Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness

By: Alexandra Fuller

Narrated by: Bianca Amato

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Alexandra Fuller won worldwide attention, popular acclaim, and critical accolades for her memoir of her childhood in Africa, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight. This engaging follow-up explores Fuller’s parents’ childhoods and charts the trajectories of their lives through all the British couple’s experiences in war-torn Africa.

Fuller braids a multilayered narrative around the perfectly lit, Happy Valley-era Africa of her mother's childhood; the boiled cabbage grimness of her father's English childhood; and the darker, civil war- torn Africa of her own childhood. At its heart, this is the story of Fuller's mother, Nicola. Born on the Scottish Isle of Skye and raised in Kenya, Nicola holds dear the kinds of values most likely to get you hurt or killed in Africa: loyalty to blood, passion for land, and a holy belief in the restorative power of all animals. Fuller interviewed her mother at length and has captured her inimitable voice with remarkable precision. Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness is as funny, terrifying, exotic, and unselfconscious as Nicola herself.

©2011 Alexandra Fuller (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Is it just me or...

Is this just too annoying to listen to?!

I admit I should probably listen to more than just a few chapters before reviewing this, but goodness it was a challenge to continue, and allowing myself to give up is a 2016 resolution....

Some stories and characters feel very familiar, but not in a novel or endearing way. That was kind of the case for me with this book. Anyone seeking a supposedly 'achingly' colonial slice of life with 'eccentric' English folk behaving in 'outrageous' ways might enjoy this. As an English person I just wasn't convinced by the people or the dialogue - the word contrived springs to mind.

In the end I couldn't quite imagine myself caring enough about the characters to persevere. I might be entirely wrong and the whole thing sparks into 'arresting brilliance' shortly after where I left off... I'm going to give the story a 3 as I will assume perhaps my experience of it is at least partially blighted by the unconvincingly plummy, ponderous and obvious narration.

Wonderful listen!

I learned about this book through a friend. The narrator has the perfect voice for this book, very enjoyable to listen to. It was great to hear about a families life in another continent. "Nicola Fuller of Central Africa" what a character. Can't imagine the losses that she and her husband endured. A very funny yet sad book.

Inspirational

Alexandra fuller, gives an account of a family who, despite great tragedy and challenges, refused to give up. This account is an inspiration to all of us who suffer, and overcome adversity by never giving up. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Deborah

A little less polish . A little more heart

Beautiful writing, just like I’ve come to expect. Somewhat confusing time jumps. Very sad and depressing story of losing 3 babies, always adjusting to events-even though the events killed her.

Another gem from Alexandra Fuller

Simply a fantastic book. I just enjoy her African stories and hearings about her mom and dad.

Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness

I enjoyed Ms. Fuller's first book as well. Tales of an era gone by. How we do forget!

Charming character describes her African life

Would you consider the audio edition of Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness to be better than the print version?

Cant say.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Obviously Nicola Fuller of Central Africa

Which character – as performed by Bianca Amato – was your favorite?

The narrator

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The Rhodesian confrontation with liberation fighters.

Any additional comments?

A distinctive voice of a charming, although flawed, woman and the adventures she has lived through in various central African countries over the last 60 years or so.

Beautiful story of a complicated time.

I laughed and cried and felt deeply with both the author and the complex woman she describes, her mother. Her humor makes a terrifying story easy to listen to. Having lived on the beautiful continent during this same time period, I was able to appreciate the loyalty Nicola Fuller felt. It is the narrator that makes this book come to life. Amazing job!

Interesting and provides some historical insights

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Gives you insights into what British settlers experienced, some humor, some sad, good description of dynamics of mother/daughter and siblings. Is the Mother stable? Yet we all have someone like this and move through life. Pace is a bit slow, but good for long runs.

Would you recommend Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness to your friends? Why or why not?

To pass the time, doesn't grab you but does entertain you.

Which scene was your favorite?

Discovering the tree, talking on the veranda

Could you see Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Maybe a movie, definitely Meryl Streep, maybe Judy Dench both have the underlying "iron" with a shade of crazy in some of their performances.

Africa as palette

The beauty and despair of Central Africa captured through the life stories of a white settler.