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Breath of Africa: a tale of love and life in a fascinating country by [Bwye, Jane]

Breath of Africa: a tale of love and life in a fascinating country Kindle Edition

by Jane Bwye (Author)

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Thirty years of Kenya's recent history unfold through the lives of Caroline, a privileged woman from the fertile highlands, and Charles Ondiek, a farm labourer with dreams of an Oxford education.  Charles’s love for Teresa, daughter of a hated settler farmer, leads to a drama of psychological terror fuelled by Mau Mau oath administrator, Mwangi, who is held in detention for six years.

On his release, Mwangi forces Charles and Teresa apart, then turns his attention to Caroline. But she has inner resources, and joins with Charles to seek out a mysterious ancestral cave.  Against the backdrop of Kenya’s beautiful but hostile desert, the curse is finally broken.

But when Caroline discovers the hidden reason for Mwangi’s hatred, she wonders if she'll ever, really, belong in the country she loves.

Length: 351 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Page Flip: Enabled

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Product details

File Size: 818 KB
Print Length: 351 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Crooked Cat Publishing (March 2, 2013)
Publication Date: March 2, 2013
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B00BOAK0FA
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

X-Ray:

Not Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,063,296 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #143 in Books > Travel > Africa > Kenya
- #926 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > African
- #4034 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Cultural Heritage

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Elise Abraham

I was there

March 28, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

It is rare to read a novel set in the heart of an important world even, written by someone who was an eye-witness This novel contains several threads set aginst the background of an awakening African independence. The new order is mirrored in personal relationships. Who will accept it and who will be swept away by it? The old ways will prevail, they will not lie down and die but will they succeed?
This is also a very moral tale by someone who obviously loves the country and her descriptive powers made me feel that I was there. I havenever been to Africa but now feel I know it better.

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Jo W

Evocative novel about life in Kenya

April 13, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I liked the way that, alongside the maturing of its characters, this novel became substantial as it progressed. The changing consciousness of the two boys, and of all the main protagonists, is very well captured. Life becomes how it is lived, no longer subject to idealistic ideas or aspirations (black or white). Everyone has their certainties dented by lived experience and what is, in the end, shared is a rounded human life.

Undoubtedly, much of the novel's power lies in the descriptions of landscape and wild life. You have an accurate and observant eye, but record with great feeling. I like this huge feeling you have towards Kenya - the sweep of Rift Valley with its soda lakes and birds and remote places - such as Baringo and Turkana and Magadi. And the Coast with its coral beaches, crabs, cowries, bougainvillea, palms and bandas. The awful roads and perilous shanty towns and everyone jostling to make a living. It's impressive - the casual but tough life lived by Caroline and her fellow citizens. "Breath of Africa", as a novel, amounts to a substantial hymn of joy to Kenya.

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Julie Lake

Take a deep breath of Africa

March 27, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Like the author, I was raised in Kenya and can relate to many of the characters and incidents in this book. The story, for the most part, deals with Africa in the post-colonial era and shows the complexities of life and relationships in a developing nation. Here, the star-crossed lovers have to try and overcome a racial and cultural divide as deep and wide as the Rift Valley itself, and how they go about this is the very heart of the book. Those who have lived in Kenya, or visited it, will find joy as I did in reliving the sites and scents and sounds of that wondrous country. Those who have never been there will find themselves transported by the felicity of Jane Bwye's evocation to the wide, game-filled plains and great mountains and deep forests and lovely seacoast that make Kenya such a special place. Along the way you will meet valiant Caroline and ambitious Charles, doomed Brian and tragic Teresa, kind Boney and malevolent Mwangi and all the other characters that bring Breath of Africa to life.
A Garden in Africa

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Margaret P. Clark

A Disappointment

September 29, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Way too much emphasis on the "tale of love" and not nearly enough on the political situation. Characters seemed to just "drift along" rather than being developed. How three very different people reconnected as adults was strained. Sometimes just a travelogue in obviously beautiful areas of the country. I found "the climb" really unbelievable. No one does that without significant training beyond walking one's own land.

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Kindle Customer

Great read

July 4, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

As an ex-Kenyan who lived there around the time this book was set I loved it's honesty and authenticity. Better than that it was impossible to put down. The descriptions were rich and evocative and the characters complex yet it is very easy reading. I can't wait for the author's next book.

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G. Polley

who has put curses on people they love.

October 17, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A captivating novel about the last days of British dominance in Kenya and the early years of Kenya's independence. I was captivated from the first page to the last with this story. Caroline and Teresa, two friends finding themselves caught up in romance, intrigue, adventure and violence as the life they have known unravels around them. Most frightening of all is the Kikuyu man Mwangi, who has put curses on people they love.

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Paprika

Beautiful and credible

September 26, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book has taught me a lot about Kenyan history while I enjoyed the life and romance of the main character. The most interesting part of the story was the Mau Mau's curse and the secret cave.

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Mick Rineer

Having grown up in Kenya and amongst the various cultures ...

July 27, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Having grown up in Kenya and amongst the various cultures, I found Jane Bwye's story telling to be accurate, fascinating and engaging. The issue of identity continues to be one that challenges all colours of Africans.

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Most recent customer reviews

Claire S

The style of writing made this any easy to read story

The style of writing made this any easy to read story. However, I did find that there were a lot of names to keep up with at times and it jumped about a lot.Read more

Published 1 year ago

Laura Furuta

A tale you don't want to miss...

This is a story that has many characters who's lives overlap. It is based in Kenya and covers about 30 years.Read more

Published 1 year ago

J L Edwards

Incredible saga, just not long enough

this is a difficult book to rate and review. There is an incredible story spanning a generation, with important historical events interspersed, but it felt to me as if there was...Read more

Published 1 year ago

Lisa & Josh

Interesting historical story

The story follows 30 years of Kenya's history, told through the lives of two women. It follows them to various locations and the descriptions of the sights and sounds are so vivid...Read more

Published 1 year ago

Lindsay Horsburgh

Compelling and informative story

Breath of Africa is an interesting story which spans over 30 years of Kenyan history. Having never visited Africa myself, Jane Bwye's descriptive narrative drew me in so well it...Read more

Published 1 year ago

Sally Holman

A tale Life & Love in Africa

I wasn't sure if this book was for me to begin with, but after just a few pages, I felt I could really visualise the townships of Africa, the sights and sounds of this continent,...Read more

Published 1 year ago

MarethMBotha

Kenya - a Land of Hope, Love and Mystery

Breath of Africa by J. L. Bwye [ASIN:1909841994 Breath of Africa]
I am originally from South Africa and was looking for something to read from the African Continent.Read more

Published on March 17, 2016

senora bartez

A well researched and experienced book.

Having spent years in Kenya this book is so poignant and realistic, but even if you have never been to Africa it will be a good read.. Thank you Jane.

Published on March 4, 2016

Sharon L. Gotte

average

I think the book lacks substance and the writer jumps too far ahead in time without warning. I read it to the end but wouldn't recommend it. Personally think it's poorly written.

Published on March 8, 2015

Aurorawatcher

It took me to another place

Breath of Africa took me to a place I have never been and within a few paragraphs made me feel like I was hiding in the long grass being stalked by wild beasts.Read more

Published on November 22, 2014

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Breath of Africa: a tale of love and life in a fascinating country Kindle Edition

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