Enjoying the sun

Since this seems to be the best day of the week I'm taking it relatively easy today and enjoy the sun on my balcony. I finished yesterday's book and can really recommend it, if you can stomach the camp-stories. The contents of the book can also be seen in a Dutch documentary with English subtitles, on Youtube..

In today's blip I show you a book I read earlier, but had't shared yet. "Bakhita", the life story of a seven year old girl from Sudan who gets captured and sold as a slave in the 19th century. You'd think I choose all kind of hardship books right now.... It's just that I see them by chance and am drawn to them. I really need to find something lighthearted to read, especially in these times. 

Here's my review of "Bakhita", written by Veronique Olmi. (available in English with the same title):

An awesome and tragic story. True, for the most part of it. The author used true facts to begin with and filled in the missing gaps with fiction, so it is a work of fiction.

Bakhita was taken as a slave when she was 7 years old and had a tragic life because of it. Life got better when she ended up in Italy and especially after she stood her ground and didn't want to stay with her boss (read: owner), but in stead wanted to remain in a convent. As Italy didn't allow slavery she got her way. But it was a very brave thing to do.

Not that life in the convent was easy... As soon as she settled in a routine they changed it all over again. And they used her being black as a promotion of their convent, regardless of her feelings. Her life was being recorded by a journalist which made her an item to be seen, as an animal in the zoo.

It is due this recording that we know so much about her life and the book is very interesting.But not a happy read.