There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey To Rescue Africa's Children
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend My book about Mrs. Haregewoin Teferra, the story of a remarkable woman who opened her doors to Addis Ababa's orphaned children, is finished, but the vast landscape of the orphaned children flows on. On a recent return visit to Addis Ababa, I found I could not lay aside the impetus to see and to understand, the impetus to try to act, to try to bear witness. Product details and pricing info |
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40 Customer Reviews Posted
- Incredibly powerful read!!!
- You will not find a better resourced, current assessment of the crisis hitting Ethiopia and many African countries. I was moved beyond words after hearing Melissa Fay Greene's journey to adopt her children from Ethiopia. I just wish I had read it a few months earlier (impossible, since we were actually in Addis bringing home our beautiful 3 year old son when the book was released). She gives a powerful account of life in Addis and the surrounding villages, and the effect of poverty, lack of healthcare and education have on the littlest of its people. Treatable diseased like Malaria, TB, and AIDS are fatal in countries like Ethiopia with little to no access to medicines and reliable health care. Children are becoming orphaned every minute, and we must respond as a people to assist families at all levels. If you are even considering an international or domestic adoption, this book is a MUST read.
- 2006-11-11, 6 of 6 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- A haunting tale
- Melissa Fay Greene leads her readers on the achingly beautiful journey of a woman who finds herself when all is lost. She seamlessly weaves painful, ugly facts with heart wrenching hope. With a writing style allows you to imagine this story is being whispered in your ear, this tale will haunt you.
- 2006-11-10, 8 of 8 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- An engrossing read
- Terribly compelling story, written beautifully. The image of the starving boy, his head bowed from the effort of smiling at his caretaker, is forever etched in my mind.
- 2006-11-10, 3 of 3 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Prepare to be challenged and changed!
- This is the first book review I've written since about sixth grade. That is how strongly I feel about Melissa Fay Greene's new book. She tells the story of so many amazing people working to make a difference in the current desperation of Ethiopia. Her description of grief from a child or adult's perspective will literally knock you over. My husband and I wept through some of the experiences she tells. The amazing thing about this book, though, is that while her writing is honest and beautiful, she also masterfully weaves in the background that gives us a world context for the individual stories she writes of. She educates and enlightens us about the politics, history, and science that affect the current state of AIDS in Africa. At a time when Americans have almost forgotten the horror of AIDS, this is the most important book of our time. I don't believe you can read "There is No Me Without You" and not be challenged to act. You will find yourself considering adoption, activism, missionary work, or at least supporting the people who act on their beliefs. You will have the passion and the most up-to-date information on AIDS available to educate those around you about what is really going on, and what could help. I considered myself a compassionate and aware person before, but I can never be the same after reading Ms. Greene's book. I truly hope that anyone who ever considered adoption will pick this up. You won't regret it, and neither will the lives that you choose to touch because of "There is No Me Without You".
- 2006-11-01, 11 of 11 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Inspiring and Enlightening
- Melissa Fay Greene's book is a voice for the millions of orphans unable to speak or understand the brutal reality that is their everyday life. Her diligent research and personal observation has given us insight to a devastation so alarming that it seems incomprehensible that humanity hasn't moved beyond the table talk to actively control the "pandemic". The author introduces us to a woman of remarkable courage, service and commitment as she struggles to heal from her personal losses by opening her heart to orphaned children with a renewed spirit and purpose. I am grateful to the author for tackling a social issue of perplexing magnitude with respect, sincerity and fact.
- 2006-10-15, 7 of 7 people found this review helpful, Rated:
