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30th out of 35 books
—
213 voters
King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village
The charming real-life fairy tale of an American secretary who discovers she has been chosen king of an impoverished fishing village on the west coast of Africa. King Peggy has the sweetness and quirkiness of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series and the hopeful sense of possibility of Half the Sky.
King Peggy chronicles the astonishing journey of an American secretary...more
King Peggy chronicles the astonishing journey of an American secretary...more
Hardcover, 334 pages
Published
February 21st 2012
by Doubleday
(first published January 1st 2012)
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his is going on my 2013 Best list.
A native Ghanan, Peggy was working at the Ghanan embassy in Washington D.C. when she got the call that her uncle, the king of their village, has dies and that she was chosen the next king. This was really unusual because women were not usually kings.
What is fascinating to me is that, because she lived in America, Peggy sees her home town through new eyes. Just thinking about the 7,000 people she will lead, she flashes on the children carrying buckets of dirty b...more
A native Ghanan, Peggy was working at the Ghanan embassy in Washington D.C. when she got the call that her uncle, the king of their village, has dies and that she was chosen the next king. This was really unusual because women were not usually kings.
What is fascinating to me is that, because she lived in America, Peggy sees her home town through new eyes. Just thinking about the 7,000 people she will lead, she flashes on the children carrying buckets of dirty b...more
I really loved this book. It was easy to see the changes, for the better, in Peggy because she was a King rather than just a secretary. However, this book gave a wonderful insight into the traditions and customs that make up the African people both men and women. This was not overbearing or long-winded. What came through loud and clear was the strong desire of Peggy to help improve the life and conditions of 'her people.' One could really feel they were in the story as much as Peggy and all the...more
Imagine: You are a secretary, sound asleep in your Washington DC condo at 4 AM when the phone rings. It's your long-lost cousin in Ghana telling you that the ancestors have just made you king of your ancestral community on the Ghanaian coast. What do you do? If you Peggielene Bartels, you think about it for a few days, and then jump in with both feet. Her story is really amazing. I found myself more and more engaged as I turned the pages. Peggy busts through ne'er-do-well relatives and neighbors...more
Inspiring, indeed! King Peggy is such a humble creature who goes to great measures to help her people in the village of Otuam in Ghana, Africa. The most amazing part is that she is an American living in Silver Spring, Maryland and makes frequent trips to Africa to "rule" her people. Even more amazing is the fact that Peggy often spends the money she earns as a secretary in the Ghanaian Embassy to help her people improve their living conditions and to make repairs to the King's palace. All the wh...more
Overall a very enjoyable story. You truly feel like you know the village of Otuam, and cheer for even Peggy's smallest victory. There were a couple of things in the book that soured my enjoyment, however. First, while I can appreciate Peggy's frustration with the patriarchal culture of Ghana, I felt the book's treatment of men bordered on misandry. There are several just, kind men in Peggy's circle--her boss, the Ghanaian ambassador; her brother, Papa Warrior; her cousin Nana Kwesi--but their pr...more
A fun and interesting read. The true story of a Ghanaian woman working in DC who is chosen to be "King", or chief of a village of 7000 people. This is a powerful story of how against all odds, a woman can succeed. She was essentially chosen because the elders of the villages (all men) thought they would be able to continue their corrupt practices since Peggy would be mainly in Washington DC. Never underestimate the strength of character of women! Even though she works as a secretary, and lives h...more
How would you react if the telephone rang in the middle of the night and a long-lost cousin told you, "Congratulations! You've just been elected king!"?
King Peggy tells the tale of what Peggielene Bartels, a secretary at the Ghanaian embassy in Washington, D.C., did when she received that phone call. The book is very personal and Bartels, it's author (with help), allows us into her life before her kingship, her thoughts, and her decisions. She's a real person. One to whom all of us can relate. T...more
King Peggy tells the tale of what Peggielene Bartels, a secretary at the Ghanaian embassy in Washington, D.C., did when she received that phone call. The book is very personal and Bartels, it's author (with help), allows us into her life before her kingship, her thoughts, and her decisions. She's a real person. One to whom all of us can relate. T...more
The three books I’m sharing with you today are stories of women faced with enormous challenges and finding the strength to achieve their dreams despite the daunting odds.
King Peggy - Eleanor Herman and Peggielene Bartels
Ghanaian native and naturalized U.S. citizen Peggielene Bartels, at home in her Washington, D.C. apartment, received a telephone call she’d never dreamed of one night. She’d been chosen by the ancestors of Otuam, Ghana, to be their king. The story of King Peggy, who is the third...more
King Peggy - Eleanor Herman and Peggielene Bartels
Ghanaian native and naturalized U.S. citizen Peggielene Bartels, at home in her Washington, D.C. apartment, received a telephone call she’d never dreamed of one night. She’d been chosen by the ancestors of Otuam, Ghana, to be their king. The story of King Peggy, who is the third...more
King Peggy by Peggielene Bartels is a fascinating memoir that offers an excellent description of the tribal customs still in existence in 21st century Ghana, West Africa. Though Ghana is now a Republic with a president, judicial system and legislature, it is interesting to note that tribal customs and culture still exist in this developing nation.
The author provides a spirited and well-crafted account of her life as a secretary at the Ghanaian embassy in Washington D.C to her"enstoolment" proce...more
The author provides a spirited and well-crafted account of her life as a secretary at the Ghanaian embassy in Washington D.C to her"enstoolment" proce...more
Peggy is a secretary at the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington D.C. When she receives a phone call at 4:00am from her home town of Otuam in Ghana telling her that she is their new king. She thinks that the person is joking, but they are not, she truly is the new King.
When Peggy arrives in Otuam she finds that her town is poor. Children have to walk for miles to get drinking water for their families. Not many get to go to school because of the expense. She also finds the palace in shambles. It turns...more
When Peggy arrives in Otuam she finds that her town is poor. Children have to walk for miles to get drinking water for their families. Not many get to go to school because of the expense. She also finds the palace in shambles. It turns...more
It seems a cliche to say that this was an inspiring story. It was. King Peggy is on a mission to change the lives of her people and stomp out the corruption in her council of elders. Her job seems impossible, she has no experience, no funds, no infrastructure and a government plagued with corruption, yet she keeps moving forward with her mission. I was really impressed by her courage and wisdom. I was caught up in her struggles, angry and frustrated at the selfish greed of the town elders, and i...more
Bartels was working as a secretary in the Ghanaian Embassy when she received a phone call that would change her life. The king of Otuam, a small coastal town of 7,000 people, had passed away, and the tribal elders had elected her as his replacement.
Thus begins this winning tale of epic proportions, full of intrigue, royal court plotting, cases of mistaken identity and whispered words from beyond the grave. Upon arrival, King Peggy—who left Ghana three decades earlier and has since become an Amer...more
Thus begins this winning tale of epic proportions, full of intrigue, royal court plotting, cases of mistaken identity and whispered words from beyond the grave. Upon arrival, King Peggy—who left Ghana three decades earlier and has since become an Amer...more
A warm, funny look at how Peggy Bartels' life changes when she finds out her uncle, the king of the Ghanaian village of Otuam, has died and she has been chosen as his successor.
I came away from this story having a lot of respect and admiration for Peggy, though sometimes it was hard to reconcile her contention that she doesn't suffer fools gladly with the amount of time it takes her to realize the level of corruption that has been going on in the town. Corruption among elderly men in a small Af...more
I came away from this story having a lot of respect and admiration for Peggy, though sometimes it was hard to reconcile her contention that she doesn't suffer fools gladly with the amount of time it takes her to realize the level of corruption that has been going on in the town. Corruption among elderly men in a small Af...more
This is a very interesting, well written story about a secretary in the Ghanian embassy learning that she has become king of her village in Africa and how she rises to that challenge. Peggy is a very spiritual woman working hard in a large city, but she is very much alone at times. She calls her brother in Australia daily to help him keep his life going in the right direction, and she stayed in touch with her relatives back in her native village, Ottuam in Ghana. When she receives the call infor...more
Who died and made you king?
My sibs and I used to jeer that at each other when one of us was getting too big for his britches; but it actually happened to Peggielene Bartels, naturalized American and secretary at the Ghanian embassy in Washington. Unknown to her, she was the chosen heir of her Uncle Joseph, king of the Ghanian fishing village of Otuam. The omens consulted by the elders had confirmed his unusual choice.
Uncle Joseph, though a king, had not been a wealthy man, so Peggielene had for...more
My sibs and I used to jeer that at each other when one of us was getting too big for his britches; but it actually happened to Peggielene Bartels, naturalized American and secretary at the Ghanian embassy in Washington. Unknown to her, she was the chosen heir of her Uncle Joseph, king of the Ghanian fishing village of Otuam. The omens consulted by the elders had confirmed his unusual choice.
Uncle Joseph, though a king, had not been a wealthy man, so Peggielene had for...more
This is the story of Peggy Bartels, a woman born in Ghana who became an American citizen. She becomes the King of Otuam, a village in Ghana. The elders of the town think they can continue to steal from the people and create havoc because Peggy is a woman and she lives in America. Becoming king is not easy; it requires great sacrifice, but Peggy works hard to bring clean water, better education and better health care to her village and to improve her council of elders. She gets help along the way...more
Magnificent! It reads like a fairy tale, but it's true! Peggy Bartels dealt with unbelievable obstructionism from her elders and her deceased uncle's family to bring change to her small village. Chosen king by her ancestors, she rules Otuam, Ghana, from her home in Silver Spring, Maryland, and travels to Otuam once a year. I believe she plans to move there when she retires from her job at the Ghanaian embassy. She has paid for the renovation of the crumbling palace and the funeral of her uncle,...more
Peggy is well-intentioned and admirable. The ancestors could not have found a better King for this village. Being an American citizen and an embassy employee gave her valuable contacts that allowed her to make improvements. Being Ghanaian by birth and upbringing plus having come from this village allowed her to fit into the cultural matrix.
I had my doubts about the presence of Shiloh Baptist Church. I thought that they would be intolerant toward the traditional native religious practices, but t...more
I had my doubts about the presence of Shiloh Baptist Church. I thought that they would be intolerant toward the traditional native religious practices, but t...more
A strange, fun story about an administrative assistant from the Ghanaian Embassy in DC who finds out she's a king, or chief, of a small village in coastal Ghana. Written in simple, clear language as if it's a novel, the story is compelling and Peggy's voice is sweet. We get a whirlwind tour of rural Ghanaian culture, development issues, life in DC (!) and some dabs of feminism - all very nice.
At times, the telling of the tale felt a little too pat, especially with the relatively stark distinctio...more
At times, the telling of the tale felt a little too pat, especially with the relatively stark distinctio...more
This real life story about a secretary who becomes queen of a small community in Ghana is a delightful read. One finds oneself empathizing with this woman who finds happiness in providing help for the 7,000 souls of Otuam in her homeland of Ghana. When her uncle dies, she is named king in his place. Her challenges are just beginning. She encounters gender bias, thieving council members, and community problems that seem without end. The king's castle is falling apart. Children must walk miles to...more
King Peggy is not a book I normally would have chosen since I tend more toward fiction. But I am so glad I chose it from the Bookbrowse First Impressions program, drawn toward the comparison of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. For sure King Peggy shares the African locale, featuring a cast of whimsical characters living in often harsh conditions. And like No. 1 Ladies', King Peggy shares a compelling, forceful protagonist with one major exception -- Peggielene Bartels, aka King Peggy, is very...more
The first thing I want to say about this book is very simple. This is not a fairy tale by a long shot!
King Peggy is an amazing story about how a set of events in her bloodline moves her from out of her comfort zone in the United States and hurls her into the position of King.
One of the reasons why I refute the notion that this is a fairy tale type story is very simple. King Peggy is apologetically African and American. She stepped into a position of power just on her own merit. There is no resc...more
King Peggy is an amazing story about how a set of events in her bloodline moves her from out of her comfort zone in the United States and hurls her into the position of King.
One of the reasons why I refute the notion that this is a fairy tale type story is very simple. King Peggy is apologetically African and American. She stepped into a position of power just on her own merit. There is no resc...more
What does a naturalized American and secretary at the Ghanaian embassy in Washington do when she finds herself king of a small fishing village of 7,000 souls located on Ghana’s central coast? She accepts the challenge of a lifetime and begins her 2-year adventure in beautiful Otuam. King Peggy arrives in Otuam to find its royal castle askew and the former king’s body awaiting a royal funeral. The story of Otuam with its lack of running water, doctors, hospitals, high school or town funding – all...more
Thank you to Doubleday for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
I love the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series and if you are as big a fan of Precious Ramotwse as I am then you will adore this book as well. Although King Peggy is not a detective she embodies the same thirst for justice and love of her African people that makes Madame Ramotwse so endearing.
The story begins in Washington DC when secretary Peggy receives a 4 a.m. phone call from Ghana, Africa informing her that...more
I love the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series and if you are as big a fan of Precious Ramotwse as I am then you will adore this book as well. Although King Peggy is not a detective she embodies the same thirst for justice and love of her African people that makes Madame Ramotwse so endearing.
The story begins in Washington DC when secretary Peggy receives a 4 a.m. phone call from Ghana, Africa informing her that...more
A secretary in Ghana's embassy in Washington. D.C. is awakened around 4 AM by a call from an elderly uncle in Ghana telling her that she will be the next king of their town. The town of Otuan(population 7,500), like several thousand other towns in Ghana is presided over by a mayor-cum-ombudsman who is treated like royalty. This is a true, ongoing story of a determined woman who has brought running water, an honest council, a new school, second hand ambulances and hope to her family and fellow vi...more
Apr 03, 2012
Lori
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Just about everyone!
Recommended to Lori by:
Books on the Nightstand
The subtitle of this book pretty much says it all; An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village. I enjoyed this book more than I can say. I had a very difficult time putting it down. I was completely enthralled by the story of Peggielene Bartels, an American secretary at the Ghanian embassy in Washington, D.C. who receives a phone call from a distant relative in Ghana informing her that she has just been elected "King." I've had a fascin...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing story and, thanks in part to the photos included, found myself picturing the scenes as I was reading about them. Though sometimes hard to believe, all occurrences are true.
One thing that I think helped the feeling of being there was the manner of storytelling. The star of this book, King Peggy herself, is the main narrator--with the help of co-author Eleanor Herman. The voice is quite different from our Western thought patterns. It seems to portray a unique voic...more
One thing that I think helped the feeling of being there was the manner of storytelling. The star of this book, King Peggy herself, is the main narrator--with the help of co-author Eleanor Herman. The voice is quite different from our Western thought patterns. It seems to portray a unique voic...more
What an uplifting book about the village of Otuam and it's king - Peggy Bartels. Although she has been chosen to be king in Africa, she still works at the Ghanan embassy in Washington as a secretary who uses whatever she has to improve conditions in her village. The elders in her council are used to stealing, drinking, and carousing without limits - and think they can control Peggy because she is a woman who lives in America. When Peggy comes to power, she thinks only of improving her country by...more
This book was an interesting look at Ghanaian culture and traditions, but it was obviously written on an elementary reading level for the mass market, which became tedious after several chapters. Perhaps that was appropriate, though, since the town in question could have been run more efficiently by a fifth grade student council than its elders. The forgiveness of repeated graft and corruption made me want to scream. "King Peggy" would probably make a good book club selection -- lots of things i...more
Peggy is living her life and minding her own business as a busy American woman working as a secretary at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC. When she is woken up in the middle of the night by a distant relative who calls to inform her that she has inherited the crown of King to a village of 7000 souls in Ghana, she is in utter disbelief. But her new kingdom needs her – no running water, no medical care, no school, and the royal palace is in ruins. Her trusted team of royal advisors seem to b...more
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Feb 26, 2013 01:32pm
Feb 27, 2013 10:03am