Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter

A definite "recommendation" for ALL mothers and perhaps fathers too who have a heartfelt desire to just have an Unbreakable Bond with their daughters!!!! I wish I had known about this book years ago. What a wonderful way to share your life experiences with a loved one - who would have ever thought a Diary could be used to share such depth!

I simply loved it - to say the least. Every word was just so delicious to read. It's one of those books you just can't put down once you start. It goes deep inside Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) and narrates the political and cultural struggles of everyday Zimbabweans. This lady makes me proud to say my own name. She's an excellent writer and I am waiting for her to publish her next work soon. This book is almost like an emblem to all expatriates, which is no wonder that it was translated to so may languages. The main plot and story line is just universal, although the setting was African. I could certainly relate to everything. It also shows that we still do not have the political, economic, and cultural independance that we thought would come naturally after "independance". Her style of writing is like a mixture or medley of all my best authors...so you can imagine why it was a good read for me. Great job indeed!

For me it was something I have always wanted to say or rather to be told.... its most of those unanswered questions by my mother and that conversation I still yearn to have with my mother.... its all things african i take pride in but cant necessarily express myself any better.... you just have to read this book to understand parts of me and millions of other women that have not been shared with dignity... certainly glad that someone has told the story for me..... Its a must have for every family library, the son and father tear jerker, the mother and daughter uncut umbilical cord..... As the boarders disappear and the whole world can be called home due to "globalization", you need books like this to take you back where you started from..... every immigrant young lady regardless of ethnicity can identify with this story every inch of the way.

Have you ever discovered that the most inspiring spiritual wisdom is not in the "Spiritual Books?" It is in the books which are written from the heart, and you will find those treasures in this book. The words are very sacred; they hold on to your soul for a long time and they give way to long bouts of pondering. Isn't that what writing is supposed to do? This book can offer you something you may not find in life, a chance to look through the eyes of a mother. Reward yourself, you're worth it.......

How refreshing after a diet of Oprah's selections to read about a strong family who treat each other with respect. The warm, loving mother's voice as she shares the family's history with her daughter, transports us to the far off world of modern Zimbabwe. Through her matter-of-fact narrative we learn of the impact of colonialism and the revolution on very believable people. I recommend it highly.