The Green City in the Sun

Every book I have read by Barbara Wood is an amazing blend of history, romance, complex relationships, and situations fraught with difficulties and problems to solve. Her characters bind you to them as you share their joys and hardships. The fascinating setting in "Green City" is the early 1900s in Kenya, and involves the conflict between the rich British Treverton family who wants to establish a profitable plantation, and the neighboring tribal medicine woman who curses them for invading her people's land. Tragedies befall the Trevertons, and they struggle through the uprising of the native Kenyans as they defy the British. Complicating things is the romance between the medicine woman's black son and a young white Treverton woman. Meanwhile, we follow the heroine, Doctor Grace Treverton, who, separating herself from the aspirations for wealth of the rest of her family, dedicates her life to serving the tribes by providing them with medical care and schooling. Yet even this big-hearted and wise woman is not immune to danger from the revolting tribes or from romantic turmoil involving a married man. Full of romance, danger, and political and family intrigue, this 700-page book never lost my attention for a minute!

It looks like a long read, but the hours will fly by while you sit in your most comfortable chair and read this girl-power saga that takes place in Africa. If you like romance novels or books about rude English people who take over other countries, this is the book for you! It's hard to describe, but this book is really important. It makes you think long and hard.

It's a cross between a Michner and a family saga. The characters were so interesting. Learing so much about African history has never been so enjoyable. This is one of her, if not her best, books.

I found this book at a book fair in Washington D.C. I must admit that the only reason I bought it was because I needed 10 books in order to have one free. I do not regret my desicion. "Green City In The Sun" is an epic story of the birth of a nation: Kenya. With very likable characters, the story evolves around the Trevetons, a family divided by their ambitions. Only one obstacle will make their dreams dificult to fulfill: Mama Wachera who place a curse on the British family and becomes the spiritual leader of her people, the Kikuyu. Like in a Greek tragedy,all the members of the Treverton family die one by one, except Dr. Grace Treverton who dies of old age, and Debora who comes back to Kenya by Mama Wachera request to her deathbed. Beautiful story, intense plot and very charismatic characters makes this novel a masterpiece of fiction literature.

"Green City in the Sun" is not a book about Africa. It is not about successful women in a male dominated environment. And it is not about culture and race. "Green City in the Sun" combines all these elements skillfullfy, strong and persuasive but tender and insightful. It makes you want to pack a bag and move to Kenya