The Volunteer

by Carter Coleman

After numerous infidelities and a messy break-up, a burnt-out attorney joins the Peace Corps to reform and redeem himself. He finds peace in the serene plains and mountains of Tanzania, teaching villagers to fish--until he becomes attached to one of his young charges who's about to undergo a barbaric ritual to please her fiance.

Genres: Africa, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

Reviews

[Drew Harmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this novel as part of my background research for my next book.
The Volunteer was a compelling read with a nail-biting, edge-of-your seat ending.

The main character is realistically flawed, and conflicted in his late twenty-something male immaturity.

The story touches on the subject of female genital mutilation (which drives the protagonist,)
which I think is important.

Seeing Shelby Foote's positive comments encouraged me to read it. That being said, I found it unexpectedly sexually explicit and graphic. Not the sort of thing I voluntarily choose to read.

[Lailie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch war so semi.
Ich mochte den Protagonisten Jordan einfach nicht, da er mir einfach zu pervers war.

[Steve Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm normally not this way, but the only thing I could think to say as I finished this book was "ummmmm . . . yeah . . . " I look for books that will help me develop a sense of place within the setting of a story, so I picked up this book because not only was it set in Tanzania, but the author as well as his protagonist are from Tennessee, where I lived for several years. I was sorely disappointed. The imagery of Africa was weak. As far as I was concerned, the author could have been describing some generic, nameless place. On the surface, the story had some merit, but it's poorly written. The characters were little more than caricatures from a children's book. Rutledge, the protagonist, is a self-loathing adulterer who seems to think all will be well if he can just run away from his problems for exactly 24 months and return a changed man. I had no respect for him as a man, and while I won't divulge what happened in the book, in my opinion he got exactly what he deserved, all the way down the line. There was one memorable passage in the book where a Kenyan woman remarks to Rutledge that many of her friends were born again, but none of them had changed. That describes Rutledge to a tee. Zanifa, the African girl he tries to save from an arranged marriage, is a cardboard cutout. The only two characters in the book who were deserving of praise and whom I hoped would play larger roles than they did were the Maasai warrior Shabu and the conservationist Mbungu. Sadly, both characters played bit parts. Like I said, the plot has merit with the clashing of Western and African/Muslim cultures, but I leave this novel wanting to scream at the top of my lungs to the whole Tanzanian nation not to judge Americans by this fool Rutledge, that we are all not such self-absorbed nitwits with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Frankly, Rutledge's behavior makes me want to convert to Islam! (Kidding, but I hope my point is taken!). This book deserves a big fat one star, however, the author did a good enough job describing African sensibilities and wildlife and geography that I will probably look for another novel set in this region. I hope that in the capable hands of a good writer, Tanzania and East Africa will be done justice.

[Vivian · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only thing interesting about this book was the birds. The main character was a self-serving jerk...he wasn't so much volunteering out of a desire to serve others but rather was "doing penance" in hopes that his past screw ups would suddenly be made okay. Along the way, he violates an impressionable young girl and the reader is supposed to believe that he just wants to save her from the cruelty her society imposes on girls. Add that to the fact that he feels its okay to break the law to get money to fund his "noble deeds". What exactly is the author trying to tell us? Don't waste your time on this one.

[Trina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not worth the time. I picked it up because it is set in Tanzania, I thought oh fun, and those references, all the swahili and such were the only things good about the book. It was immature writing, the main character is a tool and it changes pace and style in the last chapter so I finished feeling confused and wondering where the rest of the story was. Not impressed at all.

[Leia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book interested me because it is set in East Africa in the years following the summers I spent there. I was impressed with the accurate description of the landscape, cultures, and descriptions of human interactions. It was believable and I got sucked into the story, enjoying the twists and turns, never knowing what was coming next, dreaming again of Africa.

[Angie Dickerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it. Beautiful journey into the heart of Africa and its political tensions. Not some of the more sexual scenes were a must but I respect an author who tells it the way they think it should be told - no holds barre.

[Sean Cooney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Other than the kiswahili,not too much worth mentioning. The main character was dreadfull and the story was forced