Land of a Thousand Hills by Rosamond Halsey Carr

This book landed on my pile because we hosted an evening of Africa-philes and asked each to bring some book or film recommendation about Africa. I have really enjoyed those recommendations that I have read so far.

This is the narrative of Mrs. Carr's experiences in Africa from 1949 to the present. Most of this time she lived in the area where Rwanda, Zaire and Uganda meet. Ruanda went through hell during the period she describes, and although she doesn't pretend that it didn't occur, she focuses more on the beauty of the place and the resilience and grace of the good people she was fortunate enough to interact with.

I got a far better understanding of the history of the area and the tensions between tribes building to the ghastly events of the early 1990s. I also learned about the importance of pyrethrum as a crop for manufacturing insecticide and am wondering whether I can plant some in my vegetable bed to discourage unwelcome visitors.

Good company for someone wanting some more background on Rwanda.