About the Author
Kuki Gallman was born near Venice and studied political sciences at the University of Padua. Fascinated by Africa and influenced by her much loved father, she visited Kenya for the first time in 1970 and returned to live there in 1972.
As a tribute to the memory of her husband and son she founded the Gallman Memorial Foundation with the specific mandate of creating on Ol Ari Nyiro ranch at Laikipia an example of the harmonious co-existence of man and the environment through exploring new ways of combining development and conservation. The foundation promotes and sponsors the education of Kenyans.
An active conservationist, in 1989 she was awarded the Order of the Golden Ark by HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands for her major and continuing contribution to the survival of the black rhinoceros in Kenya and for promoting research work for nature conservation in general, with special attention to elephants and the use of local plants for medicinal purposes.
She lives on Ol Ari Nyiro ranch in Kenya with her daughter and eight dogs.
The Review
The book was a favourite read of the host of the evening who thought long and hard about offering the book to the group.
The authour writes with the spiritual freedom that one imagines that only living your dream would bring.
Some described Kuki as being priviledged, money appeared to be no object, and she balance unnervingly priviledge and recklessness, however it is recognised that Africa did attract this type of character.
The group however agreed that it was spiritual and beautifully wirtten. The language was expressive exquisitely descriptive even though it was her second language. It was in parts tortuously sad. Even though a couple of members had read the book previously the description of the sadness of the elephant was poignant and took the members by surprise, and had to stop reading in parts especially when on the tube!
The tragic death of Kuki's husband came as a great shock and her expressive writing described the raw emotions of her experience and the coming to terms with the loss of her husband and the birth of her daughter. The love that she describes for her husband is idealised and romanticised and together with her description of the grief and subsequent mourning that followed Paolo's death made these pages gut wrenchingly moving.
Emmanuele her son was a much adored child, although the recklessness played out in that he was allowed to play with snakes from a very young age, one member was shocked at the apparent absence of a 'snake kit' for when he went out alone in the bush to extract snake venom for anti venom serum.
Most people thought it was a very good book. The characters were strong and real and Kuki recaps as to who they were as they reappear over the years. She engages the reader in what transpires at every stage of her life a demonstration of sheer courage and determination. An unflagging spirit and genuinely inspirational personality.
Despite the criticism of the absence of a 'snake kit' all those present thought it was an excellent book well written and inspirational.
The choices for the next meeting are:
Villain by Shuichi Yoshida
The Twighlight Time by Karen Campbell
Fever in the Bone by Val McDermid
Acts of Violence by Ryan David John
Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigundardottir
The Last Child by John Hart
The group chose: Last Rituals
Kuki Gallman was born near Venice and studied political sciences at the University of Padua. Fascinated by Africa and influenced by her much loved father, she visited Kenya for the first time in 1970 and returned to live there in 1972.
As a tribute to the memory of her husband and son she founded the Gallman Memorial Foundation with the specific mandate of creating on Ol Ari Nyiro ranch at Laikipia an example of the harmonious co-existence of man and the environment through exploring new ways of combining development and conservation. The foundation promotes and sponsors the education of Kenyans.
An active conservationist, in 1989 she was awarded the Order of the Golden Ark by HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands for her major and continuing contribution to the survival of the black rhinoceros in Kenya and for promoting research work for nature conservation in general, with special attention to elephants and the use of local plants for medicinal purposes.
She lives on Ol Ari Nyiro ranch in Kenya with her daughter and eight dogs.
The Review
The book was a favourite read of the host of the evening who thought long and hard about offering the book to the group.
The authour writes with the spiritual freedom that one imagines that only living your dream would bring.
Some described Kuki as being priviledged, money appeared to be no object, and she balance unnervingly priviledge and recklessness, however it is recognised that Africa did attract this type of character.
The group however agreed that it was spiritual and beautifully wirtten. The language was expressive exquisitely descriptive even though it was her second language. It was in parts tortuously sad. Even though a couple of members had read the book previously the description of the sadness of the elephant was poignant and took the members by surprise, and had to stop reading in parts especially when on the tube!
The tragic death of Kuki's husband came as a great shock and her expressive writing described the raw emotions of her experience and the coming to terms with the loss of her husband and the birth of her daughter. The love that she describes for her husband is idealised and romanticised and together with her description of the grief and subsequent mourning that followed Paolo's death made these pages gut wrenchingly moving.
Emmanuele her son was a much adored child, although the recklessness played out in that he was allowed to play with snakes from a very young age, one member was shocked at the apparent absence of a 'snake kit' for when he went out alone in the bush to extract snake venom for anti venom serum.
Most people thought it was a very good book. The characters were strong and real and Kuki recaps as to who they were as they reappear over the years. She engages the reader in what transpires at every stage of her life a demonstration of sheer courage and determination. An unflagging spirit and genuinely inspirational personality.
Despite the criticism of the absence of a 'snake kit' all those present thought it was an excellent book well written and inspirational.
The choices for the next meeting are:
Villain by Shuichi Yoshida
The Twighlight Time by Karen Campbell
Fever in the Bone by Val McDermid
Acts of Violence by Ryan David John
Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigundardottir
The Last Child by John Hart
The group chose: Last Rituals
