November 22, 2004
This engrossing narration of crossing the Sahel—the Saharan borderlands of Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Mali—by tortuous and frequently hair-raising local conveyances finds a barren, wind-scoured region, wracked by hunger, tribal conflict, animosity between Muslims and Christians and—a particular bane of wayfarers at border crossings—an infuriatingly corrupt and high-handed bureaucracy. Journalist Tayler (Glory in a Camel's Eye
) is guilt-stricken by the appalling poverty and enchanted with a Tuareg tribal sword dance ("This
is how people were meant to live... shouting their joy into the wild night sky!"), but he generally avoids being overwhelmed by either the region's problems or its exotic charms. Indeed, his critical perspective makes him an often cantankerous presence. Fluent in Arabic and French, he is drawn into debates about religion and politics (President Bush's words and deeds are a favorite topic among Sahelian Muslims), skeptically cross-examines folklore about tourist spots, argues vehemently—with local defenders and Western relativists alike—against the persistent customs of slavery and female circumcision, and faces down bribe-hungry customs officials. Appreciative of the generosity and patience of the region's long-suffering inhabitants, he also sees their cultures as bogged down by dogma and fatalism. Vividly written and trenchantly observed, Tayler's account opens an everyday window on a world that the West normally confronts only in crisis. Agent, Sonia Land
.
Starred review from January 1, 2005
In 2002, travel writer Tayler, author of " Glory in a Camel's Eye " (2003), undertook a journey through the Sahel, the southern region of the Sahara Desert. His journey took him through some of the most dangerous regions of countries such as Chad, Nigeria, and Niger, as he sought out Africans of Muslim faith in particular. Tayler encountered many generous people along the way, as well as plenty of bureaucracy and even danger when he traversed territory rife with land mines. Along the way, he talked to Africans of both Muslim and Christian faiths, learning how deep the division between the two groups is. With 9/11 still fresh in everyone's mind and the U.S. on the cusp of attacking Iraq, Tayler also heard plenty of opinions from Muslims about the U.S and Bush, mostly negative and concerned. Tayler vividly recounts the bustling markets, busy cities, and rundown palaces he saw on his journey from Chad to Senegal. The best travel writers can evoke an image of a place in the reader's mind; Tayler does so here with eloquence and grace that bring the cities he visits to life for the armchair traveler. Lovers of travel literature and those who want to learn more about Islam in Africa should not miss this beautifully written travelogue. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)
January 15, 2005
Tayler ("Siberian Dawn"; " Glory in a Camel's Eye") continues to enthrall readers with journeys to zones of the unexpected. Here, he recounts an extensive east-to-west journey from Chad to Senegal across the Sahel, the harsh area south of the Sahara and north of the savanna. His fluency in Arabic and his use of local guides enable him to gain fluid access to local populations and to provide a well-informed point of view on the challenges they face. His balanced coverage examines the region's hospitality and hostility, its beauty and its sordidness, and a multitude of viewpoints on local and world issues. Demonstrating a definitive writing style that seamlessly blends investigative journalism with travel narrative, Tayler gives insightful observations and an in-depth analysis of war, religion, and culture in this little-known area of the world. This substantial and informative work is no mere travel tale -it is a firsthand account of the author's deeply personal quest for knowledge and understanding of a people and a region that continues to struggle with extreme poverty and unrest. Highly recommended. -Jo-Anne Mary Benson, Osgoode, Ont.
Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.