Comments on: Not a dumb American: Congo edition

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 19:44:00 +0000

This sounds fascinating! I think I’d have to build up to read it, but its going to go on my list.

By: Racism, Pakistan, & Jane Austen: Nonfiction Reading Round-Up - Reading the End

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 10:01:00 +0000

[…] before the structures to support independence are in place is an awful, awful idea. Cf. Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is my working hypothesis and I will keep you posted on how it stands up to further scrutiny […]

By: litlove

litlove — Sun, 24 May 2015 16:47:21 +0000

I do love your gifs. My husband wants to use them in business meetings, particularly to show the way he and the other directors respond to the CEO’s hysterical bullying. Perhaps you could have the job of supplying gifs to needy people? Sort of Queen of the Gif Universe job?

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 21 May 2015 20:36:27 +0000

I really admire you for spending so much time and attention educating yourself on different countries and their histories. I say I want to do this, and then end up … not doing it. How do you find the right books that will be complete, mostly unbiased, and not too incredibly difficult to get through?

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:36:04 +0000

In reply to Biblibio. I am finding that as I read more histories of African countries, I am also more interested in reading literature from those countries. I feel like I have at least part of a foundation for it. So I think it's a solid strategy.

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:35:21 +0000

In reply to aliceburton. I'm imagining it being dried out like leather? So yes, I guess?

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:34:51 +0000

In reply to Athira. Yep, it was Zaire when I first did geography as well. But no more! At least having read this book, I have a solid grip now on the country's name. :p

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:33:27 +0000

In reply to Christy. Ethiopia's been one of the countries I've been considering reading about next. Except then I got worried that I was privileging the large-in-size countries, so I'm thinking of doing a smaller country next. While I'm waiting for the Kenya book to get back in at my university library, I'm going to give Lesotho a try. But I promise I will keep my eyes peeled for a good history of Ethiopia.

By: aliceburton

aliceburton — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:52:07 +0000

“If you happen to know anybody in the market for an enormously long history of a failed state”

I mean, who isn’t.

…is hippopotamus hide really painful?

By: Biblibio

Biblibio — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:43:47 +0000

Ohhh this sounds interesting. This sounds super, super interesting. I’m finding that the African continent is my most clearly underrepresented literary region (BY FAR), and I could definitely use some good introductory history for different countries as I try to wade deeper into actual African literature.