DRUMS ALONG THE CONGO PA (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Being more interested in chasing a dream than in the precise diameter of a footprint, I'm here to substantiate the obscure," says explorer Nugent, who takes us on an energizing, entertaining spin through the Congo in pursuit of a prehistoric creature purported to be still roaming the rain forest: the legendary dinosaur called Mokele-Mbembe, the God-Beast. Along the way, a witch doctor takes Nugent's money, strips him naked, covers him with a foul-smelling jellied substance and exorcises his devils. Nugent tangles with government bureaucrats to obtain necessary travel permits, he meditates on the African notion of river spirits and on animism, suffers from diarrhea and scorching heat, witnesses a celebration in honor of a girl's first menstruation, tries to coax music and magic out of a set of bongos, hunts and eats crocodiles (he finds that a roasted croc steak is tasty but very greasy), and is threatened by Pygmies with bows and arrows. From a distance, Nugent finally spots the God-Beast. But the natives are spooked and, by gunpoint, prevent him from getting closer; he only sees a vague image and, he relates, even the experts who examine his photographs later in New York aren't sure what Nugent has captured on film. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (June) Nugent's The Search for the Pink-Headed Duck , about his quest for a rare bird in India, is a June paperback reprint from Houghton Mifflin, $10.95 *
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Nugent, in his second travel tome, continues his quest for the unknown and unreachable. His Search for the Pink-Headed Duck (Houghton, 1991) took him deep into the wilds of the Himalayan kingdoms. In his latest travel adventure, Nugent takes his captivated readers to Lake Tele, deep in the heart of the Congo, in search of a dinosaur-like creature named Mokele-Mbembe, a legendary deity that exhibits all the frightening qualities of the Loch Ness Monster. The author, once again employing his sublime sense of humor and adventuresome sense of the outrageous, visits with local witch doctors and tribal chiefs while making his way through the Cretaceous-period jungle and the threatened rain forest. He provides us with a fascinating account of an almost unexplored and wild region.
- Melinda Stivers Leach, Wondervu, Col.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (June 28, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395670713
• ISBN-13: 978-0395670712
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #922,631 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #13 in

  Books > Travel > Africa > Democratic Republic of Congo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American hunts for a dinosaur, and you're right there., December 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: DRUMS ALONG THE CONGO CL (Hardcover)

A good read but an even better document to the pursuit of dreams (well, maybe not dreams, but dinosaurs) by an adventurer. I couldn't help but think of Indiana Jones, except with a lot of modern red tape and government bureaucracy. Just being able to go after the dinosaur is a miracle, and Nugent paints a great picture for me. So many modern "adventures" are media-hyped, corporate events that pass as "sports" but this guy goes into the dark of the Congo and no one seems to care except the people he has to bribe and barter with along the way. Definitely check this one out.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Next Best Thing to Being There!, May 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: DRUMS ALONG THE CONGO CL (Hardcover)

The author has an amazing account to tell and he does it with great skill -- drawing his reader into the world, not only of primeval jungle and native folklore, but of the vibrant social structure of African life, where a visitor's knowledge of American television shows becomes a better item for trade than a pocketful of gold. As I finished the last, breathtaking chapter (it took every ounce of willpower not to peek ahead to it), I was ready to quit my job, pack up my bags, and set sail to Congo to go looking for the legendary beast myself. What a great read

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written, May 31, 2009

By	shacary "Shacary" (Illinois United States) - See all my reviews

Nugent writes well,has a fun sense of humor,but was very little actual monster searching done, as most of his time was spent tied up in beauracratic red tape. Still I enjoyed the sense of adventure, the culture he spied and shared with us.
Over all not a bad read,but not what i had hoped for, in that i wanted more monster action, although it did demonstrate the difficulties an expedition faces or in Mr.Nugent's case, a single man has in achieving the goals of their dreams .