Review: An entertaining book.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 7, 2013
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal, review.Spiral Aloe relates the account of Sarah, an American woman, who decides to become a Peace Corps. member to help the Basotho, an indigenous peoples from an African village. The story delves into the events that occur after Sarah's arrival and how she and the villagers' lives are all interconnected. We read about how experiences as she acclimates to her new home and ultimately her role in the villagers' lives. As the story progresses, events play out where Sarah becomes more entrenched with the villagers and begins to assert her influence, even when not necessarily wanted, in order to help them.I particularly enjoyed the way the culture of the Basotho is presented and the use of their language within the text. Although there is a glossary at the end of the book, the reader has to guess at the meanings of the words. Fortunately, the words are usually self-explanatory and not hard to figure out. The subject of the AIDS pandemic that is currently ravaging Africa factors prominently in the storyline and adds substance to the tale.Overall, the book is well written. It's full of good, descriptive writing, convincing dialogue, and solid editing. The characters that Sarah interacts with are interesting and likable. It was not difficult to empathize with the challenges they all faced in their daily lives. However, I was disappointed that a genuine plot did not emerge. The story loses some of its appeal due to the a-day-in-the-life narrative structure of the tale. It's hard to get excited about a story where nothing of consequence happens. Had there been a real plot propelling events to a significant conclusion, this book would easily have gotten 5 stars from me. Alas, all the good writing in the world means nothing if there's no emotional pay off at the end of a story. With that said, the Spiral Aloe is worth reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction with interesting characters, exotic locales, cultures, and a positive message.3.5 stars.