Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
by Alexandra Fuller
★★★★
In her memoir of growing up in Africa, Fuller paints a
vivid and unflinching portrait of her unconventional childhood. Alexandra, who
goes by Bobo, lived with her parents and sister in Rhodesia in the midst of
Civil War in the 1970s. The daily dangers they face become the norm as they
grow up.
The style of the book reminded me quite a bit of The
Liar’s Club and The Glass Castle. All three are similar tales of a somewhat
neglected upbringing. This one is more extreme because it’s in Africa. The
threat of terrorists and war increases the danger, but the struggle of a child
growing up with alcoholic and selfish parents is a universal one.
Loss is a major theme throughout the book. Bobo and her
family lose multiple children and at times their grief overwhelms them. Some of
the surreal experiences Fuller describes almost seem normal when she writes
about them. Certain aspects remind you that they are not anywhere near the
western world, like the sanitary conditions, which were appalling. The kids
constantly had worms or fleas and were often left to fend for themselves.
The circumstances of their life felt so foreign. There
was no structure. Their existence depended on the whims of their irresponsible
parents. Bobo’s older sister Vanessa was a somewhat stable force in her life.
She seemed to understand more about what was happening, but she protected her
sister as much as she could.
BOTTOM LINE: I love reading memoirs that give me a
glimpse into a completely foreign life and this one did just that. I don’t envy
Fuller’s childhood, but it was fascinating to read about.
“The land itself, of course, was careless of its name. It still is. You can call it what you like, fight all the wars you want in its name. Change its name altogether if you like. The land is still unblinking under the African sky. It will absorb white man's blood and the blood of African men, it will absorb blood from slaughtered cattle and the blood from a woman's birthing with equal thirst. It doesn't care.”
