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When a Crocodile Eats the Sun
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa | Peter Godwin
After his father's heart attack in 1984, Peter Godwin began a series of pilgrimages back to Zimbabwe, the land of his birth, from Manhattan, where he now lives. On these frequent visits to check on his elderly parents, he bore witness to Zimbabwe's dramatic spiral downwards into the jaws of violent chaos, presided over by an increasingly enraged dictator. And yet long after their comfortable lifestyle had been shattered and millions were fleeing, his parents refuse to leave, steadfast in their allegiance to the failed state that has been their adopted home for 50 years. Then Godwin discovered a shocking family secret that helped explain their loyalty. Africa was his father's sanctuary from another identity, another world. WHEN A CROCODILE EATS THE SUN is a stirring memoir of the disintegration of a family set against the collapse of a country. But it is also a vivid portrait of the profound strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love.
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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

This was a very emotional memoir written by a journalist in the US who was also trying to care for his aging parents in Zimbabwe. It was a story that was both un-relatable and completely relatable all at the same time. #ReadingAfrica

(This was a great audiobook- read by the author.)

Librarybelle So good to know about the audio! 2y
BarbaraBB This sounds better than my choice for Zimbabwe 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
43 likes2 comments
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Readerann
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Pickpick

Such a sad, but excellent book. This has been on my Kindle for years, but I may not have chosen the best time to read it. Add the people of Zimbabwe to those for whom I feel heartbroken.
Late reporting, but I finished with 9 hours 49 minutes for #20in4. Hoping to do a little better next time.

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Readerann
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Hoping to finish these this weekend for #20in4. I was also able to get the Winspear on audio from the library. I‘m attempting to whittle down the old TBR and these have all been on my list a LONG time.

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Cinfhen
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This book hooked me from page one! Although it was published in the early aughts and covers mostly the years between 1990-2001 it‘s nonetheless timely & compelling. A blend of personal memoir mixed with the rough political history of #Zimbabwe, it‘s people & leaders, I couldn‘t turn the pages fast enough. So much corruption, danger, turmoil and even beauty are deftly described and detailed in this personal narrative. Easily 5 stars for me.

Cinfhen #NF22 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘m going with #ImADream as Peter and his parents envisioned, hoped, worked , believed and dreamed for a country that could be 💔 2y
Cinfhen Also realized this would work for #pop22 #MisleadingTitle although the phrase is the African expression for a solar eclipse @KarenUK @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @4thhouseontheleft @RaeLovesToRead @Laughterhp @jenniferw88 @Cortg 2y
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BarbaraBB A five star read! Wow! Probably better than my choice for Zimbabwe 2y
TrishB Great review 👍🏻 2y
Cathythoughts Yes, great review 👍❤️ 2y
Librarybelle Stacking! 2y
Cinfhen It just worked for me on so many levels @BarbaraBB @TrishB @Cathythoughts @Librarybelle So happy that #readingAfrica22 brought this book to me 2y
Megabooks Wow! Fantastic! 2y
Cinfhen Thanks @Megabooks xx 2y
76 likes6 stack adds10 comments
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Cinfhen
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Another morning volunteering at the charity bookshop another book found for #ReadingAfrica2022 #Zimbabwe

Librarybelle Hooray! 2y
BarbaraBB That is so cool!! 2y
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Blaire
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Pickpick

My last book of the year and the #bottomofmytbr. This was a beautifully told memoir of life in Zimbabwe under Mugabe in the early 2000s as well as a story of his father‘s life. It painted the horrors of the farm occupations starkly while detailing the changes in Zimbabwe‘s politics and its impact on race relations. #booked2020

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Blaire
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Going to start this one for #bottomoftbr. It is the first book I added when I joined goodreads in 2013 and I bought the book when on my honeymoon in Hermanus, S. Africa in 2010. #booked2020

Ruthiella I read his memoir Mukiwa and really enjoyed it. 3y
Leftcoastzen That‘s the thing, real readers will eventually get to all those books on the TBR! And it‘s great when books trigger memories of life events large and small. 3y
paper.reveries Ohhhh this is a good challenge! 3y
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Cinfhen How was the book??? 3y
Blaire @Cinfhen so I‘ve only read the intro...too many library holds and other shiny distractions. Still plan to finish it for the end of the year and book2020! 3y
Cinfhen I hear ya!! Enjoy those shiny distractions 💜😊 3y
42 likes6 comments
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sarahlandis
Mehso-so

This book was pretty good! I found myself wishing it was more of a historical analysis of the political turmoil in Zimbabwe, but it is a memoir, a story of someone‘s personal experience. It‘s not supposed to be an accurate source for information. Goodwin‘s family and life were interesting to read about.

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Emiller
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I found a book for Zimbabwe on my TBR shelves! Only 14 more books to find for my itinerary #LitsyPassport

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