frogs. Its cycles and permanence, its beauty and its darkness, are echoed in the languid Okavango River that runs past the village, ebbing and flowing in time to the relentless seasons. "Black Papyrus" comprises twelve separate but intertwined stories recounting one year in the life of this village, which stands delicately perched on the threshold of the modern world, its old ways rapidly fading.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bret Galloway, a spiritual drifter, lived in rural Botswana for two years, remembering with fondness the beauty and gentle power of the Okavango. Having worked at a variety of occupations, he recently returned to the US from Indonesia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: UNLIMITED PUBLISHING LLC (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158832088X
• ISBN-13: 978-1588320889
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,017,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Journey, February 11, 2004

By 

Judith B. Oakes (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Papyrus (Paperback)

In this magical book, Mr. Galloway takes the reader away to an African village where the reader quickly becomes immersed in the lives of the village's inhabitants. The author brings the village alive so skillfully that one can actually see, taste and smell the surroundings. We laugh and cry, mourn and rejoice with the characters as we are drawn into their lives, so seemingly simple on the surface, yet, in reality, so complex. A truly beautifully written book.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eloquently simlpe glimpse of African life, February 22, 2004

By 

matteo g ballatore (bonita, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Papyrus (Paperback)

Black Papyrus is an eloquently simple look into the life of a remote African village. The author gives us a glimpse into village life through the eyes of the inhabitants of Shakawe. The villagers come to life as they go about their traditional ways, struggling with the encroaching modern world. Their situations are at times exotic and foreign, and yet familiar and poignant. The African landscapes are beautifully painted. The characters are surprisingly lifelike as they deal with situations and dilemnas which are common to all humanity in a uniquely African way. I highly reccommend this book for it's readability, insight, and beauty.