Peggielene Bartels

Took me long enough to finish, but I really enjoyed this memoir, an engrossing insider's look at Ghanaian culture. I learned so much about this part of West Africa, especially the experience of living in an animistic religious system.

The episodes and characters are slightly cartoonish and played up for comic effect - although part of this is simply the wackiness of life in a small fishing village. For the most part Bartels and her coauthor humanize the setting and characters, and the result is a book that feels personal, not saccharine or exotic.

I would definitely recommend the audio version, as reader J. Karen Thomas does a fantabulous job with the voice-acting.

A fun, satisfying read that gives life to a (willfully) misunderstood region of the world.… (plus d'informations)

This book came with an audiotape collection of other stories; I would not have selected it otherwise and thereby I would have missed a good tale. I assumed it was going to be about a white American enamoured of the chance to become royalty. The truth is far different. Peggy was born in Africa, though she works at an embassy in the US. Becoming a 'king' in Africa is not glamorous. In fact, the king is responsible for the welfare of her people, and she was hard pressed to meet the expected obligations. Because she was locally born, she was part of the culture and very aware of the watchful eye of the ancestors who would be very displeased and make life difficult if she did not follow protocol.
Although it took several years, she was able to use her knowledge of the way the world works to bring in some NGOs who provided a well and a school for her community.
A great lesson in life for any reader, read with an expresssively accented voice.… (plus d'informations)

This book chronicles Peggilene Bartels' experience serving as a 'king' of her home village in Ghana, while also working as a secretary in the US. She learns of her ascension through a late-night phone call and soon discovers that her new role will provide both financial and personal challenges. Through the support of her communities in both the US and Africa, she prevails over corruption and sexism to improve the lives of the residents of Otuam.
It's beautifully written (if sometimes going into more detail on the family heritage and customs than might be truly necessary) and compelling.… (plus d'informations)