RaveThe Irish Times (IRE)\"Daphne’s work affected her family. It strained her relationship with her husband and seeped into the daily experiences of her three sons. Despite those struggles, their love for this amazing woman shines through ... This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand what it takes to be an iconoclast and a trailblazer, but also how growing impunity in a state can mount a feeling of responsibility on an individual in ways that may be necessary for some preservation of democracy, but certainly aren’t fair. It is a compelling and essential book. It’s a history of Malta, from long before it became an EU member state. It’s also a klaxon for how deep corruption can run when not kept in check.\
Dipo Faloyin
PositiveThe Irish Times (IRE)The chief flaw of the book is exactly the one it’s titled for: that Africa is not a country and one manuscript can never be anything but superficial when criss-crossing a continent. Though it comes to 351 pages, covering so much ground means Faloyin inevitably falls into the same holes – of failing to provide context – that he is criticising...Faloyin is aware of this, beginning with disclaimers, including that he is not \'generically African\', he’s Nigerian, and the book reflects his viewpoint as such. His writing is at its strongest when he describes either his relatives, or Lagos – Nigeria’s economic capital and the city of his birth ... The history sections feel rushed ... It is easy to point out that this book tries to cover too much ground, but how many texts written by western writers throughout history have done the same? ... a necessary book that deserves its place in the canon as essential reading for anyone seeking an introduction to this vast continent – as well as the rest of us, who need to be regularly challenged on what we think we know about Africa and the damage done by that.
Gaia Vince
MixedThe Irish Times (IRE)... includes suggestions for change at all levels ... Some of Vince’s proposals, such as the creation of temporary refuges for climate refugees on private islands, show clear potential for abuse and have questionable historical precedent...The creation of charter cities, operated by wealthy countries on the territory of poorer ones, comes with echoes of colonisation ... That is not the only time that Vince (perhaps necessarily, given the mindset of inaction she is fighting against) gives too much credit to humans. The hope that all people and states will work together has already failed: that’s why the climate crisis has advanced so far ... This book would have been bolstered by more sourcing and clarification ... Of course, it is easy to be critical. The bigger truth is that Vince’s perspective and proposals are refreshing in a world where a Don’t Look Up-style denial is solidly in place ... And, with what is happening in Pakistan, Somalia and elsewhere, her proposals do not seem so radical. If this book results in even a smidgen more sympathy for the huge numbers of people being forced away from their homes, that will be a great thing.
Denis Mukwege
PositiveThe Irish Times (UK)This is...an interesting read on diplomacy, with Mukwege describing how he was forced to cancel a UN speech after being threatened by a Congolese government minister ... Throughout, Mukwege is at pains to show that the issues the DRC grapples with exist elsewhere ... his account will be of interest to others trying to raise awareness of specific issues.
Christina Lamb
RaveThe Irish Times (IRE)With the MeToo movement and increased awareness around sexual violence and harassment of women, it is the right time for this book to be written ... it’s noticeable that Lamb lets interviewees speak for themselves. She includes pages of direct quotes during almost every story. In a book aimed at elevating the voices of women, it’s an effective and powerful touch. Many of the interviewees have long been isolated for years or decades because of what they went through, but they speak openly to her. The mass of testimonies feels like a display of strength.
