Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, an African Childhood

Alexandra Fuller (Bobo)'s unusual childhood was in the cards when she was born to very, very unusual parents. These parents decided that they didn't much like England--and being poor in England--so, they roughed it in what was then Rhodesia (which became Zimbabwe during the war which they lived through). Tragedy, hard times, and a strange sort of life is what is depicted here, and though I would say that Bobo's parents are amazingly tenacious, I would also call them harsh--harsh parents, and harsh in their judgement of the Africans. Bobo grew up hearing adult speech which was unkind and rascist. However, life after the war brought Bobo different perspective and enlightenment.

Fuller doesn't moralize at all in her memoir. The writing style seems simple at first, but then becomes descriptive and subtle. I like her sense of humor, which is rather deadpan. There's lots she didn't tell us here, which is another sign of a good memoir: she obviously made lots of decisions about what was most important, what she could write about, and do it well, without being too long-winded.

Well done, unusual, worth reading!!!