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The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu and Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts
November 2020: Other Books
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The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer - 4 stars
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Yes, this could work for international if you include American authors (I personally am making this about international authors as well as international settings, but of course I will post anyone to International that fits if I am reading it anyway). However, I discarded this and didn't finish it, and at least one other PBT person gave this 2 stars, so it's not everyone's cup of tea. Well, I thought I had finished it, but I guess not since I don't have a rating or a review so must have set it aside, but not right away because I remember a fair bit about it.
You liked a little more than I did Joy, but it was still a decent read for me
annapi wrote: "Sounds like another one for my TBR!"Hope you enjoy it!
Karin wrote: "Yes, this could work for international if you include American authors (I personally am making this about international authors as well as international settings, but of course I will post anyone t..."For international, there are lots of definitions that work. I was hoping for more about the actual manuscripts, but they still have not finished cataloguing the all! I know it will not be a book for everyone but I am reading lots of African history so it was right up there in my current areas of interest.
Joanne wrote: "You liked a little more than I did Joy, but it was still a decent read for me"I agree with your review that it is definitely about more than what is suggested in the title! Once it got to the war parts, it was pretty rough going (so much violence) but I enjoyed the history parts so much it did not bring it down for me.
Joy D wrote: "Karin wrote: "Yes, this could work for international if you include American authors (I personally am making this about international authors as well as international settings, but of course I will..."Oh, sure, of course there are many definitions :). The if meant that, so if it came across in any other way, I apologize. But I am trying to read more books from authors outside of the States, so that works for me. This is how I generally think of international, but of course not everyone does.
I am going to read more than 1 book for the international tag. I am thinking of going with books that cross multiple countries (Walking the Nile) and authors from countries other than my own (I have too many to list).
PBT Comments: This would be a great one to read for the International tag, if you are interested. It is set in Mali and references activities in Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Niger, Algeria, and a handful of other countries. Plus, France was involved in the military operations to secure Timbuktu from the terrorists.
In this narrative non-fiction, journalist Joshua Hammer relates the efforts to collect and preserve centuries-old manuscripts in Timbuktu, Mali. It covers the lives of Mamma Haidara and his son, Adbel Kader Haidara, the methods they used to gather the historic documents, and the establishment of a library. In the wake of a 2012 military coup and jihadist takeover, the librarians and archivists associated with Haidera worked in secret, at great risk to personal safety, to transport these precious manuscripts to a more secure location. It includes a history of Timbuktu and surrounding areas in northern Africa, as well as a recounting of the recent political turmoil.
It will appeal to those interested in African history, the preservation of historic manuscripts, or the heroic efforts to safeguard cultural artifacts from those who seek to destroy them. Be aware that it contains extremely graphic and disturbing accounts of executions and other terrorist activities. If you are unfamiliar with this region of the world, it will be useful to keep a map of Africa at hand. I found it both informative and engrossing.