Another Day of Life

The amazing thing is *how little* things have changed since 1975. Since the fall of Portugal's dictatorship, there has been constant battle for almost 30 years. Jonas Savimbi - introduced here as a very young freedom fighter - was killed in battle only a short time ago.

Added bonus: There's a wonderfully sparse little map of the country & the borders of its neighbors at the front of the book. You'll thumb back to that page no less than 50 times while reading "Another Day of Life."

The title is apropos..when one of the characters utters the it two-thirds of the way into the book, I thought it was the perfect line at the perfect time. No wonder they culled it out of the book and had it serve as the title as well.

I plan on reading the rest of Kapuscinski's works now.


VHS Pre-IB Honors World History Book Review project   February 3, 2005
kka (Indiana)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This fast paced book taught me so much about Angola's history and
> current dispute. It made me want to learn more about this country's history and
> its people. I enjoyed the book because it was more than just a history and an
> account of war. It was an in-depth look at the people and their culture. It is
> the story of struggle for a whole civilization after gaining their independence
> from the ruthless European nation of Portugal. Kapuscinski didn't try to confuse
> you with numerous names, groups, and organizations. He gave you the basic and
> made the past easy to understand. Characters were brought to life through his
> detail, which made you feel for them when they left or were even killed. In the
> front of the book, a map of Angola is provided allowing you to flip back many
> times while reading this book. You know at all times what part of the country
> you are in and what is going on. A detailed history of the events leading up to
> independence and civil war is also provided in the back of the book. It explains
> what occurred during the war also.
Excerpt of A.K. winning book review! Good Job A.K. Mrs. Arthur


Short and wonderful   March 15, 2003
Brandon Wilkening (Bloomington, IN United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

This is the fourth of Kapuscinski's books that I have read, and I was not disappointed. His trademark wit is once again on display, as he manages to impart jewels of wisdom while reporting from the deadliest and remotest corners of the world. For those unfamiliar with Kapuscinski, do not get this book if you are looking for a detailed political history of Angola. He gives a brief historical overview of the country in the final chapter, and it might help to start there first. Otherwise, a novice will quickly get confused by all the acronyms (MPLA, UNITA, etc.) and names; Kapuscinski does not really explain to the reader which group is fighting for what causes or what their ideological standpoints or political goals are. In a sense, however, this ambiguity is highly effective, since it conveys the actual situation in Angola in 1975. Kapuscinski's aim is not to offer a trenchant political analysis, but to simply convey to the reader what it is like to live in a desperately impoverished country in the midst of a brutal civil war. One could substitute any number of countries for Angola, and the themes would likely be the same; desperation, helplessness, ignorance, despair. Kapuscinski looks at the conflict from many points of view. He relates how the Portuguese colonialists desperately fled Angola in the months leading up to that country's independence, certain that all hell was about to break loose. He points out the general state of confusion among most Angolans, who were just as uncertain about the future as their former Portuguese rulers. He looks at the war from the point of view of the guerilla soldier, for whom death is almost inevitable, lurking unseen in the bush at every moment. He even tells how the dogs in Luanda followed the example of the Portuguese and bolted town; no dead dogs were to be seen, but they all seemingly disappeared. And, of course, Kapuscinski has lived through more near-death experiences than just about any reporter on the planet. He must look at movies like "Tears of the Sun" and simply laugh, for he himself has avoided certain death on a number of occasions. Kapuscinski's books are a blend of political commentary, narrative travelogue, abstract philosophy, and action adventure. The reason for only four stars is that because this book is so short (it can easily be read in one sitting), it falls shorts of some of his other works in terms of depth and scope. Also, this is one of his earlier works, and his style has been improved on since then. That doesn't stop me from highly recommending this one, though.


Just a great book...   November 16, 2001
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Out of all of Kapuscinski's books this little novella probably reads the most like a straight narrative. It follows Kapuscinski's experiences in Angola during the invogorating and terrifying time of its "liberation" in the 1960's. The narrative provides a visceral and enlightening account of the tumult that lies at the edges of what we (in the West) call order and civilization.

As always, Kapuscinski's vision is lyrical, penetrating, and unflinching. He holds up for our examination the ironies and absurdities laid bare when the curtain of imperial colonialism is withdrawn, and its victims are left scrambling to erect a milennia's worth of social and political institutions in a week, a month, or a year. Kapuscinski exposes the true face of this century's "limited wars": almost always fought by uncertain armies for unclear purposes, and most directly resulting in nothing more than bodies, smoke, and refugees. Yet his voice is never bitter, sanctimonious or pedantic, but rather honest, ironic, and (in a subtle way)sadly disenchanted.

If you haven't ready anything else by Kapuscinki, this is a great place to start. If you have, this book is a unique and powerful gem.