The House at Sugar Beach Audiobook By Helene Cooper cover art

The House at Sugar Beach

In Search of a Lost African Childhood

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The House at Sugar Beach

By: Helene Cooper
Narrated by: Helene Cooper
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Journalist Helene Cooper examines the violent past of her home country Liberia and the effects of its 1980 military coup in this deeply personal memoir and finalist for the 2008 National Book Critics Circle Award.

Helene Cooper is “Congo,” a descendant of two Liberian dynasties—traced back to the first ship of freemen that set sail from New York in 1820 to found Monrovia. Helene grew up at Sugar Beach, a twenty-two-room mansion by the sea. Her childhood was filled with servants, flashy cars, a villa in Spain, and a farmhouse up-country. It was also an African childhood, filled with knock foot games and hot pepper soup, heartmen and neegee. When Helene was eight, the Coopers took in a foster child—a common custom among the Liberian elite. Eunice, a Bassa girl, suddenly became known as “Mrs. Cooper’s daughter.”

For years the Cooper daughters—Helene, her sister Marlene, and Eunice—blissfully enjoyed the trappings of wealth and advantage. But Liberia was like an unwatched pot of water left boiling on the stove. And on April 12, 1980, a group of soldiers staged a coup d'état, assassinating President William Tolbert and executing his cabinet. The Coopers and the entire Congo class were now the hunted, being imprisoned, shot, tortured, and raped. After a brutal daylight attack by a ragtag crew of soldiers, Helene, Marlene, and their mother fled Sugar Beach, and then Liberia, for America. They left Eunice behind.

A world away, Helene tried to assimilate as an American teenager. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she found her passion in journalism, eventually becoming a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. She reported from every part of the globe—except Africa—as Liberia descended into war-torn, third-world hell.

In 2003, a near-death experience in Iraq convinced Helene that Liberia—and Eunice—could wait no longer. At once a deeply personal memoir and an examination of a violent and stratified country, The House at Sugar Beach tells of tragedy, forgiveness, and transcendence with unflinching honesty and a survivor's gentle humor. And at its heart, it is a story of Helene Cooper’s long voyage home.©2008 Helene Cooper; (P)2008 Simon & Schuster Audio Africa Art & Literature Biographies & Memoirs Cultural & Regional Historical Journalists, Editors & Publishers Memoir Heartfelt Inspiring Witty Middle East

Critic reviews

"You must read Cooper's wildly tender memoir. It's that rarest of things, a personal story that transcends the people, the place, the world it is talking about and becomes a universal tale about the thousands of segregations, small and large, subtle and obvious, that shred all of us. It is beautifully written, utterly unself-conscious, and without a hint of self-pity. Cooper has an un-failing ear for language and a poet's tender heart. A powerful, important book that will teach you not only something about war and love, race and power, loss and hope, but also a great deal about yourself." -- Alexandra Fuller, author of Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood and The Legend of Colton H. Bryant
"Helene Cooper's memoir is a remarkable page-turner: gripping, perceptive, sometimes hilarious, and always moving. Her keen eye, fierce honesty, and incisive intelligence open a window on war-torn Liberia, America, and the stunning challenge of a life that straddles these deeply intertwined societies." -- Jeffrey D. Sachs, special adviser to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and author of The End of Poverty
"The tragedy of Liberia -- the most American of all the African tragedies -- is brought painfully to life in Helene Cooper's memoir. Her work is an antidote to statistics and headlines and the blur of Africa's sorrows, a reminder that history and war proceed one family at a time, one person at a time. They are never abstract, always personal." -- Arthur Phillips, author of Prague, The Egyptologist, and Angelica

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The book was amazing!!! A true testament of the Liberian saga. It is a must read

Big al

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The story just went on and on. Narrator/writer has a monotonous voice. Wouldn’t recommend

Boring

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This story is enlightening and entertaining. Ms. Cooper's story is inspirational, perhaps more so told in her voice. I learned both about Liberian history and a woman who overcame incredible odds to be able to share her story with us. A beautiful author, narrator and person.

Amazing Story from an Amazing Woman

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The author was the perfect narrator for her memoir. This is my third or fourth listen in the years since it first came out. It remains a riveting story.

Wow!

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This well may be the best book I've listened to in many years. Having the author narrate this book is definitely a bonus because she speaks in the native language throughout the book and it really adds to the experience. Wonderful story.

10 Stars

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This book offers an interesting perspective of the author's familial and personal history and how they fit within the broader aspects of Liberia's social and political evolution....Great read.

The history of Liberia through character.

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This book is a page turner. It is a memoir of a childhood and a lifetime as it travels through times fraught with riches, war, violence, denial and love.

It also offers a wonderful history lesson on Monrovia, Liberia, and the USA.

A must read

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This is a wonderful memoir. Helene Cooper narrates her own book and does a fabulous job. I didn't want it to end. Listen (read) this book.

Terrific

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This was a great book, well written. Very interesting history of Liberia.

Great!

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Would you consider the audio edition of The House at Sugar Beach to be better than the print version?

This was my first audible book and I enjoyed listening to the story. I thought the first half of the book was great and it slowed in the second half. Overall, I would recommend the book for its historical value. Audible books are great and audible.com is the place to get them.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I think I was suppose to feel sorry for the family, but I found myself feeling neutral.

Have you listened to any of Helene Cooper’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first audible book and Helene was very good. She brought life to the book with her accent.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The greatness of American everywhere

Great listen

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