Black Mamba Boy
12 journalers for this copy...
From the back cover:
"The story starts far away, on the streets of Aden, and long ago, in the sweltering summer of 1935.
Jamaica is ten years old and has grown up in the slums of this ancient city, learning to survive amongst the ragamuffins and vagabonds of the port. When he losses everything, his only chance of survival is finding his father who disappeared years before.
So begins an epic journey by foot, camel, lorry and train, through war-torn Eritrea and Sudan, to Egypt, Palestine and, finally, to the icy realms of Britain that Jama heard bout in Yemen.
This story of one boy's journey is also the story of how the Second World War affected Africa and its people; a story of exile and survival and a vivid tale of love, friendship and boundless hope."
Journal Entry
2 by
Tubereader at
Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Monday, December 17, 2012
I read this book for Nicola's book club in Brussels. From the writing of the first sentence, I was captivates. It is a very difficult and tragic story, but Jama seems to get out of every one of his struggles just fine. How such a little boy manages to do such an epic journey is just unbelievable.... The fact that the book is loosely based on the author's father life makes it even more special.
At the book club discussion, some people said that in some parts the book was not particularly well written and that it may be a bit difficult to get into it. It was not my case, but I hope that if you are reading the book and struggling a bit with it's beginning, you give it a second chance and read it till the end as I think it is worth finishing it.
I am using this book for the Favourite Book of 2021 roundabout. Hope all of the participants like it!
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3 by
Tubereader at
Ixelles / Elsene, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Monday, December 17, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (12/17/2012 UTC) at Ixelles / Elsene, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book has been posted to Fifna for the favourite book of 2012 roundabout.
Happy reading!
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4 by
Fifna at
Voorburg, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, December 20, 2012
And it has arrived safely, thanks TubeReader! This looks like a book I would like, so looking forward to my first roundabout read.
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5 by
Fifna at
Voorburg, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Captivating is indeed the right word for this book. It is such an interesting story, about parts of the world I know of, but don't know that much about. Jama manages to deal with everything that life throws at him, and in the end goes back to what is the most important to him. I knew that the Second World War in Africa was more than just Rommel in northern Africa, as my grandfather was in the British Army at the time and he too was in Abyssinia as far as I know, and he even ended up in Palestine after the war. But he never really talked about it, so reading about it, albeit from the opposite perspective most of the time, was very interesting.
I agree with Tubereader's bookclub members that the writing is not always that good. Her use of commas to separate what are in fact main clauses often has a confusing effect, and should really have been picked up on by an editor. But having said that, the story is good enough for the reader to set that aside.
A good choice for the roundabout, Tubereader, thank you! It's a book I probably wouldn't have come across otherwise. I'll send it on to marsala soon.
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6 by
Fifna at
Ravenstein, Noord-Brabant Netherlands on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Released 11 yrs ago (1/23/2013 UTC) at Ravenstein, Noord-Brabant Netherlands
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to marsala!
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7 by
marsala at
- Ergens in de provincie, Noord-Brabant Netherlands on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Thank you very much Fifna for sending it on, and Tubereader for introducing me to this book. It's a subject I've never read anything about, so I'm very interested!
Finished reading it. The story was very interesting, I like reading about different cultures and how they interact with one another. It's not the best written book I've ever read, it felt it was rambling on in some parts of the book and a bit hard to follow. But all in all a very captivating story, especially if you remember it was based on a real life story.
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8 by
marsala at
Favourite Book Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Released 11 yrs ago (2/7/2013 UTC) at Favourite Book Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On it's way to the next reader.
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9 by
grovalskii at
Zehlendorf, Berlin Germany on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
just received the book today. It looks like an interesting read. This will be my book for March.
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10 by
grovalskii at
Zehlendorf, Berlin Germany on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Excellent book! Beside the fact that it is well written, I also learned things, like I didn't know how much WWII was played out in Africa, and I didn't know that Jewish refugees from the German camps trying to make a new life in Palestine were turned back and actually sent back to Germany. After I finished the book I was glad to find out that with all of the hardship that Jama went through in his early life, it seems like he made a nice enough living later on. How wonderful of his daughter to write down his story - even if it is not a biography but rather a novel based on his life. I am glad I got to read this book.
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11 by
grovalskii at
Zehlendorf, Berlin Germany on Monday, March 18, 2013
Released 11 yrs ago (3/18/2013 UTC) at Zehlendorf, Berlin Germany
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed the book out today
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12 by
LiniP at
Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Friday, March 29, 2013
The book had already arrived on Wednesday but I was too sick to sit at the computer. I will read the book over my Easter break and am looking forward to reading it.
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13 by
LiniP at
Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Wednesday, April 10, 2013
An interesting read and a book I probably would not have picked up on my own. I liked Jama´s determination. Sometimes I wished the encounters with the different people would have been a little longer. The book will travel shortly.
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14 by
LiniP at
Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Friday, April 12, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (4/11/2013 UTC) at Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg Germany
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book is on its way to the next reader.
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15 by
Lamilla at
Мінск / Minsk, Minsk Belarus on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Received, thanks. This is my May book
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16 by
Lamilla at
Мінск / Minsk, Minsk Belarus on Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (6/4/2013 UTC) at Мінск / Minsk, Minsk Belarus
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to the next reader. I haven't got to properly read it. It's the third pseudo-historical in the relay, btw. I'd much prefer them to be proper non-fiction, to be honest.
Track: RR796741915BY
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17 by
lamelemon at
București, Wallachia Romania on Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Safely picked up with thanks. This is my June book, and sure looks intriguing!
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18 by
lamelemon at
București, Wallachia Romania on Saturday, July 6, 2013
Finished the book last night. I liked reading about Jama's travel through so many different cultures in a historical and social environment so unlike our own. Interesting to know there are bits of a real story intermingled, although the real Jama turned out to have a different fate. I found the ending a little abrupt, I would have expected and preferred another turn of events. But I enjoyed the settings and the story overall.
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19 by
lamelemon at
București, Wallachia Romania on Saturday, July 6, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (7/6/2013 UTC) at București, Wallachia Romania
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted this morning to Merolia in Greece. Happy reading :)
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20 by
Merolia at
Halandri - Χαλάνδρι, Attica Greece on Thursday, July 11, 2013
Arrived safely today. I'm still reading Fifna's book, so it will take me some time before I can start it. This is my July book and a book I'll probably take with me on some holidays!
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21 by
Merolia at
Halandri - Χαλάνδρι, Attica Greece on Thursday, August 15, 2013
I'm very glad I read this book. It was such a journey, in parts of the world I know almost nothing about. Even though it describes life in very difficult conditions and deals with poverty, war and all the rest, it didn't leave any bad feelings to me. There were some scenes that were particularly violent, but overall it felt well balanced between dark and bright, comparing to other books I read this year, which is one of the reasons it felt more convincing. This includes the protagonist, who was likable and admirable but far from perfect. I was very impressed by reading how the will for life prevails over hardships, how strong people who have almost nothing can be and especially by the strong feelings of solidarity between clansmen.
I agree with the previous readers that the writing has weaknesses. I too was concerned with what Fifna remarked about the commas, however I tend to conclude that it was a deliberate choice, even if it feels confusing. And I was also a bit disappointed with the ending. The way it emphasized on Jama's love for his wife felt sudden and not well connected with the rest of the narration. We also never actually see him reunited with her, and the fact that her character is purely invented (if I understood correctly) confused things a bit for me.
A very good choice for the roundabout! It will soon be on its way to the next reader.
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22 by
Merolia at
Halandri - Χαλάνδρι, Attica Greece on Thursday, August 22, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (8/22/2013 UTC) at Halandri - Χαλάνδρι, Attica Greece
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to France.
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23 by
Icila at
Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Arrived yesterday. I'll read it soon.
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24 by
Icila at
Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Commas weren't an issue for me as we use a lot of them in French. It's sometimes the lack of them that's an isssue for me. ;)
I was very interested in this story as I visited my expat family in Yemen and there are many links between the Yemenis and the Ethiopians for exemple. They are used to travel across the borders and it's difficult to say who is who but sure they know.
Seems a bit of a fairy tale though.
Thanks for sharing.
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25 by
Icila at
La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France on Friday, September 13, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (9/13/2013 UTC) at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to earthcaroleanne in Scoltand.
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26 by
earthcaroleanne at
Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 1, 2013
I'm a bit late in journalling this because it arrived while I as on holiday.
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27 by
earthcaroleanne at
Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, November 15, 2013
It seems to have taken me a long time to read this book because it just wasn't gripping me. I didn't enjoy the fact there were so many words I didn't know and I started looking them all up but then I realised it would take me too long to do thi s and interrupt the flow of the reading but that never really came anyway. I ended up just looking up the words that appeared at lot. It got a bit more interesting towards the end for me but not really my thing.
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28 by
earthcaroleanne at
Belfast, Co. Antrim United Kingdom on Saturday, November 16, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (11/16/2013 UTC) at Belfast, Co. Antrim United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On it's way in the bookring.
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29 by
fleurdelys at
Belfast, Co. Antrim United Kingdom on Thursday, December 5, 2013
I loved this book. In fact I think it has probably been my favourite book of the 2012 roundabout so far.
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30 by
fleurdelys at
Belfast, Co. Antrim United Kingdom on Friday, December 6, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (12/7/2013 UTC) at Belfast, Co. Antrim United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Passing on to GailRogan as the next book in the roundabout.
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31 by
GailRogan at
Belfast, Co. Antrim United Kingdom on Sunday, December 8, 2013
Caught at the BookcrossingNI Christmas party - last book of the 2012 Roundabout!
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32 by
GailRogan at
Madrid, Madrid Spain on Saturday, February 1, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (2/1/2014 UTC) at Madrid, Madrid Spain
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This was a great book to finish the 2012 Roundabout on - a truly epic story. Thank you for sharing!
Returning back to Tubereader!
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33 by
Tubereader at
Madrid, Madrid Spain on Saturday, June 30, 2018
I am clearing up my house as I will be moving soon and realised I had not journaled the receipt of this book. I will release it in the wild today.
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34 by
Tubereader at
Retiro in Madrid, Madrid Spain on Saturday, June 30, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (6/30/2018 UTC) at Retiro in Madrid, Madrid Spain
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Left on a bench.