Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “This is a moving portrait of a remarkable young woman, an intimate portrait of a struggling African village, and a tribute to the resiliency of women everywhere.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“This is a moving portrait of a remarkable young woman, an intimate portrait of a struggling African village, and a tribute to the resiliency of women everywhere.”
Nancy B wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“My Peace Corp Veteran Aunt had me read this.
Kathleen K wrote this review Wednesday, September 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I enjoyed it, I liked how it mixed the story with facts and information.
”
“Thank you, Andrea! I really enjoyed it.”
Catherine G wrote this review Monday, March 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I loved this book! I loved how the author, Kris Holloway-Bidwell didn't just talk about the devastating things happening in Mali but more about change and improvement. Kris painted a lovely picture of a beautiful Malian midwife, Monique and her dynamic character. I wish I could have known Monique. Her spirit and goodness inspires me to reach for more in life. She sounded like a saint, we need more Monique's around! I'm glad Monique's story was told to learn about her and all of her good deeds and female rights.”
Jenny V wrote this review Monday, September 22 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I saw it recommended and we actually had it at our library. It was good and a quick read. It was basically about a Peace Corp volunteer who spent 2 years with a midwife in Mali. It was interesting to hear some of the western medicine things that they thought were like magic.”
Gabby H wrote this review Wednesday, September 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Monique and the Mango Rains is the moving account of Kris Holloway's experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, West Africa, assisting Monique Dembele, the area's local midwife and medical worker. In the crippling poverty of Mali, Monique and Kris work to help Mali's women and children in times of medical distress. From the birthing of babies to relationship counselling, fending off disease and infection to nutrition education, Monique labors ceaselessly and tirelessly. Her work builds a reputation far and wide that draws women from distant villages seeking her expert help. Kris, while adapting to her harsh environment, becomes more than just an assistant to Monique, experiencing with her the joy of her work and her relationships with the local women. She shares the anguish and disappointment of Monique's life outside the clinic and the close bond of her host family in Africa, becoming a friend to this inspiring woman. As Monique and Kris work to bring education and information to the women, they must broach sensitive topics like birth-control, AIDS, and abolishment of female circumcision. These topics, foreign to the local women, directly affect the survival of the community, and they work tirelessly to educate and inform the women while still dealing with the malnutrition, illness, and injury that besiege them every day.
Heather F wrote this review Friday, August 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The candid portrayal of life in the small village was very informative and interesting. I learned a great deal about the regions politics, the African society, and the general day to day existence of the small provincial village. The backbreaking work that the community must endure to prepare for the seasonal rains that fortify their village was explained in rich detail, making the story of the community's struggle for their survival come alive to the reader. Every hand is needed to plant and harvest the life giving crops that will sustain the villagers in the dry season. Monique's inexhaustible commitment to her patients and to her family was awe-inspiring. Her work to repair the birthing house, her bi-weekly weighing of babies, and her educational instruction to mothers for the care of their children was invaluable to the women of her community. Monique's story, though inspirational, was also fraught with sadness. The relationship between her and her husband, who she only calls le gars (the guy) is upsetting and one-sided. While Monique provides the money, care and stability, her husband takes and takes from her, never realizing the treasure that he is entrusted with. Monique works long and trying hours at the clinic, barely scraping by financially, with her young son tied to her back. Though at times the story was sad, there were real moments of joy and laughter throughout this book, from the triumphant birth of twins in an area where a double birth is almost unheard of, to Monique's musings on an airplane ride, I found myself smiling and laughing with Kris and Monique. Monique and Kris's friendship continued even after Kris's time in the peace corps ended, and straddled two different continents and many years.
This was a remarkable story of a remarkable woman. It encompassed the difficulties, differences and uniqueness of African culture that goes unnoticed by most Americans. I found Monique to be a fascinating woman who gave her heart and soul to the people who relied on her for their daily survival. This book was written in part to document the work that Kris did at Monique's side, but more than this, it was written as a homage to her great friend Monique. Monique truly touched Kris's life, and upon reading this book, I found she touched mine as well. Wonderful book, highly recommended.”
“This was a fabulous story I read with my book club that gave us insight into a completely different culture and way of life. Fascinating and intriguing the author shares the years she spent with Monique in a foreign land in a way that kept me turning the pages.”
Wisteria wrote this review Thursday, July 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A straight forward glimpse into life as a Peace Corp worker in Mali, W. Africa. This book also made me think about how women around the world are united by certain recurrent struggles.”
Andrea wrote this review Thursday, April 17 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Inspiring story of the experience of a young peace corps worker's friendship with a young midwife in a village in Mali, west Africa. Wonderful evocation of village life and the people living there.”
Anne B wrote this review Tuesday, April 1 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Monique and the Mango Rains is the true story of the life and death of a remarkable West African midwife, seen through the eyes of a young Peace Corps volunteer who worked side-by-side with her, birthing babies and caring for mothers, in a remote, impoverished village. It is a rare tale of friendship that reaches beyond borders to vividly and irrevocably unite another woman’s world with our own. ”
LiteraryVenturesFund wrote this review Wednesday, October 24 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
