Nowhere in Africa: An Autobiographical Novel

I actually haven't read it in English... but in it's original language it was wonderfully written. It's about a German Jewish family who was displaced in WWII by the Nazis. They were exiled into Africa. Zweig does a wonderful job of telling the story of what it was like for a Jewish family to reside in Africa. I didn't think that she stereotyped the others... maybe it came out that way in the translation. In it's original work though I thought that the Africans had the best portrayal out of all the groups, including her own family. Her mother and father were definitely flawed... her father with his ambitions and her mother, a little self centered. Of course I don't know what the translation is like, so I'll have to look at it.

So I think enough reviews of the content of this book have been written. But to the person who reads German as a second language, this is a great book for practicing reading. If you read German at above children's book level but are not quite able to read and really 'get' books by authors like Mann or Nietsche, then try this book because it lies somewhere in between in terms of the level of complexity of the language and also the size of the vocabulary needed to read it. And as an added bonus, the story is very good as well.

This is the story of Jewish refugees from Germany coping in a foreign and magical land during WWII. It is beautifully told though the eyes of the Redlich family: Walter, a former attorney, Jettel, his beautiful and emotional wife, Regina, the precocious, intelligent and receptive child, and Owuor, their African "houseboy" or cook. With the purple Ngong hills of Kenya, the famous Norfolk hotel and the pink-flamingo-covered Lake Nakuru in the background, this autobiographical account tells a unique tale of the suffering and pain inflicted upon this family, forced into exile by the actions of the Nazi regime. The Redlich family was lucky enough to escape their beloved homeland, but not all members of their families shared the same fate. As she tells the story of a proud family losing everything, particularly social status and an understandable language, Stefanie Zweig uses a variety of languages to describe their myriad and varying emotions. Translated into English from German, this version loses a little bit of the importance of language barrier to the tale; however, Swahili, German and even a few Latin phrases are peppered throughout and do help. Regina, Zweig's alter ego, is the strongest and most enjoyable voice. In fact, I wished the entire story were told through her perspective, for she is the one who most captures the spirit of Kenya. This is primarily due to Regina's relationship with Owuor, and her own secret fairy, that guides her through lonely experiences at boarding school, a luxury her refugee parents can barely afford. Even though she is a child, she becomes the voice of reason for the entire family. If you've spent any time in Kenya, this book will bring your experience back to life and make you further appreciate the distinctions of class, race and ethnic heritage. I highly recommend. Michele Cozzens, Author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

I anxiously awaited the release of this English translation after I saw the movie. In comparison, there are a few differences in the plot, but the story in both is moving. My primary reason for wanting to read the book was to understand the characteres better, to hear that inner voice that does not translate well on film. The book certainly provided this, though some times I found myself frustrated with the lengthy descriptions of secondary characters, such as the Professor and Diane. Still, the chapters that do delve more closely into the hearts and minds of Regina, Walter, Jettel and Owuor do not disappoint. Overall, though the writing at times wavers between meandering and powerfully direct, the story is heartbreaking and inspiring. I look forward to the sequel.