A review by cmjustice
Crossing the Heart of Africa: An Odyssey of Love and Adventure by Julian Smith

3.0

I have mixed feelings about this book. He carries the historical narrative well, rehashing the incredible odyssey that was Grogan's journey. However I found his own story at times, less than compelling and pathetically indulgent at worst. I get the parallels but really there are three different stories and they do not always blend well. In fact I'm hard pressed to have a sense of what he actually experienced with the shallow coverage of his time in Africa. The moments of pathos and compassionate sympathy, right along with the precommitment angst somehow provides that binding thread. Granted the jarring reality of war torn, refugee populated culturally disparate countries demand more than a few days (at the most) passage in order to actually GET a flavour of them. What a contrast to Grogan's decisive confidence and evocative descriptions. I'm inspired to go to the original.