Books by Alexandra Fuller

I am presently reading Scribbling the Cat: Travels with an African Soldier by Alexandra Fuller. Her first, previous book was Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight. It was a huge success with good reason, a small memoir of a wild, funny childhood in Africa. The voice, the writing, the humor, the whole story are terrific. It works on every level. Read it.
This second book didn't get the best reviews. The first chapter is confusing, lacks focus, maybe she is trying too hard. It must be tough to write a second book after such a successful first book. But then the books gets much getter, gets good, And again there is that wonderful voice and that really interesting, weird country.
I tend to think that Africa is just so crazy and complicated and irrational that it's not worth trying to understand anything or even get the map with its changing names clear. But this book does help.
What interests me as a writer is her voice, the imagination and enery that comes from her own emotional intensity and her intellect and imagination, which is, of course, her relation to her material, herself, and the reader. Sometimes, I think, she tries too hard, but.... (I really should have titled this whole blog elipses. Some English teacher would say the use of this demonstrates a lack of thought and discipline but I prefer to think I am inviting my reader to finish the thought....)
But--here is what matters--I keep reading, wanting to read, carrying the book around, which is why I am writing about it. But read the first one first and tell me what you think. JH