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152nd out of 163 books
—
64 voters
Caravan
With her anthropologist husband murdered and their caravan stolen by fierce Tuareg tribesmen, Caressa's choices are death or a life of slavery.
Concealing her dangerous beauty beneath the faded robes of an Arab boy, she embarks on the adventure of her life, harassed by vicious nomads, slave traders and the envious witch doctor, Isa. Only a handful of carnival magic tricks...more
Concealing her dangerous beauty beneath the faded robes of an Arab boy, she embarks on the adventure of her life, harassed by vicious nomads, slave traders and the envious witch doctor, Isa. Only a handful of carnival magic tricks...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
March 1st 1995
by Ballantine Books
(first published 1992)
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This is probably one of my favorite books ever! I read it in high school and have re-read it several times since, something I don't do often. If you have ever read Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax series you know they are quick and fun, but they are mediocre in comparison to Caravan. It is a jewel of a story! Her writing style is well-researched and seamless. The characters and scenery are described so vividly, you will forgive the occasional stretch in credibility. That's why it's called "fiction", right...more
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Marvelous. Just...marvelous. Magical realism with a core of Northern Africa in the early part of the 20th century.
The story was amazing, full of adventure, tension and excitement. Very easy to read too.
I enjoyed Caressa's realization that our ingrained teachings of culture and religion are not necessarily the only way. Caressa reminded me of the Old Lady character in Titanic, in that she said "A woman's heart is deep like the ocean, full of secrets", although in this case, it would probably b...more
The story was amazing, full of adventure, tension and excitement. Very easy to read too.
I enjoyed Caressa's realization that our ingrained teachings of culture and religion are not necessarily the only way. Caressa reminded me of the Old Lady character in Titanic, in that she said "A woman's heart is deep like the ocean, full of secrets", although in this case, it would probably b...more
This one is definitely an adventure, and a believable one at that. Caressa is very brave, as well as her companion Bakuli. Together they face the deserts of Africa and all the dangers it entails. Its full of descriptions of the many different tribes and cultures that inhabit that vast land. It's a story of friendship, adventure, heartache and love. A good read that I learned much from. I do wish there was a map included in this book so I could see where they traveled as I was reading.
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I love all of Dorothy Gilman's books, but this book is perhaps the best, the most fantastical, up and down, can't-put-it-down book of her's that I've read. I would read this book again, anytime. Heck, I'd be a character in this book if I could. The main character, in fact all the characters, are extremely well written, as is always the case with Gilman's writing. I love it, and would recommend it to anyone, but especially if you like a good mystery/adventure story.
I started reading Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax series but found this stand-alone adventure romance in a very different vein. Survival against all odds, and love the same way, is always fun to read and when it's a female character, it's even better. It was also set in a distant past of African exploration and intrigue. Still, I find Gilman's writing fun but not particularly engaging, so only 3 stars.
Absolutely one of my two favorite books by Dorothy Gilman. I read it every other year, and cry at the end. It doesn't matter that I know the entire story, it is just such a lovely tale. As some readers have said, this is more of a travelogue through the desert, but it is also a love story - of a mother for a child, a man for a woman, and of a woman herself.
Enchanting! "The silent desert sky enters your soul and stays there." Truly fascinating story, and the writing is superb, as always. The desert scenes are amazingly real and the various characters we meet are phenomenal. However, this is not a book for kids or teens, since there are mentions of sex, although in as brief and as tasteful a way as possible.
I love the Mrs. Pollifax books by this author. They are, I admit, old lady books. Other old ladies will like them I'm not sure about the young ladies. Caravan is not a Mrs. Pollifax book. It has different characters (younger) so will appeal to a wider audience. It was one of Dorothy Gilman's better stories I thought.
A fantastic book. The story was engaging and interesting, made all the better by the very well-drawn main character, Caressa Horvath. I highly reccommend this book; it's filled with love, intrigue, murder, dehydration, friendship, and desert magic. Awesome overall.
This is a wonderful read; perfect for when you want to get lost in a book that takes you on a interesting and fun adventure. It is a tale of a young girl raised in a circus, who finds herself in the Sahara desert using her own gifts and circus tricks to survive.
I am a big fan of Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax series, but this book blue me away. It is so well written with unexpected twists and turns. Takes place at the beginning of the 1900s in England and quickly moves to Africa. One woman's story. Wonderful.
If you like strong female characters then you will enjoy this one. Dorothy Gilman has become one of my favorite authors. Her Mrs. Polifax series, the inspiration for Murder She Wrote, are quite charming. They are great audio books.
A real tour d'force. Beautifully written and set in the deserts of what is now Saudi Arabia. It involves kidnapping, derring-do, all my favorite swashbuckling endeavors. The ending is remarkable. Highly recommended.
I really liked this one, and it kept me reading. I agree with another commenter that a map would have been nice! I'm not sure how probably the ending was, but I liked it better than the alternative.
A good read, like everything I've read by Gilman. Perhaps not her best book, but compelling. The theme of psychic experiences comes up again, and is well done, but perhaps too peripheral, something of a tease.
This is one of those books I go back to from time to time and remember why I loved it so much the first time. Dorothy Gilman is just a plain old good storyteller, and this is just a plain old good story.
Clearly, I love stories of strong women and Caravan's Caressa definitely fits into this category. This story was tense, exciting, sad and happy and in the end, maddening and then triumphant.
This is a re-read from many years ago. Loved it then and do so now. If you know nothing about Africa (especially northern), this is a fine fictional way to start.
This is one of my favourite books in the history of Ever. I'm still dragging around the battered old paperback copy I've had since I was a teenager.
Nothing like an adventure across African deserts. If you like a good adventure story, I highly recommend this book.
I felt like it just scratched the surface. And, let's be honest, we knew what was going to happen from the beginning.
Reread this old favorite over the past couple weeks. It's just a story, not an examination of anything, but I love it.
This is one of my favourite books. I cry every time i read it and i try to read it every couple of years.
started out really good but was kind of dumb towards the end. Holes in the plot were too big.
Truly captivating. The trial and triumphs of our heroine take your breath away.
Despite its flaws, a ripping and romantic yarn, a can't-put-down favorite.
This is a page-turner; rough & tumble girl adventure for the mature reader.
Wild and crazy; not really good or even believable but a fun ride.
This is one of my very favorite books. I enjoy re-reading it every few years.
This book is pretty cheesey, but I really liked it anyway.
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| What book have you read to tatters? (AKA your favorite book) | 1 | 4 | May 19, 2012 10:07am |
Dorothy Gilman started writing when she was 9. At 11, she competed against 10 to 16-year-olds in a story contest and won first place. Dorothy worked as an art teacher and telephone operator before becoming an author. She wrote children’s stories for more than ten years under the name Dorothy Gilman Butters and then began writing adult novels about Mrs. Pollifax–a retired grandmother who becomes a...more
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