Customer Reviews

Long Walk Up: Childhood Journey from Tragedy to Triumph

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Denise Turney has a story to tell and does it in a poignant way. Her story, LONG WALK UP is a young girl's childhood journey from tragedy to triumph...albeit, about an orphan girl on her journey toward legitimacy from meager beginnings to that of the first Black president of an African nation! Though simplistic and short, it's long on linguistic latitude with a remarkable sense of place, as well as profound knowledge of the ways and customs of the people that are adjuncts to the setting of the story. Reading the story it was hard to put down, and after embracing Mulukan and her ordeals traversing the countryside searching for identity you knew that destiny would draw her to her calling -- due diligence is like this when you're persistant and your election and calling is made surest by being in the right place at the right time!

The book starts out moderately slow with emphasis on life among the village(s) throughout her nomadic life. Ironically, the travels only served to strengthen her resolve in allowing survival tactics to give insight to what it means to take advantage of time and place. She does this remarkedly at every turn, especially during her young adult years as a writer honing the necessary skills to become a distaff leader, which in my opinion was the turning point of the story. I loved this book, but like others I'm sure, they will want more of Mulukan. This book is a winner, albeit short. An upside would have been intrigue to the storyline enhancing continuity and longevity. Read it despite the need for more, but get to know the author and her previous works. Denise is a mother and a founding member of Bucks County Pennsylvania's first African American owned and operated drug and alcohol intervention program - No Longer Bound. She is a former volunteer in Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She is an entrepreneur, a businesswoman and a civic and community volunteer. Her memberships include: The National Women's Executive Association, Black Women Entrepreneurs, The Philadelphia Writer's Organization, The International Black Writer's Organization, and The International Women's Writing Guild.

I read this book. It was inspirational and uplifting. I would recommend it to everyone. The detailed description of Africa, African culture and its struggles was educational.

In Long Walk Up, Denise Turney displays a remarkable sense of place, as well as a great depth of knowledge of the ways and customs of her setting. As we trace the poignant journey of Mulukan from abject poverty to head of state, we are drawn into the story through unique metaphors and a narration that captures the daily life of the poor in a small African village. Children are said to cling to the back of their parents as if hiding from death. Mulukan's life was filled with so much pain that she forgot to cry. When no one shooed her away from where she slept at the feet of other children, she called the place home. The resiliency of the young girl, and her intelligence reflect the author's own brilliance and powers of leadership. Long Walk Up is a must to stimulate people everywhere, especially disadvantaged children, to follow their star and to maintain their reslove to accomplish their goals in life. I highly recommend the book.