Ruby's World by Karen Baldwin

 

Karen Baldwin's masterful memoir reads like a suspense thriller as this resolute American woman of "a certain age" journeys alone to South Africa to teach Zulu children. There she encounters a stunning resistance to change from those who invited her. Baldwin's writing is candid, taut and relentless, as waves of cultural tension build to an unforeseen crisis that tests her courage and strength. -Phaedra Greenwood, Award Winning Journalist Karen Baldwin, through raw, honest, and vibrant writing, shares her journey to teach children in South Africa. Her good intentions are met by strong traditions and a real Africa-not an illusion or romanticized world-where nothing is wasted and there is little personal space. Baldwin's journey reveals the similarities in Zulu and American families' joys, pain, deception and love. -Dr. Andrea M. Heckman, PhD, Cultural Anthropologist, University of New Mexico An extraordinary story, beautifully told. Baldwin's account of her adventure in Africa is honest, moving, frequently funny, sometimes startling, and always compelling. This is a journey of faith, and it carries the reader along every twist and turn in that journey with remarkable clarity and grace. -Sean Murphy, Author, The Time of New Weather

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My Review

Karen Baldwin has written a wonderful memoir of her trip to South Africa.  I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to review this remarkable story and not just enjoy it, but also glean so much knowledge about the cultural differences.  I had the opportunity to experience something I'd most likely never have gotten to otherwise even glimpse at.  You felt everything Karen went through, as her heart broke for the way the Zulu culture treated their women, I felt her pain and ached as well.  I can't say enough about this book, Ms. Baldwin you are a very talented writer, words cannot express how blessed I feel having been given a glimpse into your life.  May God continue to bless you! 

About the Author

  

The author and global volunteer Karen Baldwin recently was appointed the Ambassador for the Rural Women’s Movement of South Africa working to obtain basic human rights for the women and children of South Africa. She’ll be speaking to the United Nations Commission hearings on the Status of Women with Sizani Ngubane, the executive director and founder of RWM early next year. Karen was recently interviewed by NBC affiliate, KOB in Albuquerque, NM. Airing September 18 - Link:http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2767979.shtml?cat=11121

Karen is a breast cancer and heart attack survivor (October Breast Cancer Awareness Month). These are the two deadliest killers of women. Karen took her surviving as a sign to help women and children prompting her trip to Africa. Her story is inspirational. 

 

Review written by Simone