-
Hippos, Hotspots, and Homelands: An Educator’s Journey in South Africa During Apartheid and Beyond
- Narrated by: Elsa van der Byl
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Hippos, Hotspots, and Homelands: An Educator’s Journey in South Africa During Apartheid and Beyond
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Tales of a Female Nomad
- Living at Large in the World
- By: Rita Golden Gelman
- Narrated by: Rita Golden Gelman
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 561
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 511
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 510
Tales of a Female Nomad is the story of Rita Golden Gelman, an ordinary woman who is living an extraordinary existence. At the age of 48, on the verge of a divorce, Rita left an elegant life in Los Angeles to follow her dream of connecting with people in cultures all over the world. In 1986, she sold her possessions and became a nomad, living in a Zapotec village in Mexico, sleeping with sea lions on the Galapagos Islands, and residing everywhere from thatched huts to regal palaces.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not what I thought
- By CJ on 07-10-17
-
Between the Mountain and the Sky
- A Mother’s Story of Love, Loss, Healing, and Hope
- By: Maggie Doyne
- Narrated by: Maggie Doyne
- Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 122
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 107
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 104
Maggie’s story begins in suburban New Jersey, in a comfortable middle-class family that supports her decision to travel the world during a gap year before starting college. During her travels, the trajectory of her life alters when she has a surprise encounter with a Nepali girl breaking rocks in a quarry. Maggie decides to invest her life savings of 5,000 dollars to buy a piece of land and open a children’s home in Nepal.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Journey That Will Capture Your Heart
- By JK1212 on 04-14-24
By: Maggie Doyne
-
The Elephants in My Backyard
- A Memoir
- By: Rajiv Surendra
- Narrated by: Rajiv Surendra
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 171
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 162
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 162
Rajiv Surendra was filming Mean Girls, playing the beloved rapping mathlete Kevin Gnapoor, when a cameraman insisted he read Yann Martel's Life of Pi. So begins his "lovely and human" (Jenny Lawson, author of Furiously Happy) tale of obsessively pursuing a dream, overcoming failure, and finding meaning in life.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The Elephants in My Backyard - fascinating read
- By Matt Jones on 06-29-21
By: Rajiv Surendra
-
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun
- A Memoir of Africa
- By: Peter Godwin
- Narrated by: Peter Godwin
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 74
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 66
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 64
After his father's heart attack in 1984, Peter Godwin began a series of pilgrimages back to Zimbabwe, the land of his birth, from Manhattan, where he now lives. On these frequent visits to check on his elderly parents, he bore witness to Zimbabwe's dramatic spiral downward into the jaws of violent chaos, presided over by an increasingly enraged dictator. And yet long after their comfortable lifestyle had been shattered and millions were fleeing, his parents refuse to leave, steadfast in their allegiance to the failed state that has been their adopted home for 50 years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Worth the listen.
- By SEE on 09-06-21
By: Peter Godwin
-
Wide-Open World
- How Volunteering Around the Globe Changed One Family's Lives Forever
- By: John Marshall
- Narrated by: John Marshall
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 31
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
John Marshall had read about the growth of voluntourism, and frankly, it was the only kind of extended trip he could afford. He'd heard that some peoples' lives were changed by a week of overseas service - what might half a year accomplish for his family? His wife, Traca, was all in favor of it; his kids, especially his 14-year-old daughter, were strongly opposed. Wide-Open World is the totally engaging, bluntly honest story of the Marshall family's life-changing adventure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I enjoyed every minute
- By Chris on 05-15-15
By: John Marshall
-
The Fallen Stones
- Chasing Butterflies, Discovering Mayan Secrets, and Looking for Hope Along the Way
- By: Diana Marcum
- Narrated by: Stacy Gonzalez
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 103
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 92
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 92
Atop a hill in the rainforest of Belize, next to the ruins of a fallen civilization, a butterfly farm raises the brilliant blue morpho. What starts out as the worst vacation ever turns into a quest to learn more about the first-of-its-kind farm when journalist Diana Marcum inadvertently discovers this wildlife sanctuary, which is supported by an international live-butterfly trade.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Bad narrator
- By Carole S. on 12-21-22
By: Diana Marcum
-
Tales of a Female Nomad
- Living at Large in the World
- By: Rita Golden Gelman
- Narrated by: Rita Golden Gelman
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 561
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 511
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 510
Tales of a Female Nomad is the story of Rita Golden Gelman, an ordinary woman who is living an extraordinary existence. At the age of 48, on the verge of a divorce, Rita left an elegant life in Los Angeles to follow her dream of connecting with people in cultures all over the world. In 1986, she sold her possessions and became a nomad, living in a Zapotec village in Mexico, sleeping with sea lions on the Galapagos Islands, and residing everywhere from thatched huts to regal palaces.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not what I thought
- By CJ on 07-10-17
-
Between the Mountain and the Sky
- A Mother’s Story of Love, Loss, Healing, and Hope
- By: Maggie Doyne
- Narrated by: Maggie Doyne
- Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 122
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 107
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 104
Maggie’s story begins in suburban New Jersey, in a comfortable middle-class family that supports her decision to travel the world during a gap year before starting college. During her travels, the trajectory of her life alters when she has a surprise encounter with a Nepali girl breaking rocks in a quarry. Maggie decides to invest her life savings of 5,000 dollars to buy a piece of land and open a children’s home in Nepal.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Journey That Will Capture Your Heart
- By JK1212 on 04-14-24
By: Maggie Doyne
-
The Elephants in My Backyard
- A Memoir
- By: Rajiv Surendra
- Narrated by: Rajiv Surendra
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 171
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 162
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 162
Rajiv Surendra was filming Mean Girls, playing the beloved rapping mathlete Kevin Gnapoor, when a cameraman insisted he read Yann Martel's Life of Pi. So begins his "lovely and human" (Jenny Lawson, author of Furiously Happy) tale of obsessively pursuing a dream, overcoming failure, and finding meaning in life.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The Elephants in My Backyard - fascinating read
- By Matt Jones on 06-29-21
By: Rajiv Surendra
-
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun
- A Memoir of Africa
- By: Peter Godwin
- Narrated by: Peter Godwin
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 74
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 66
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 64
After his father's heart attack in 1984, Peter Godwin began a series of pilgrimages back to Zimbabwe, the land of his birth, from Manhattan, where he now lives. On these frequent visits to check on his elderly parents, he bore witness to Zimbabwe's dramatic spiral downward into the jaws of violent chaos, presided over by an increasingly enraged dictator. And yet long after their comfortable lifestyle had been shattered and millions were fleeing, his parents refuse to leave, steadfast in their allegiance to the failed state that has been their adopted home for 50 years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Worth the listen.
- By SEE on 09-06-21
By: Peter Godwin
-
Wide-Open World
- How Volunteering Around the Globe Changed One Family's Lives Forever
- By: John Marshall
- Narrated by: John Marshall
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 31
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
John Marshall had read about the growth of voluntourism, and frankly, it was the only kind of extended trip he could afford. He'd heard that some peoples' lives were changed by a week of overseas service - what might half a year accomplish for his family? His wife, Traca, was all in favor of it; his kids, especially his 14-year-old daughter, were strongly opposed. Wide-Open World is the totally engaging, bluntly honest story of the Marshall family's life-changing adventure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I enjoyed every minute
- By Chris on 05-15-15
By: John Marshall
-
The Fallen Stones
- Chasing Butterflies, Discovering Mayan Secrets, and Looking for Hope Along the Way
- By: Diana Marcum
- Narrated by: Stacy Gonzalez
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 103
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 92
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 92
Atop a hill in the rainforest of Belize, next to the ruins of a fallen civilization, a butterfly farm raises the brilliant blue morpho. What starts out as the worst vacation ever turns into a quest to learn more about the first-of-its-kind farm when journalist Diana Marcum inadvertently discovers this wildlife sanctuary, which is supported by an international live-butterfly trade.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Bad narrator
- By Carole S. on 12-21-22
By: Diana Marcum
-
Drive Nacho Drive
- A Journey from the American Dream to the End of the World
- By: Brad Van Orden, Sheena Van Orden
- Narrated by: Sheena Van Orden, Brad Van Orden
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 92
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 82
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 84
Drive Nacho Drive tells the hilarious and sometimes harrowing story of what happens when Brad and Sheena Van Orden trade in the American dream for a year on the roads of Central and South America aboard “Nacho”, their quirky and somewhat temperamental Volkswagen van. As a result of questionable decision-making skills and intermittent bad luck, Brad and Sheena repeatedly find themselves in over their heads.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Starts very slowly, but worth it in the end
- By Ann on 03-20-17
By: Brad Van Orden, and others
-
The House at Sugar Beach
- A Memoir
- By: Helene Cooper
- Narrated by: Helene Cooper
- Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 304
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 186
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 186
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.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Can't recommend it
- By Taryn on 03-25-16
By: Helene Cooper
-
Kosher Chinese
- Living, Teaching, and Eating with China's Other Billion
- By: Michael Levy
- Narrated by: George Backman
- Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 31
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 27
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 27
In September of 2005, the Peace Corps sent Michael Levy to teach English in the heart of China's heartland. His hosts in the city of Guiyang found additional uses for him: resident expert on Judaism, romantic adviser, and provincial basketball star, to name a few. His account of overcoming vast cultural differences to befriend his students and fellow teachers is by turns poignant and laugh-out-loud funny.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not quite his target audience I guess
- By John S. on 10-09-12
By: Michael Levy
-
The Masked Rider
- Cycling in West Africa
- By: Neil Peart
- Narrated by: Brian Sutherland
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 482
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 425
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 425
The prolific drummer for the rock band Rush travels through African villages, both large and small, and relates his story through journal entries and tales of adventure, while simultaneously addressing issues such as differences in culture, psychology, and labels. Literary and artistic sidekicks such as Aristotle, Dante, and Van Gogh join Peart and his cycling companions, reminding the listener that this is not just another travel book - it is a story of both external and introspective discovery and adventure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating Trip Across Cameroon
- By Diann Sedam on 11-26-19
By: Neil Peart
-
The Road to Sleeping Dragon
- Learning China from the Ground Up
- By: Michael Meyer
- Narrated by: David Shih
- Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 27
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 27
In 1995, at the age of 23, Michael Meyer joined the Peace Corps and, after rejecting offers to go to seven other countries, was sent to a tiny town in Sichuan. Knowing nothing about China, or even how to use chopsticks, Meyer wrote Chinese words up and down his arms so he could hold conversations, and, per a Communist dean's orders, jumped into teaching his students about the Enlightenment, the stock market, and Beatles lyrics. Soon he realized his Chinese counterparts were just as bewildered by China's changes as he was.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Good insight, well told
- By Jimmer on 04-05-18
By: Michael Meyer
-
The Longest Way Home
- One Man's Quest for the Courage to Settle Down
- By: Andrew McCarthy
- Narrated by: Andrew McCarthy
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 220
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 202
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 200
Unable to commit to his fiancée of nearly four years - and with no clear understanding of what’s holding him back - Andrew McCarthy finds himself at a crossroads, plagued by doubts that have clung to him for a lifetime. Something in his character has kept him always at a distance, preventing him from giving himself wholeheartedly to the woman he loves and from becoming the father that he knows his children deserve. So before he loses everything he cares about, Andrew sets out to look for answers.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
boring
- By Anonymous User on 06-06-13
By: Andrew McCarthy
-
Golden Bones
- An Extraordinary Journey from Hell in Cambodia to a New Life in America
- By: Sichan Siv
- Narrated by: David Thorn
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 49
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 44
In Cambodia in the 1960s, Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge declared war on their own people, enslaving and slaughtering anybody who disagreed with them. Sichan Siv knew he would soon be a target - ending up, perhaps, as one of the millions of anonymous human skeletons buried in his nation's Killing Fields - so he heeded his mother's pleas and ran. Captured and forced to perform slave labor, Siv feared that he'd be worked to death or killed. But he never abandoned hope or his improbable dream of freedom - a dream that liberated him.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Misleading Publisher’s Summary
- By Chris on 05-01-18
By: Sichan Siv
-
My Good Life in France
- In Pursuit of the Rural Dream
- By: Janine Marsh
- Narrated by: Esther Wane
- Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 173
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 159
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 159
One grey dismal day, Janine Marsh was on a trip to northern France to pick up some cheap wine. She returned to England a few hours later having put in an offer on a rundown old barn in the rural Seven Valleys area of Pas de Calais. This was not something she'd expected or planned for. Janine eventually gave up her job in London to move with her husband to live the good life in France. Or so she hoped. While getting to grips with the locals and la vie Française, and renovating her dilapidated new house, a building lacking the comforts of mains drainage, heating, or proper rooms.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Really funny, delightful, informative
- By mz on 10-02-18
By: Janine Marsh
-
At Home in the World
- Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe
- By: Tsh Oxenreider
- Narrated by: Tsh Oxenreider
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 436
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 388
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 387
As Tsh Oxenreider, author of Notes from a Blue Bike, chronicles her family's adventure around the world. Seeing, smelling, and tasting the widely varying cultures along the way, she discovers what it truly means to be at home.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Having traveled the world as a kid myself.....
- By kmk on 07-31-17
By: Tsh Oxenreider
-
Cathedral of the Wild
- An African Journey Home
- By: Boyd Varty
- Narrated by: Boyd Varty
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 537
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 473
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 474
Boyd Varty had an unconventional upbringing. He grew up on Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa, a place where man and nature strive for balance, where perils exist alongside wonders. Founded more than 80 years ago as a hunting ground, Londolozi was transformed into a nature reserve beginning in 1973 by Varty’s father and uncle, visionaries of the restoration movement. But it wasn’t just a sanctuary for the animals; it was also a place for ravaged land to flourish again and for the human spirit to be restored.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
One of my favorite audiobooks
- By Kindle Customer on 03-19-17
By: Boyd Varty
-
Fast Times in Palestine
- A Love Affair with a Homeless Homeland
- By: Pamela J. Olson
- Narrated by: Julia Farhat
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 37
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33
Pamela Olson, a small town girl from eastern Oklahoma, had what she always wanted: a physics degree from Stanford University. But instead of feeling excited for what came next, she felt consumed by dread and confusion. This irresistible memoir chronicles her journey from aimless ex-bartender to Ramallah-based journalist and foreign press coordinator for a Palestinian presidential candidate.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Palestine from the Inside—and Out
- By Susie on 11-04-13
By: Pamela J. Olson
-
Small Country
- A Novel
- By: Gaël Faye
- Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
- Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 82
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 72
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 71
Already an international sensation and prize-winning best seller in France, an evocative coming-of-age story of a young boy, a lost childhood, and a shattered homeland. Burundi, 1992. For 10-year-old Gabriel, life in his comfortable expatriate neighborhood of Bujumbura with his French father, Rwandan mother and little sister Ana, is something close to paradise. These are carefree days of laughter and adventure - sneaking Supermatch cigarettes and gorging on stolen mangoes - as he and his mischievous gang of friends transform their tiny cul-de-sac into their kingdom.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing prose
- By Anonymous User on 01-19-23
By: Gaël Faye
Publisher's summary
This compelling memoir describes Elsa van der Byl’s life in South Africa during apartheid, the transition to democracy, and the transformational period. As an educator, she worked with various cultural groups in the so-called homelands, experiencing student revolts, college closures, and being held hostage by students.
Listeners are regaled with interesting incidents when, as choir director, Elsa promoted black cultural festivals and interaction with white institutions. Also interwoven are impartial political observations and coping with crime. She also shares her experiences, moving from the city to country towns, and finally living in the “bush”.
Elsa van der Byl’s career in South Africa spans many years, teaching languages and music at schools and becoming acting rector of a college of education. She helped transform educational programs and served on several educational committees before accepting a contract as a visiting international teacher in the USA. The daughter of a famous South African comedian, Piet Pompies, Elsa published the Afrikaans book, Piet wat Pompies was. Although based in the US, she has maintained strong ties with South Africa, taking small tour groups there through her company, TravelswithElsa (LLC). For a list of her travel articles and other publications, please visit travelswithelsa.com/elsa-the-author/.
Critic reviews
“Elsa’s adventures throughout South Africa - ranging from personal, social, and political all the way to encounters with the animal kingdom - provide adventure, hilarity, and keen insight into a largely untamed and often misunderstood land. Intriguing, entertaining, and often poignant, Hippos, Hotspots, and Homelands is a must for avid armchair travelers. (Amanda Turner, New York Times best-selling author)
“Elsa is a captivating storyteller who turns her readers into invisible companions, drawing them into a gripping world of adventure, challenges, and extraordinary experiences.” (Hennie Maas, well-known South African media creator, radio announcer, and producer)
Related to this topic
-
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun
- A Memoir of Africa
- By: Peter Godwin
- Narrated by: Peter Godwin
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 74
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 66
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 64
After his father's heart attack in 1984, Peter Godwin began a series of pilgrimages back to Zimbabwe, the land of his birth, from Manhattan, where he now lives. On these frequent visits to check on his elderly parents, he bore witness to Zimbabwe's dramatic spiral downward into the jaws of violent chaos, presided over by an increasingly enraged dictator. And yet long after their comfortable lifestyle had been shattered and millions were fleeing, his parents refuse to leave, steadfast in their allegiance to the failed state that has been their adopted home for 50 years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Worth the listen.
- By SEE on 09-06-21
By: Peter Godwin
-
Wide-Open World
- How Volunteering Around the Globe Changed One Family's Lives Forever
- By: John Marshall
- Narrated by: John Marshall
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 31
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
John Marshall had read about the growth of voluntourism, and frankly, it was the only kind of extended trip he could afford. He'd heard that some peoples' lives were changed by a week of overseas service - what might half a year accomplish for his family? His wife, Traca, was all in favor of it; his kids, especially his 14-year-old daughter, were strongly opposed. Wide-Open World is the totally engaging, bluntly honest story of the Marshall family's life-changing adventure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I enjoyed every minute
- By Chris on 05-15-15
By: John Marshall
-
The House at Sugar Beach
- A Memoir
- By: Helene Cooper
- Narrated by: Helene Cooper
- Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 304
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 186
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 186
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.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Can't recommend it
- By Taryn on 03-25-16
By: Helene Cooper
-
The Masked Rider
- Cycling in West Africa
- By: Neil Peart
- Narrated by: Brian Sutherland
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 482
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 425
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 425
The prolific drummer for the rock band Rush travels through African villages, both large and small, and relates his story through journal entries and tales of adventure, while simultaneously addressing issues such as differences in culture, psychology, and labels. Literary and artistic sidekicks such as Aristotle, Dante, and Van Gogh join Peart and his cycling companions, reminding the listener that this is not just another travel book - it is a story of both external and introspective discovery and adventure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating Trip Across Cameroon
- By Diann Sedam on 11-26-19
By: Neil Peart
-
Golden Bones
- An Extraordinary Journey from Hell in Cambodia to a New Life in America
- By: Sichan Siv
- Narrated by: David Thorn
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 49
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 44
In Cambodia in the 1960s, Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge declared war on their own people, enslaving and slaughtering anybody who disagreed with them. Sichan Siv knew he would soon be a target - ending up, perhaps, as one of the millions of anonymous human skeletons buried in his nation's Killing Fields - so he heeded his mother's pleas and ran. Captured and forced to perform slave labor, Siv feared that he'd be worked to death or killed. But he never abandoned hope or his improbable dream of freedom - a dream that liberated him.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Misleading Publisher’s Summary
- By Chris on 05-01-18
By: Sichan Siv
-
At Home in the World
- Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe
- By: Tsh Oxenreider
- Narrated by: Tsh Oxenreider
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 436
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 388
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 387
As Tsh Oxenreider, author of Notes from a Blue Bike, chronicles her family's adventure around the world. Seeing, smelling, and tasting the widely varying cultures along the way, she discovers what it truly means to be at home.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Having traveled the world as a kid myself.....
- By kmk on 07-31-17
By: Tsh Oxenreider
-
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun
- A Memoir of Africa
- By: Peter Godwin
- Narrated by: Peter Godwin
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 74
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 66
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 64
After his father's heart attack in 1984, Peter Godwin began a series of pilgrimages back to Zimbabwe, the land of his birth, from Manhattan, where he now lives. On these frequent visits to check on his elderly parents, he bore witness to Zimbabwe's dramatic spiral downward into the jaws of violent chaos, presided over by an increasingly enraged dictator. And yet long after their comfortable lifestyle had been shattered and millions were fleeing, his parents refuse to leave, steadfast in their allegiance to the failed state that has been their adopted home for 50 years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Worth the listen.
- By SEE on 09-06-21
By: Peter Godwin
-
Wide-Open World
- How Volunteering Around the Globe Changed One Family's Lives Forever
- By: John Marshall
- Narrated by: John Marshall
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 31
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
John Marshall had read about the growth of voluntourism, and frankly, it was the only kind of extended trip he could afford. He'd heard that some peoples' lives were changed by a week of overseas service - what might half a year accomplish for his family? His wife, Traca, was all in favor of it; his kids, especially his 14-year-old daughter, were strongly opposed. Wide-Open World is the totally engaging, bluntly honest story of the Marshall family's life-changing adventure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I enjoyed every minute
- By Chris on 05-15-15
By: John Marshall
-
The House at Sugar Beach
- A Memoir
- By: Helene Cooper
- Narrated by: Helene Cooper
- Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 304
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 186
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 186
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.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Can't recommend it
- By Taryn on 03-25-16
By: Helene Cooper
-
The Masked Rider
- Cycling in West Africa
- By: Neil Peart
- Narrated by: Brian Sutherland
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 482
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 425
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 425
The prolific drummer for the rock band Rush travels through African villages, both large and small, and relates his story through journal entries and tales of adventure, while simultaneously addressing issues such as differences in culture, psychology, and labels. Literary and artistic sidekicks such as Aristotle, Dante, and Van Gogh join Peart and his cycling companions, reminding the listener that this is not just another travel book - it is a story of both external and introspective discovery and adventure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating Trip Across Cameroon
- By Diann Sedam on 11-26-19
By: Neil Peart
-
Golden Bones
- An Extraordinary Journey from Hell in Cambodia to a New Life in America
- By: Sichan Siv
- Narrated by: David Thorn
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 49
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 44
In Cambodia in the 1960s, Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge declared war on their own people, enslaving and slaughtering anybody who disagreed with them. Sichan Siv knew he would soon be a target - ending up, perhaps, as one of the millions of anonymous human skeletons buried in his nation's Killing Fields - so he heeded his mother's pleas and ran. Captured and forced to perform slave labor, Siv feared that he'd be worked to death or killed. But he never abandoned hope or his improbable dream of freedom - a dream that liberated him.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Misleading Publisher’s Summary
- By Chris on 05-01-18
By: Sichan Siv
-
At Home in the World
- Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe
- By: Tsh Oxenreider
- Narrated by: Tsh Oxenreider
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 436
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 388
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 387
As Tsh Oxenreider, author of Notes from a Blue Bike, chronicles her family's adventure around the world. Seeing, smelling, and tasting the widely varying cultures along the way, she discovers what it truly means to be at home.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Having traveled the world as a kid myself.....
- By kmk on 07-31-17
By: Tsh Oxenreider
-
Fast Times in Palestine
- A Love Affair with a Homeless Homeland
- By: Pamela J. Olson
- Narrated by: Julia Farhat
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 37
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33
Pamela Olson, a small town girl from eastern Oklahoma, had what she always wanted: a physics degree from Stanford University. But instead of feeling excited for what came next, she felt consumed by dread and confusion. This irresistible memoir chronicles her journey from aimless ex-bartender to Ramallah-based journalist and foreign press coordinator for a Palestinian presidential candidate.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Palestine from the Inside—and Out
- By Susie on 11-04-13
By: Pamela J. Olson
-
Driving Miss Norma
- One Family's Journey Saying ""Yes"" to Living
- By: Tim Bauerschmidt, Ramie Liddle
- Narrated by: Christopher Grove, Nan McNamara
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 215
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 186
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 188
When Miss Norma was diagnosed with uterine cancer, she was advised to undergo surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But instead of confining herself to a hospital bed for what could be her last stay, Norma - newly widowed after nearly seven decades of marriage - rose to her full height of five feet and told her doctor, "I'm 90 years old. I'm hitting the road." Packing what she needed, Norma took off on an unforgettable cross-country journey with three professional nomads - her retired son, Tim; his wife, Ramie; and their standard poodle, Ringo.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
so moving and inspiring
- By Travis Stone on 07-10-19
By: Tim Bauerschmidt, and others
-
Indonesia, Etc.
- Exploring the Improbable Nation
- By: Elizabeth Pisani
- Narrated by: Jan Cramer
- Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 183
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 152
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 151
Bewitched by Indonesia for twenty-five years, Elizabeth Pisani recently traveled 26,000 miles around the archipelago in search of the links that bind this impossibly disparate nation. Fearless and funny, Pisani shares her deck space with pigs and cows, bunks down in a sulfurous volcano, and takes tea with a corpse. Along the way, she observes Big Men with child brides, debates corruption and cannibalism, and ponders "sticky" traditions that cannot be erased.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Bill Bryson channels Margaret Mead
- By John S. on 09-01-14
By: Elizabeth Pisani
-
Home Sweet Anywhere
- How We Sold Our House, Created a New Life, and Saw the World
- By: Lynne Martin
- Narrated by: Lynne Martin
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 251
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 229
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 232
Reunited in love after 35 years and suffering from a serious case of pre-retirement wanderlust, Lynne and Tim Martin made a life-altering decision: They sold their house and possessions and hit the road to live internationally full-time. Now tethered to nothing but their suitcases, each other, and their next exotic location, they've never looked back. From sky-high pyramids in Mexico to monkeys in Marrakech, this delightful, inspiring memoir is a romantic tale of derring-do for grown-ups and a road map for anyone who dreams of turning the idea of life abroad into a reality.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
She makes it sound SO unappealing!
- By Barbara on 05-18-14
By: Lynne Martin
-
Nurse, Come You Here!
- More True Stories of a Country Nurse on a Scottish Isle
- By: Mary J. MacLeod
- Narrated by: Jill Tanner
- Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 489
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 446
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 445
Mary J. Macleod and her husband left the London area for an idyllic place to raise their young children in the late '60s, and they found the island of Papavray in the Scottish Hebrides. There they bought a croft house on a "small acre" of land, and Mary J. (also known as Julia) became the district nurse.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Great book!
- By Catt Pataky on 09-02-17
By: Mary J. MacLeod
-
Something Fierce
- Memoirs of a Revolutionary Daughter
- By: Carmen Aguirre
- Narrated by: Carmen Aguirre
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 27
Carmen Aguirre was six-year-old when she and her family fled to Canada following General Augusto Pinochet’s violent 1973 coup in Chile. She was only eleven-years-old when her mother and stepfather joined the resistance movement and returned to South America, taking Carmen and her sister went with them. As their mother and stepfather set up a safe house for resistance members in La Paz, Bolivia, the girls' own double lives began. At 18, Carmen became a militant herself, plunging further into a world of terror, paranoia and euphoria.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
revolutionary read
- By David Brown on 04-05-18
By: Carmen Aguirre
-
One Year Off
- Leaving It All Behind for a Round-the-World Journey with Our Children
- By: David Cohen
- Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 24
In One Year Off, you can join the family on a trek up a Costa Rican volcano, cruise the canals of Burgundy by houseboat, and ride ferries through the Greek Islands. Later, as the Cohens wander further off the tourist trail, you can drive through the villages of Rajasthan, traverse the vast Australian Nullarbor, and discover the charms of Cambodia's Angkor Wat and the hidden shangri-las of northern Laos.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
fun filled travellog
- By tarun on 07-22-19
By: David Cohen
-
Running with the Kenyans
- Passion, Adventure, and the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth
- By: Adharanand Finn
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 648
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 575
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 576
Whether running is your recreation, your religion, or just a spectator sport, Adharanand Finn’s incredible journey to the elite training camps of Kenya will captivate and inspire you. Part travelogue, part memoir, this mesmerizing quest to uncover the secrets of the world’s greatest runners - and put them to the test - combines practical advice, a fresh look at barefoot running, and hard-won spiritual insights.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
His Curiosity is Contagious
- By Sharlene on 01-28-13
By: Adharanand Finn
-
Land of a Thousand Hills
- My Life in Rwanda
- By: Rosamond Halsey Carr, Ann Halsey Howard - contributor
- Narrated by: C. M. Hébert
- Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 196
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 181
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 181
When Rosamond Halsey Carr first arrived in Africa, she didn't realize that she would spend the rest of her life there. As a young fashion illustrator living in New York City in the 1940s, she seemed the least likely candidate for such a life of adventure. But marriage to a hunter-explorer took her to what was then the Belgian Congo, and divorce left her determined to stay on in neighboring Rwanda as the manager of a flower plantation.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Wow... just, wow... (not a good wow)
- By Jankow on 01-04-21
By: Rosamond Halsey Carr, and others
-
Mao's Last Dancer
- Young Readers' Edition
- By: Li Cunxin
- Narrated by: Paul English
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 56
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 50
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 52
One day, not so very many years ago, a small peasant boy was chosen to study ballet at the Beijing Dance Academy. His mother urged him to take this chance of a lifetime. But Li was only eleven years old and he was scared and lonely, pushed away from all that he had ever known and loved. He hated the strict training routines and the strange place he had been brought to. All he wanted to do was go home - to his mother, father, and six brothers, to his own small village. But soon Li realised that his mother was right. He had the chance to do something special with his life - and he never turned back.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Happiness rising from the injustise
- By Natasha on 10-29-13
By: Li Cunxin
-
Whirligig
- By: Paul Fleischman
- Narrated by: Robert Field, Lily Christian, Alex Hauk, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 259
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 220
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 222
Newbery Medal winner Paul Fleischman writes a profoundly moving story of connectedness and the journey of a young soul to self-discovery. Told through the voices of five characters and narrated by age-appropriate actors, Whirligig compels the listener with its lesson on how our actions can impact the lives of others - even years later. A stunningly authentic listening experience.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fabulous
- By Tim on 03-21-17
By: Paul Fleischman
-
The Great Spring
- Writing, Zen, and This ZigZag Life
- By: Natalie Goldberg
- Narrated by: Natalie Goldberg
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 30
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 30
What does it take to have a long writing life? Drawing on her years of writing, teaching, and practicing Zen, Natalie Goldberg shares the experiences that have opened her to new ways of being alive - experiences that point the way forward in our lives and our writing. The "great spring" of this book title refers to the great rush of energy that arrives when you think no life will ever come again - the early yellow flowering forsythia, for example.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
An enjoyable insight
- By Leigh A on 05-22-23
By: Natalie Goldberg
What listeners say about Hippos, Hotspots, and Homelands: An Educator’s Journey in South Africa During Apartheid and Beyond
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Loretta H.
- 03-07-22
A fun and moving documentary!
This is a wonderful tale of living in the Homeland, capturing the beauty and sadness of S. Africa during Apartheid as experienced by a musician and educator. If you have ever wanted to travel to this beautiful and awe-inspiring country you will love this book. Music educators and music lovers will appreciate it even more as you hear Mrs. Van Der Byl’s challenges and joys making music come alive with her students and neighbors.
Loretta H.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amanda Johnston
- 05-11-22
Nice book
Interesting memoir from a teacher on apartheid in South Africa. Worth the time to listen in!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!