Hailed by reviewers as "powerful,""haunting" and "a tour de force of personal journalism,"When A Crocodile Eats the Sun is the unforgettable story ...
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Aug 03, 2008
Spudsie
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This book will haunt you. It haunts me.
I was in a hotel room in Chicago trying to get ready for an early morning conference session. I was watching “Morning Joe” on MSNBC when Peter Godwin came on. I was not familiar with him, but listening to him talk about Zimbabwe intrigued me. Despite purloining 8 million vendor pens at the vendor hall the previous day, I could not quickly locate a pen and paper to write down the title of his book. Thanks goodness for technology! I grabbe More...
I was in a hotel room in Chicago trying to get ready for an early morning conference session. I was watching “Morning Joe” on MSNBC when Peter Godwin came on. I was not familiar with him, but listening to him talk about Zimbabwe intrigued me. Despite purloining 8 million vendor pens at the vendor hall the previous day, I could not quickly locate a pen and paper to write down the title of his book. Thanks goodness for technology! I grabbe More...
May 15, 2008
Pamela
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The author, Peter Godwin, grew up as a white Zimbabwean, just like Alexandra Fuller, author of Don't Lets Go to the Dogs tonight. He brilliantly shares his experience living under Robert Mugabe, who has been the country's dicator since the 1970's.
My problem, however, is how he portrays his parents, and their near-saintliness. They are/were clearly warm people with an impressive degree of moral courage.
But he never addresses the fact that Zimbabwe -- formerly Rhodesia, w More...
My problem, however, is how he portrays his parents, and their near-saintliness. They are/were clearly warm people with an impressive degree of moral courage.
But he never addresses the fact that Zimbabwe -- formerly Rhodesia, w More...
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May 16, 2008
Kristen
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Godwin's "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun" is not only compelling and well-written, but more timely than ever. A memoir of his adult life after having left Zimbabwe, the place of his birth (he is a journalist for National Geographic and a slew of other top-notch publications), Godwin painfully portrays the experience of white Africans in Zimbabwe, and his own family's history in their journey to Africa. It gives an insider's view of Mugabe's reign of terror, and the utter chaos that has
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Dec 17, 2009
Jason
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Without revealing any of the significant components of Peter Godwin's outstanding work, I'd have to say that his subtitle, "A Memoir of Africa", is the only aspect of the book with which I take issue - it's much more than a simple memoir.
"When a Crocodile Eats the Sun" is first and foremost a must-read for anyone that feels undereducated about Africa and Mugabe's corrupt rise to power, but beyond that, I think I found Godwin's book is so interesting because he is More...
"When a Crocodile Eats the Sun" is first and foremost a must-read for anyone that feels undereducated about Africa and Mugabe's corrupt rise to power, but beyond that, I think I found Godwin's book is so interesting because he is More...
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Dec 16, 2009
Christa
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My dad brought this back from SA for me, and it was funny because I'd just finished reading Mukiwa by the same author. Mukiwa is about Peter Godwin's childhood in Zimbabwe, and this book covers the death of his father there in the period from the late 90's to 2006. Peter Godwin is a journalist and it shows in how the book is written. I choose not to hold it against him.
Still, for some reason I couldn't read this book without my eyes tearing up. Seriously, I read almost the entire boo More...
Still, for some reason I couldn't read this book without my eyes tearing up. Seriously, I read almost the entire boo More...
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Apr 10, 2008
Kelly
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After reading this book, I am actually unsure of where I stand on the issue of land redistribution. I recognize the value white farmers added to Zimbabwe's economy, but on the other hand I am suspicious of, you know, colonialism. As I was reading, I keep thinking, where's this guy's punchline? Has this guy really written a book completely bashing land redistribution even in the face of the fact that 70% of arable land in Zimbabwe was owned by whites who made up less than 1% of the population?
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Aug 08, 2011
When I began reading it, I was cautioned that this is a White man’s version of contemporary Zimbabwe. Even if I assume that it does suffer from that implied infirmity of bias and discount for it, the narrative is moving, heartbreaking and compelling. It rings with credibility. It is a tale the twin and parallel furrows of despair and love, of hopelessness and courage, cruelty and generosity. And yet, this is no outpouring of bitterness alone; just beneath the surface hope for humanity is visible
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Aug 22, 2011
Tim
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This is a much more provocative and profound narrative than I expected. The story of Zimbabwe spiraling downward under the manic ego of Mugabe is vaguely familiar to many. But this story is a personal one, where the author, Peter Godwin, tracks the descent through the lives of his parents who are white africans in the country. They painfully lose their farm, their livelihood, their way of life (his mother a long time nurse in a hospital, and father managing the large farming enterprise), and
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Aug 12, 2011
Gwen
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I enjoyed the book, in spite of a poor NY Times review. The book is written by Peter who was born in Zimbabwe but now lives with wife and 2 sons in New York City. He is a free lance author jetting to Africa to cover safari and war stories and thus makes side trips to his birth home where his parents still live. I found the stories of the state of the country in late 1990's and 2000's to be very enagaging and disturbing. I also found his memoir of taking care of his aging parents very interes
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Jul 24, 2011
Sandra
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Good, but intense read. Powerful. I lived in Botswana during the time this book was written. I travelled to Zimbabwe during these times; our Zimbabwan friends were careful about how much they would say, but always we were 'safe' because we were not part of the permanent white community there - we were told that because we were not white farmers, we were safe. I also had other friends who would go untouched because of their connections to the ruling elite - even though they opposed, at least priv
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Jul 16, 2011
Terry
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This is a powerful and sad book of the history of a family wrapped in the history of Zimbabwe. The memoir came out in 2006 and details how Zimbabwe, once the breadbasket of Africa now has declining life expectancies, a terrible AIDS epidemic, has driven all white farmers off their land, and is now in the throes of famine. More than 1/2 the population of the country (dated from 1980) has fled Zimbabwe. All of this is due to the slide from democracy at the time of independence in 1980 to the te
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Feb 28, 2011
Ruth
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by Ruth Harris
In this devastating memoir, journalist Peter Godwin tells the story of a family, a family secret and a dictator's malevolent destruction of a country and its citizens. Peter Godwin, who grew up in Zimbabwe and later became a writer, teacher and BBC-TV reporter, returns to Zimbabwe to visit his family home and his aging parents. There he finds that the once-prosperous country he -- and they -- love has been turned from the breadbasket of Africa into an impoverished state More...
In this devastating memoir, journalist Peter Godwin tells the story of a family, a family secret and a dictator's malevolent destruction of a country and its citizens. Peter Godwin, who grew up in Zimbabwe and later became a writer, teacher and BBC-TV reporter, returns to Zimbabwe to visit his family home and his aging parents. There he finds that the once-prosperous country he -- and they -- love has been turned from the breadbasket of Africa into an impoverished state More...
Aug 24, 2010
Michelle
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Beautifully written memoir of Zimbabwe. More than that, it is a moving story about family and a son's care of his aging parents. The growing-old-together relationship of Godwin's parents is truly touching. Layered on that is the political reality that as Godwin's parents grow older, the Zimbabwe they know crumbles around them under Mugabe's corrupt rule.
On top of that political/familial memoir is an interesting additional layer on this story. As a child, Godwin believes his fat More...
On top of that political/familial memoir is an interesting additional layer on this story. As a child, Godwin believes his fat More...
May 14, 2010
Lucy
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After reading this book I don't know how anyone could live in Zimbabwe. The depravation is horrid, not just for displaced whites but for blacks as well. What Mugabe did to that country is unforgivable. Having flown over, I saw for myself the ruin of the agricultural economy. Land that had been thriving farms lies fallow. Having only seen the airport in Harare, I had no idea what life was like in the capital city. Now that I do know, from reading this book, I am amazed that the city exists
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Mar 24, 2010
Dianne
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I have written one review of this book, and it has disappeared into the ether. This seems to be a common occurrence with Goodreads. Doubtless someone will end up with two synopses.
I will be brief. Peter Godwin is an experienced freelance journalist, who, amongst other assignments, has worked for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. This is a vivid account of the decline of Zimbabwe under the dictatorship of Mugabe. Godwin visits Zimbabwe frequently over the 10 year period 1996 to 2006 for bo More...
I will be brief. Peter Godwin is an experienced freelance journalist, who, amongst other assignments, has worked for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. This is a vivid account of the decline of Zimbabwe under the dictatorship of Mugabe. Godwin visits Zimbabwe frequently over the 10 year period 1996 to 2006 for bo More...
Sep 28, 2009
Joan
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
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Aug 27, 2009
Sarah
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I thought this book would be an interesting account of growing up white in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). In fact, the author did that in another book. Here, after establishing a successful career as a journalist, Peter Godwin returns to Zimbabwe periodically from his home in NYC, in large part to care for his aging parents. I found this story riveting, in part because it is so current--the chaos and atrocities in Zimbabwe are ongoing--and because his struggles to deal with the increasing needs of his
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Aug 14, 2008
Dana
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This was a very interesting read about the situation in Zimbabwe with Mugabe. The author is a journalist and has worked for the BBC, New Your Times Magazine and National Geographic. What makes it really good is that he is a Zimbabwean, so it chronicles not just the politics, but how it affects him and his family. A very well, written, personal account of the political, social, economic situation happening there. Very relevant for those living or that have lived in Africa.
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Feb 11, 2009
Valerie
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In the early nineties I spent some time in Zimbabwe, and I have always wanted to go back. Although there were hints of instability, mostly having to do with currency exchange, the people were well fed, well educated, and the country was beautiful. I have been looking for an explanation, a reason for the death of that Zimbabwe. The dire news of cholera and economic collapse, the continued spread of political evil...I picked this book up because it covers the late nineties and early part of thi
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Sep 01, 2008
Kerry
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This book is a really interesting look at Zimbabwe from an ex-pat. He is living in the U.S., but trying to care for his aging parents in Africa during tumultuous times. There are some unexpected family secrets which emerge and create a new dimension to the story. There is a lot of commentary on the course that Zimbabwe has taken during the author's lifetime that is interesting, but not fascinating. I liked it, but always hoped for a little more I suppose.
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Jul 24, 2009
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
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Zimbabwe during the past thirty years seems to have been a miserable place to live. Inflation caused prices of even the most basic items and services to soar. The government instituted a program where white-owned farms were taken over by black farmers, leaving the white farmers without a home and without a job. Looting was commonplace. Riots were commonplace. Medical services were overwhelmed, especially with AIDS patients. Election fraud was rampant.
Despite all these problems, Godw More...
Despite all these problems, Godw More...
Dec 27, 2009
Frmaselli
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(OK, I've written this review twice only to have it disappear when I hit the save button so hopefully, third time is a charm.)
Journalist and author Peter Godwin writes a moving and compelling memoir of his father who spent all his adult life in Zimbabwe. The story chronicles the heartbreaks of his father's life including a revelation that he was actually a Polish Jew who escaped the Holocaust while the rest of his family perished. Godwin writes the memoir against the backdro More...
Journalist and author Peter Godwin writes a moving and compelling memoir of his father who spent all his adult life in Zimbabwe. The story chronicles the heartbreaks of his father's life including a revelation that he was actually a Polish Jew who escaped the Holocaust while the rest of his family perished. Godwin writes the memoir against the backdro More...
Dec 29, 2011
Shawn
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Zimbabwe is a mess. There's no effective way to argue that statement. But is *why* is it a mess? Can it effectively heal? What does what happened in Zimbabwe mean for the rest of Africa?
Peter Godwin was born in Rhodesia - what became Zimbabwe. His family remained in-country after Mugabe came to power, and while Godwin himself moved to America and traveled the world as a journalist, he repeatedly came back to care for his parents and witness the events overtaking his home. Along t More...
Peter Godwin was born in Rhodesia - what became Zimbabwe. His family remained in-country after Mugabe came to power, and while Godwin himself moved to America and traveled the world as a journalist, he repeatedly came back to care for his parents and witness the events overtaking his home. Along t More...
Jun 04, 2011
Cara
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In this memoir, Godwin tells the story of Zimbabwe's destruction by dictatorship through his experience of trying to care for his aging parents who have spent most of their adult lives in Zimbabwe. He deftly weaves personal vignettes of booking last minute flights from the US, confronting Zimbabwean food shortages, and encountering armed and hostile war veterans, to the reasons for Zimbabwe's downfall and to the broader history of southern Africa. Though packed with historical facts, the memoi
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Jan 25, 2009
Matt
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Favorite passages:
It's always instructive to observe the life cycle of the First World aid worker. A wary enthusiasm blooms into an almost messianic sense of what might be possible. Then, as they bump up against the local cultural limits of acceptable change, comes the inevitable disappointment, which can harden into cynicism and even racism, until they are no better than the resident whites they have initially disparaged… irrationality (p.285)
Most of us struggle in life More...
It's always instructive to observe the life cycle of the First World aid worker. A wary enthusiasm blooms into an almost messianic sense of what might be possible. Then, as they bump up against the local cultural limits of acceptable change, comes the inevitable disappointment, which can harden into cynicism and even racism, until they are no better than the resident whites they have initially disparaged… irrationality (p.285)
Most of us struggle in life More...
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May 21, 2009
Katharine
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More fun than I ever expected! Grace (from bookclub) loved it too.
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Oct 28, 2011
Mary
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This is a strong personal account of the descent into hell that Zimbabwe took in the early 2000s, when Mugabe drove out the white farmers to allocate land to the war veterans or "wovits". Godwin grew up in Zimbabwe and traveled back frequently as a journalist, visiting his parents who had made their adult lives there, and now in old age are in poor health and at the mercy of a vicious kleptocracy. The story finally culminates in 2004-5 upon the death of his father.
I rea More...
I rea More...
Jul 07, 2011
Jeannie
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I'm not quite sure why my summer reading has included so many serious themes, but this book was amazing. I seem to be reading the series in the wrong order which I wouldn't recommend, but both this and The Fear have been powerfully written. The physical setting of Zimbabwe is in most ways so foreign to many of us, but the emotional setting is so much closer especially as we contemplate our own families. If the decay of Mugabe's regime and aging parents isn't enough, the Holocaust is thrown in
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Mar 23, 2010
Evelyn
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This was a well written, highly engaging book, I thought. Though the deep family secret seemed rather obvious to me from the get go, the author's style as well as the sympathetic but never idealized portrait he paints of his parents, sister, his own family and the increasing chaos that is life in Zimbabwe make one want to keep reading no matter how troubled the Godwin family's life there becomes. And as anyone following contemporary history and economics knows, life in Zimbabwe has become pathet
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May 17, 2010
Scott
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Great book. Since it is a personal memoir dedicated to the author's father there are some parts of the book that are not as interesting to outsiders, but I'm glad to have read this book.
The insider's perspective of Zimbabwe's destruction at the hands of Mugabe is chilling. I was moved by the author's transparency in coming to grips with his father's previously concealed past. There is much we can learn about power and economics and foreign aid from reading books like this one.
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The insider's perspective of Zimbabwe's destruction at the hands of Mugabe is chilling. I was moved by the author's transparency in coming to grips with his father's previously concealed past. There is much we can learn about power and economics and foreign aid from reading books like this one.
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