Customer Reviews
Is there an end to shame? - By: I LOVE BOOKS, 09 Dec 2007 
This book explores a very uncomfortable truth: this is the 21st century & slavery still exists. Following a murderous raidin her native Nuba villagein Sudan, Mende Nazer was kidnappedin 1994 with other native children from that area. Her simple tribal life surrounded by a loving, united family came to an end that night. Sold to an Arab familyin Khartoum, she learned to survive by "simply" enduring her fate. She was stripped of dignity & humanity, her desperation worsened by the lack of information about the rest of her family, not knowing whether they had survived the raid. It all made her plunge into a deep depression. She was humiliated, beaten & psychologically abused to a devastating extent & for several years. She was later "passed on" to another family, related to the onein Khartoum. This second family livedin London & it was there,in the year 2000, that Mende's fate changed.
This story is a condensation of facts reported simply & clearly by Mendein first person, beginning with her childhood (a very happy one despite her painful female circumcision at a very young age), all the way through her life & up until the events leading to freedomin London. She was helpedin this process by journalist Damien Lewis & the result is a compelling read, where all is pieced togetherin a very accessible way. Mende's young & sober voice emerges with a powerful resonancein its quiet simplicity, a sad reminder of contemporary slavery. It's like a blow knocking the air out of you.
I am omitting further details as the reading would be spoiled. I abstain from commenting as the book comments itself & also because, no matter how "used" we are to hear about atrocities nowadays, it is difficult to conveyin written words the outragein the knowledge that such horrors still exist. Just one thing: this should be a compulsory read. It is not only informative & an eye-opener, it also goes to show that, thankfully, goodness still exists too, despite everything, & it unites everybody, irrespective of race, religion, social background.
a great read! - By: , 26 Mar 2006 i read this bookin the space of a few hours. i couldnt put it down. It was shocking at times, but also vey heartwarming, the way she talks about her family beofre the raid. She writes the book, through the eyes of a twelve year old. The way she describes everything is so well done that you can imagine what she must have been feeling like. This book is a real eye opener, & i would recomend it to everyone. It is an excellent story, & she is a very strong woman.
Slave - Mende Nazer - By: , 25 Mar 2006 Emotive & powerfully written. This book takes you on a journey through Mende's life, through her own eyes. From humble, but happy beginnings through to her capture by slave traders, entrapmentin Khartoum for 7 years & finally escape from her existence as a slavein London. It is gripping & difficult to put down. The more people that read this the better - the issues it raises are real & increasing their profile can only be a good thing.
It is astonishing but fathomable that slaves existin any country - Sudan is far from politically stable & the incumbant Government is unlikely to recognise or further act to quash the slave trade. What amazed me more than this was that a girl was sold into slaveryin London & worked & lived as a slave here.
Mende's struggle for freedom & unbelievable difficultyin securing asylumin our 'free' & 'democratic' society is almost absurd. If nothing else, this book should highlight the issue & raise awareness of not only the fact that the slave trade persistsin the 21st century, but also that there are hundreds of genuine asylum seekers. If Mende's case wasn't so well publicised, she would probably be deadin Sudan by now.
Slave - Mende Mazer - By: , 24 Jan 2006 A frank, & honest account of what Mende had been through. It's an uncomfortable, yet captivating read that makes you go though all kinds of emotions. I am a drama teacher, & have used Mende's story as a starting point for a coursework - the kids are captivated!
It is a eye opener to all the people who believe that slavery isin the past! My pupils & I send our best wishes to Mende as she works towards her new life!
incredible!! - By: , 15 Jul 2005 This book was recommended to me by my best friend, who i borrowed it off. As soon as i began to read it i was hooked, the way it is written is truly captivating & makes it impossible to put it down.
Although certain parts of the book are quite disturbing you are forced to read on by the emotionin the way it's told. It disgusts me that these events took placein the 1990's as the brutality & superiority shown by the arab slave owners is barbaric & not at all how you would expect someone to treat another human beingin this day & age.
This book gives a wonderful insight into a different culture shown through the eyes of a young sudanese girl whose childhood is savagely stolen from her. Follow her story as she travels from her tribal homein the Nuba mountains to London where she eventually makes a daring escape more than ten years after the raid on her village when she was captured & enslaved. I would recommend this book to everyone.
