Customer Reviews

The Turning Over

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Turning Over" is one of the best books I have read about Sierra Leone.

The book follows the journey of an American expatriate during a time of change in that country. In the 1980's, most expratriates were turning over their jobs to local indigineous people in most places in Africa. The programs were then run by corrupt governments that cared little about the well-being of indigineous people. McCauley's book shows in great detail the dilemma westerners faced while "turning over" successful programs to corrupt local governments.

The love story between Bob, the main character and Mary, keeps the reader on his/her toes. It is hard to predict what will happen next... and I believe, Mr. McCauley does a great job at keeping both the topics of love and Africa alive throughout his book.

The books deals also with complex issues such as: the difference between men and women, sex, drugs, corruption, dependency, violence and politics.

Have fun with it!

Bill McCauley has taken the time to craft an adventure with details that goose the senses. His approach to humidity, lust, conscience and morale had me pausing every few pages to wonder what I would do in such situations. By taking the moral high ground as an expatriate willing to donate everything to a greater cause, his narrator leaves the door open to personal gratification with no consequence. Or so he thinks. This is a great tale and a great insight to one of the most controversial African nations of our time. McCauley knows Sierra Leone, and, moreover, his love for the place and the time he spent there is apparent. The Turning Over is a terrific book.

I enjoyed the book front to back. It provided thought provoking insights into Africa, the power dynamics of the times, western development efforts in the region and I thought it provided an interesting character to walk us through all this.