Hello Missus: A Girl's Own Guide to Foreign Affairs

by Lynne Minion

Lynne Minion's debut peacekeeping mission ended up with her working as the only international advisor in the office of the Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri. This book documents the behind-the-scenes events in the first year of East Timor's democracy and sheds light on the personalities involved in making history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Book Club, Australia

511 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. Boring.

[Carla · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. 120 pages in and I'm bored so I'm cutting my losses and moving on.

[Bec · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I stuck with this one and read all 511 pages. I'm still not sure if she was tryimg to be funny, but she never really pulled it off. When she arrives in Timor in high heals and a corrrset you might be inclined to think she was trying to be funny and failing, or just sadly stereotypical. I guess in part what makes this review so poor is she spends a signifficant aamount of time rubbishing the ddifferent UN contingents, but doesn't have a problem doing nothing herself for most of the book. I am still no wiser to aanything that occured in the country while she was there. If you want something with a similar premise but a lot better try Emergency Sex

[Pam Saunders · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Hello Missus" is set ten years, or so, ago,in East Timor (Timor Leste). It is based on Lynne, the authors, experience of volunteering/working to support the fledgling new government of East Timor in her role with the UN. I found this book swung from serious discussion about issues in East Timor to almost trashy scenes and comments about her love life, or at times lack off. I have also been to East Timor and it is a confronting country caught in struggle to be independent and respected. The people are generally beautiful and generous. She does portray this but it is sometimes lost in long sections about her relationships with men. I wish this book had been half the size and more focused.

[Nhi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high expectations of this book, and in the end I was very disappointed. What I thought would be an interesting read about the politics or the details of what it would be like to be a peacekeeper turned out to be a bore. The writing is uninspiring and made me stop numerous times just to get through it. The only thing remotely interesting about this book is the cover.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated this book because it was a mix of the serious and personal – and I think that makes for a truthful take on the nature of peacekeeping.