Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Virunga

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!
Virunga

This is another Farley Mowat masterpiece. It’s the story of Dian Fossey’s life and death and it combines Mowat’s narrative with excerpts from Fossey’s diaries. Fossey spent most of her life studying the mountain gorillas in Africa. She was an incredible woman with strong passions. Her life wasn’t easy – and she didn’t always make it easy for those around her. This book is filled with powerful messages and strong themes and is one book I wish everyone would read. Her murder has never been solved, probably because there were so many people who profited from her death – and so much money (& politics) working against her. This is a hard hitting book – we need to treat ourselves, other people and species and our planet much better than we do.

What's a hard hitting book you think everyone should read?

31 comments:

Old Kitty said...

Erm... I did post a comment but don't know if it went through! Oh dear!!

I basically just said:
Yay for Diane Fossey! Take care
x

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I remember seeing the movie. Yeah, she didn't make it easy for others.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

I didn't see the film but your post made Diane sound interesting.

Yvonne.

Jemi Fraser said...

Old Kitty - I don't know why the comment didn't work... Dian was an amazing person - strong and passionate!

Alex - she really didn't - but she sure held true to her beliefs!

Yvonne - she was a fascinating woman for sure!

DL Hammons said...

I'm wondering now how I can be fascinated by the woman from afar, and yet never have seen the movie or read the book. Gotta fix that! :)

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I will read it. I know I'd enjoy it.

Teresa

Charmaine Clancy said...

It was a good movie. I'm a wimp with hard hitting books - I've still never read Anne Frank's Diary.

Talli Roland said...

I didn't know Farley Mowat wrote this one! How did I miss that?

LD Masterson said...

Dian Fossey was an incredible woman. I think this book is headed for my TBR pile.

Unknown said...

This indeed was hard-hitting!

Margo Berendsen said...

didn't he write Never Cry Wolf? I've never heard of this one but I'm eager to read it now!

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

I had never read this book but will now. Thanks for reminding us of what that incredible woman did, and thanks to Farley Mowat for writing it.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

This sounds like something I'd be interested in reading. Wonder if the case will ever be solved?

Lynn Proctor said...

i have always meant to read this--i can't think right now of my examples

Johanna Garth said...

Dian Fossey is so inspirational. She was one of the "Women in History" women discussed at my kid's school.

Ella said...

She gave so much! What an incredible woman! So sad n' tragic~ Thank you for bringing attention to her story!
She added so much passion and insight into the world~ I will have to find this book! Thank you

Anonymous said...

Hi Jemi. I've not read the book, but her name sounds so familiar. I think I've seen the movie.

Julie Dao said...

So interesting and sad that her murder has never been solved. It's too bad that a woman who spent her life sharing her passion with the world had to have such an ending.

S. L. Hennessy said...

I love what this book tries to tell us. We DO need to treat ourselves and other species MUCH better.

Unknown said...

There's a movie about chimpanzees coming out. A lot of things are reminding me about these lovely primates.

Harvee said...

How sad it is that she was killed after doing such important work for the environment.

Jemi Fraser said...

DL - Dian was a fascinating lady! She did a whole heck of a lot of good in this world!

Teresa - it's a project that really pulls you in and breaks your heart.

Charmaine - I'm more of a wimp now than I was when I was younger. I don't read a lot of those types anymore either!

Talli - and I know you know about Farley!

Linda - she really was an amazing lady. Full of passion and drive. Not many like her!

Damyanti - it's been years since I've read it and I still think of her often.

Margo - he did indeed. He's one of those authors I devoured as a teen. Such a brilliant writer.

Tricia - it's really genius how he blends his narrative around her journals. You get an amazing picture of her life.

Elizabeth - I wonder too. It's been a few decades now so I have my doubts.

Lynn - it's well worth a read - very powerful stuff.

Johanna - that's good to hear. She did an enormous amount of good in this world!

Ella - she really did. She's left an amazing legacy of hope for how we need to treat all the species who exist on this planet of ours.

Susanne - the movie was very popular. I didn't see it, but I did catch bits and pieces on reruns on the tv. I think they did a pretty good job.

Julie - and it's interesting to see who the suspects are - including the government. She wasn't afraid of causing a stir!

SL - we really do. There isn't another species on the planet that creates so much destruction. We have to get better!

Clarissa - I wonder if that's connected with Jane Gooddall's legacy. She's another amazing lady!

Jemi Fraser said...

Harvee - I know. She dedicated almost all of her life to saving the gorillas and giving them protection. So sad she was killed.

Anonymous said...

I'm familiar with the story but did not see the movie. She was tough and paid the ultimate price for her passion.

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephen - I didn't watch the movie either - I rarely do. She really was a tough lady with such passion :)

Leslie S. Rose said...

I learned about Dian from the film. Such courage. I'll bet the book is an emotional read.

Beth Zimmerman said...

Yet another one that I haven't read! Kind of amazes me because I've always been a voracious reader! :)

Anonymous said...

I watched a film about her, but I'd like to read books about her life. She's an interesting, powerful figure.

Jemi Fraser said...

Leslie - it really is - it's a roller coaster of emotions!

Beth - me too - but I've added dozens and dozens of books to my wishlist over this challenge!

Medeia - she really is. An amazing lady who did a lot of good in this world!

Patricia Stoltey said...

I must read this one. Dian Fossey is such a fascinating woman.

Jemi Fraser said...

Pat - she really is. Such an amazing lady who did such good for her gorillas!