This year the goal is to read 60 books on a variety of
subject matter--fiction, non-fiction, philosophy, theology, the environment, pop culture, science, etc.
To see my progress or check my other reviews click the page link above entitled, "2012 Book Challenge"
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| 1952, HarperCollins |
Review
Though I come alive in the great outdoors, I have never really fallen for hunting. In fact, I would readily prefer a camera to a gun. So, the lifestyle J.A. Hunter writes about is one that is unfamiliar. And yet, the way he talks about it feels intimate even for one without the interest. This is the story of a man who has shot in the thousands of African game animals; a man who once killed over 100 rhinos in the span of a few months. It's honest, never sugar-coated. In a time period where this was seen as wholly necessary for progress Hunter adds an uncertain voice. Part of the appeal of the book is that there is no moral at the end of the story. There is no clear sense that what he had done was right or wrong. It merely accounts how it was in an era that Hunter called the greatest in the history of hunting.
Recommendation
This is a classic account of life in mid-twentieth century East Africa (especially Kenya and Tanzania) and the hunter who cleared a good portion of the land for progress. If you're interested in any of those things--East Africa, hunting, civilization-building, or colonialism--then here is a first person account of the times. It's not censored; it doesn't claim to answer the questions of morality; but it is lively and provokes great food for thought.
Grade:
B-
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