Based on actual events, the camel bookmobile tells. The camel bookmobile masha hamilton paperback fiona sweeney wants to do something that matters, and she chooses to make her mark in the arid bush of northeastern kenya. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Today, she would not be disturbed by thoughts of uncles whose minds resembled mud pools, or lurking husbands or pointless chores. By helping to start a traveling library, she hopes to bring the words of homer, hemingway, and dr. Cultures clash in the camel bookmobile, good intentions may be misplaced or not. Read free book excerpt from the camel bookmobile by masha hamilton, page 1 of 2. Masha hamilton the camel bookmobile video dailymotion. Her intentions are entirely pure but, when the bookmobile causes a feud among the nomadic tribe it aims to help, she realizes her good deeds may come with a high price.
Cookbooks, novels, parenting booksthey all matter to fiona fi sweeney, a librarian from brooklyn searching for fulfillment atop a book laden camel in the arid and dangerous bush of kenya. But to some it represents the inevitable destruction of a fragile way of life. Seuss to farflung tiny communities where people live daily with drought, hunger, and disease. Veteran reporter and twotime novelist masha hamilton s latest book takes readers into the remotest areas of the african continent to explore what happens when modern western traditions are introduced into the very fabric of a third world, traditionally nomadic society. Hamiltons captivating third novel after 2004s the distance between us follows fiona sweeney, a 36yearold librarian, from new york to. Her intentions are honorable, and her rules are firm.
Masha hamilton used this service as a background for her 2007 novel the camel bookmobile. The camel bookmobile masha hamilton, 2007 harpercollins 336 pp. Synopsis once a fortnight, the nomadic settlement of madidima, set deep in the dusty kenyan desert, awaits the arrival of three camels laden down with panniers of books. And they do it in a way that all readers can enjoy and understand book. Masha hamilton s long experience reporting all over the world informs her work. She would begin the morning with the speed and joy of a wellaimed spear, and that would make the moments fly faster until the camel bookmobile and. Masha hamilton once a fortnight, the nomadic settlement of madidima, set deep in the dusty kenyan desert, awaits the arrival of three camels laden with panniers of books. The distance between us, 2004 named one of the best books of the year by library journal, the camel bookmobile, 2007 also a booksense pick, and 31 hours, named by the washington post as one of the best books. Masha hamilton s compelling third novel, the camel bookmobile, leaves no room for doubt. The camel bookmobile hardcover deckle edge, april 3, 2007. The camel bookmobile by masha hamilton books hachette. In this vivid, absorbing novel, masha hamilton transports her readers, even more surely than the camels do books, to the village of mididima and the struggle between traditional values and western education.
The homepage of novelist and journalist masha hamilton, author of staircase of a thousand steps, the distance between us and the camel bookmobile. The camel bookmobile is a brave and astonishing novel. Fiona sweeney wants to do something that matters, and she chooses to make her mark in the arid bush of northeastern kenya. Masha hamilton once a fortnight the setlement of madidima set deep in the dusty kenyan desert, awaits the arrival of a train of camels laden down with panniers of books. A novel paperback april 1, 2008 by masha hamilton author. Buy the camel bookmobile book online at low prices in. To kanika, who reads every book she can lay her hands on, the camel bookmobile brings hope. Cookbooks, novels, parenting booksthey all matter to fiona fi sweeney, a librarian from brooklyn searching for fulfillment atop a bookladen camel. The distance between us, 2004 named one of the best books of the year by library journal, the camel bookmobile, 2007 also a booksense pick, and 31 hours.
Masha hamilton has opened my eyes to how books can also change entire communities, and not always in the ways one might expect. The camel bookmobile is a triumphant tale of the indomitable human spirit similar in feeling and themes to the immensely popular slumdog millionaire. Richly peopled, full of conflicts and surprises, the camel bookmobile made me think and feel in all the best ways. Masha hamilton is a united states journalist and the author of five novels. Here she acknowledges the mundane reality that things do fall apart, but it is effort and intention that make the meaning of things. What changes everything, 31 hours, the camel bookmobile, the distance between us, and staircase of a thousand steps. Once a fortnight, the nomadic settlement of madidima, set deep in the dusty kenyan desert, awaits the arrival of three camels laden down with panniers of books. She lives with her family in new york city in from the publisher.
The camel bookmobile made its first run almost a decade ago. The camel bookmobile by masha hamilton thriftbooks. Masha hamiltons compelling third novel, the camel bookmobile, leaves no room for doubt. Looking for adventure, american librarian fiona sweeney travels to northeast kenya to travel by camel bookmobile, bringing books to nomadic peoples caught between the tug of tradition and. The camel bookmobile vibrates with the life and landscape of africa. The distance between us, 2004 named one of the best books of the year by library journal, the camel bookmobile, 2007 also a booksense pick, and 31 hours, named by the washington post as one of the best. Based on true events, author hamilton creates fiction in a place where we can taste the dust, swelter under the sun, know the people and care about them. Three dromedaries trudged through dusty, arid northeastern kenya near the border with somalia to bring a library to settlements so tiny and farflung theyd become nearly invisible. The camel bookmobile by hamilton, masha and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. She founded two world literacy projects, and has worked as head of communications for the us embassy in afghanistan and the ngo concern worldwide us. Hamilton s novel brings to light the different ways in which cultures learn, illuminating both the oral and written traditions, and underlines the importance of global understanding. When fiona sweeney tells her family she wants to do something that matters, they do the camel bookmobile follows an american librarian who travels to the arid bush of northeastern kenya to give meaning to her life, but ultimately loses a piece of her heart. This is the camel bookmobile, a scheme set up to bring books to scattered tribes whose daily life is dominated by drought, famine and disease. Volunteer fi sweeney, her heart filled with passion and possibilities, is surprised to discover that the project divides friends and neighbours.
A journalist and world traveler, she is the founder of two international literacy organizations, the camel book. Masha hamilton the camel bookmobile book group expo book group expo these authors take philanthropy and innovation to new levels intellectually and sociologically. Fiona sweeney wants to do something that matters, and she. Basically, the author of the camel bookmobile masha hamilton and her colleagues are attempting to educate pastoral nomads in kenyas isolated. In the camel bookmobile, masha hamilton tells the story of a restless american librarian searching for more meaning in her life who travels to africa to help start a library carrying books to remote settlements on the backs of camels. Buy the camel bookmobile book online at best prices in india on. Three dromedaries trudged through dusty, arid northeastern kenya near the border with somalia. Hamiltons latest novel, the camel bookmobile, has a quieter provenance. The camel bookmobile has been published in the uk, holland, italy, taiwan and china. The camel bookmobile by masha hamilton published april 2007 by harpercollins source. The camel bookmobile follows an american librarian who travels to the arid bush of northeastern kenya to give meaning to her life, but ultimately loses a piece.
Photos show masha with the camel bookmobile in kenya during her trip in february 2006. In kenya, books are delivered to remote villages by camel a. Ultimately, it is a novel about respecting that which is different from our own, learning from those differences, and finding value in all forms of life and culture. The camel bookmobile is masha hamiltons third book following her excellent 2004 novel, the distance between us. The camel bookmobile is a fictional tale of an american librarian who leaves brooklyn to work for a relief organization in africa that sends books on the backs of camels to forgotten villages. The camel bookmobile by masha hamilton fiction about.
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