Book Review 1: Long Walk to Freedom

I like the idea of posting book reviews: books I've read recently or some that I read some time ago. I had a small web page many years ago, and had some book reviews there as well. I thought I'd start with one of my old reviews, since I find this a meaningful book to read. I haven't looked lately, but I hope there is a sequel. I read this book in 1995 and wrote the review in 1999.

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
By Nelson Mandella
This book, the autobiography of Nelson Mandella, is just amazing to me that it exists. It is an incredible story of overcoming many hardships. Mandella starts from his early beginning, birth, then ends up at the time of when South Africa first becomes a democratic nation. Nelson Mandella’s story is truly remarkable.

Nelson Mandella’s life is discussed in detail. How he came to understand his position in his own country, takes part in the beginning of the book. He was the first black man to be a lawyer in Johannesburg. Then his political realizations, came along. Mandella makes his life sound as if he just fell into the leadership role. His partner in law practice, Oliver Tambo, surely helped tremendously to bringing international fame to Mandella. His fame peaked the last time he was in jail.

As Mandella became more and more involved in the ANC, African National Congress, he became a leader, and this was very early on. Mandella writes of the protests they planned and carried out and how their movement grew. Mandella is up front with conflicts that arose between members and also when a new political body arose, PAC, which conflicted very much with the ANC. But Mandella is very subdued in writing about the actual harsh brutality that existed in South Africa. He minimized many things and instead focused on just plain facts or who was saying exactly what, and this makes the book occasionally a bit dry. Nelson seems to be continuously apologizing to his family, his very large family. He repeatedly states that he felt his duty was more to his whole country than just his family. I’m sure he feels sorrow in not ever spending enough time with his wives or children. Also he spent 27 continuous years in jail. That must have made it difficult to be a family man! But before he was in jail for that final long stint, he wasn’t home much at all, due to his political involvements – living for a short time underground and for awhile traveling to get support for the ANC and to try stationing a base of any army of sorts.

The book gives some insight in South African culture and tribal ways, since Mandella started his life believing in those things, since that was how he was raised. The main focus to the book is how South Africa slowly became a democratic, free, nation, which was what he dedicated his life to developing.

The last chapters quickly come to the conclusion of the apartheid’s fall. He details a lot of meetings, but I felt some real substance was missing. The ending almost seemed like a flop, when it should be such joy and celebration. But, as I said earlier, his writing is subdued. The book doesn’t discuss any of the new South Africa with him as it’s leader. Really quite amazing to me. Today they have a long road ahead.

Overall it is a very good book, especially if you want to know something about South Africa’s past leader and how South Africa became a free democratic country.

First go

Welcome to the first of blog from Pamela.

I was assigned to create a blog site for a class, so here I am.

I haven't quite thought out what type of content to post yet, perhaps unlike most bloggers, who may already have a thousand ideas surging through their heads, but not me. I am stuffed with assignments, projects and papers due that my head feels too full, much like our recent past Thankgiving feast that resulted in a brimming belly. Most likely it will end up being about books, since I am studying to be a Librarian!

Well, here we are and we will forage forward...
Enjoy!