The Mottled Lizard

I was very glad to find this out-of-print title, and the book was in good condition, thanks!

Having lived in Africa for over 23 years, and also being an avid reader, I fell in love with Elspeth Huxley's books which I read while staying at our rented house while on our last home leave. She obviously loved Africa and her style of prose is so descriptive of this fascinating continent. I want my children, who were all born in Africa, to read these books, not only to remember the land of their birth, but also for the rich writing style that I find lacking in many modern books.

many people have enjoyed Huxley's first autobiographical stories of her childhood in colonial Africa, `the flame trees of thika', but few seem familiar with this luscious sequel. it seamlessly follows the first book, and like it features almost no plot or character development. instead (also like dineson's `out of Africa') it merely relates a series of loosely connected moments of colonial life in Africa. as a simplistic, action-oriented guy, i do not usually enjoy lyrical and descriptive-focused writing - but how does Huxley do it?? this book is simply charming and beautifully written, and possibly even a hair better than the first.

This book was fantastic! Incredible! Inspiring, enchanting, lyrical, phenominal -- I don't know what else to say! Set in Africa, this novel continues the story that began with Flame Trees of Thika. Luscious, vivid and real, the setting is described in delicious detail. I felt as though I was in Africa. The characters are flawless proof of the author's talent. Tilly and Robin, the main character's parents, are engaging, funny, clever people with a stream of schemes to strike it rich. Interestingly enough, they don't care much for money, and only want it so that they can begin a new project. The picture the author paints of the Kikuyu (the natives) and their complex society is a clear window into another culture that captivates the reader with its striking vividness and the differences from our own. Social stature revolves around the number of goats and wives one possesses; disputes, or shauri, are as interweaved as a spider's web. The animals in the story are also described very well, and given personalities that are as real to the reader as the crinkling pages of this incredible book. I only wish that I could never stop reading it. I would recommend spending any amount of money or searching through any number of libraries to find this crisp, brilliant jewel of a novel.