Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness

By: Alexandra Fuller

Narrated by: Bianca Amato

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

Great by both ear and eye

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Fuller's white British-born parents loved their life in colonial Africa until the war for independence forced them to leave Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, but not Africa. Their story reads like a pioneer saga, full of reckless courage and passionate relationships set against a backdrop of natural beauty and political turmoil. In this second story of her childhood, Fuller, who now lives in America, paints a vivid picture of her inimitable mother, who was as devoted to her Scottish heritage as to the African land she farmed with her husband. If only Katherine Hepburn were alive to play her on screen! We see the mother's British-colonial sensibilities and experiences viewed through her daughter's more critical but loving eyes. I kept wanting to take a break to learn more about the Rhodesian civil war, but I couldn't leave the book. Both Amato, the reader (her some-kind-of-British accent charmed my American ears), and Fuller bring the story and characters alive, balancing tragedy with humor. After listening to this, I began reading Fuller's earlier memoir, "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight" on my Kindle, and then picked up "Scribbling the Cat," about a white African soldier, in old-fashioned book form. Reading in print helped me appreciate Fuller's lyrical style and colorful slang ("Cat" has a glossary in the back), but I plan to listen to them all. In any format they're all terrific--you learn, you laugh, you are moved. What more can a reader ask?

What other book might you compare Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness to and why?

"West with the Night" (the first audiobook I ever listened to--I was hooked) and Jeannette Walls' "Half-Broke Horses"

What about Bianca Amato???s performance did you like?

Her skill with reading dialogue, her light touch with humor, and her ability to shift tone subtly, without melodrama, during heavier parts.

Loved Cocktail Hour

Where does Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of my favorites.

What did you like best about this story?

Having traveled a little in Zimbabwe I was fascinated with the country and especially how it transitioned from British-led Rhodesia.

Which scene was your favorite?

Nicola (the author's mother) winning her first horse show on a borrowed horse that no-one else could manage,

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

Yes, there are three particularly devastating events, but listing them would be a spoiler.

Any additional comments?

The book is written from the POV of the grown daughter who returns to Africa to interview her parents and track down her mother's colorful past. It is beautifully read by Bianca Amato. I kept thinking the author herself was telling the story.

Great book

wonderful book and engaging narration. very sorry to come to the end. loved this story.

Extraordinary family living African history A+'

Where does Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best. I tell people it is a bit eccentric at times and was a great listen. The narrator reminds me the actress, Kristin Scott Thomas. The narration opened up the story in a very grand way.

What other book might you compare Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness to and why?

Gone with the wind

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

The mother, main character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it was more fun enjoying it slowly.

Any additional comments?

Don't be scared off by the African war element. It was really lovely overall and I recommend it.

Not much difference from last book

Fuller picks up from her prior book and elaborates on her mother gritty mother who is displeased with how the family is portrayed in the book. Nicolette faced many hardships, and was defiantly a colorful person. I just felt like there was a lot recycled material from the prior book, and I was kind of tired of it all. On to West With Night ;)

Musical

Bianca reads Ms. Fuller's story as if it were her own. This clever book is full of insight to central Africa history along personal experiences of adaptation. I loved the use of humor that lead the listener through hard time. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading Ms. Fuller's other "awful books"!!!!!

entertaining until the last sentence

Descriptive and eloquently written in oh so British a manner. Very fun listen and with great color. One can see the land.

A wonderful story-beautifully narrated!

After having listened to "Don't Lets Go To The Dogs Tonight", I was delighted to see the story continue with "Under The Tree of Forgetfullness". This second book was excellent; as it was able to take you deeper into the incidents and personalities of the Fuller Family! The true life story about the authors life while growing up in Africa was engaging, witty, and very informational. The narration by Bianca Amato was top notch! Bianca is a brilliant narrator whose voice and song captivate you while drawing you into the story. Under The Tree of Forgetfullness was a 5 Star experience for me all the way around!

Not what I expected

But so much more. I expected a quirky story of a white European family living in Africa. That's what this is, alright, intertwined with the story of the traumatic growing pains which accompanied the declarations of independence by several African countries in the 1960's, tragic accidents, lack of good medical care, grief, and depression. But overall, the story of courage to keep going, to keep living, to keep working, loving, moving forward. And ... to have another glass of wine. Beautifully read (and sung)!

Great Story and Entertaining

I love the way this book was written and the narration was fantastic. The detailed descriptions of her parents made it as if I could see them and knew their personalities. Made me laugh and made me cry and I can remember some of the political changes that happened during the timeframe of story . Not ever realizing how other countries and peoples lives were affected .