Thursday, February 12, 2009

OLZ Book Giveaway #2

We shared a little of Cathy Buckle's writing earlier today. Well, now you get a chance to win one of her books and get an up close and personal look at life in Zimbabwe!

We're mixing things up a little today, so pay attention! First of all, there will only be a winner if there are at least 100 comments on this post. Remember, you don't have to be a blogger to win - you just need an email address. So if you want a chance to win and there still aren't 100 comments, grab your spouse, your neighbors, your co-workers, and get them to enter, too!

This giveaway is open world-wide, as are all the other giveaways unless specifically designated otherwise.

There will only be one winner. That winner gets to pick one of the following three books:

African Tears: The Zimbabwe Land Invasions, by Catherine Buckle. "'They broke us eventually, crippled us psychologically and drove us to the brink of bankruptcy. They harassed us and our employees, tortured one of our workers, pulled a gun and threatened to kill me, slaughtered one of our oxen, roamed our fields with packs of hunting dogs, felled over 3,000 gum trees and burnt the entire farm to the ground. Our farm remains undesignated, unlisted and not required by the government for compulsory acquisition.' Catherine Buckle.

'African Tears' is the story of a white farmer in Zimbabwe, living side by side with 'war veterans' for 7 months. The veterans claimed the small 1,000-acre farm belonged to their ancestors. For 7 months the squatters watched and intimidated, claiming the farm field by field, "liberating" the small stock dams and then the timber plantation. The farm was claimed as a war veterans headquarters and every weekend political meetings were held in the field below the house--with hundreds in attendance.

Search your heart, revisit your past and squint into the future, into your greatest fears, your truest loves. Then understand that the emotional and psychological traumas one family has had to endure--in the face of unabashed greed, ignorance and savagery--has been pushed to its limits; their lives threatened; their farm stolen before their eyes and burned to the ground. Readers may well want to ask author Catherine Buckle, 'If things are so bad in Zimbabwe, why don't they leave?' Her answer sums things up swiftly by asking, 'How much longer are we going to be made to pay for the sins of our fathers, grandfathers?' She wants to know why history cannot be laid to rest. Blame for the injustices of the past has been placed squarely on the white population of Zimbabwe; she wants to know why the nation cannot accept this blame, admit that what went on 100 years ago was a disgrace, and move on. She admits openly that her patriotism is both old-fashioned and deep-set. 'I love my country, I love the people here, I love being here. That's why I wrote 'African Tears.' Perhaps, because I don't want to leave. I want to belong.'" (Amazon Product Description)

Beyond Tears: Zimbabwe's Tragedy, by Catherine Buckle. "'Beyond Tears – Zimbabwe’s Tragedy' is a searing indictment of the Zimbabwe Government’s desperate land grab, the destruction of the country’s agricultural sector, and the suffering of those who worked and lived on those farms. It is, indeed, a horrifying story of how a country is being destroyed by a government determined to retain power at all costs.

In 'Beyond Tears,' Cathy talks to the people involved in the weekend horror of the murder of a farmer and the abduction of five other farmers from the apparent safety of the Murehwa police station. She also interviews two women who were viciously raped and afterwards found it difficult to find anyone who would help them. Then, she goes back to her once-thriving farm and finds that it has been turned into a squatter camp. (Jonathan Ball Publishers Description)

When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa, by Peter Godwin. "Hailed by reviewers as 'powerful,' 'haunting' and 'a tour de force of personal journalism,' 'When A Crocodile Eats the Sun' is the unforgettable story of one man's struggle to discover his past and come to terms with his present. Award winning author and journalist Peter Godwin writes with pathos and intimacy about Zimbabwe's spiral into chaos and, along with it, his family's steady collapse. This dramatic memoir is a searing portrait of unspeakable tragedy and exile, but it is also vivid proof of the profound strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love." (Amazon Product Description)

To Enter to win one of these three books: Leave a comment on this post saying which book you would choose if you won. Please make sure you include an email so I can contact you if you win.

You can get up to two extra entries if you (1) post about Operation Love Zimbabwe on your blog, and/or (2) put the Operation Love Zimbabwe button on your blogsite. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

This giveaway is open indefinitely unless/until there are at least 100 comments. The winner will be selected using http://www.random.org/ and will be contacted by email.

And invite your friends and family to enter today, too!

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jane, i'll start on this one. I've been waiting to sign up and what is better than a book - a Cathy Buckle Beyond Tears book no less - about Zimbabwe to start with! If it comes here it will be shared around of course. Happy Valentines from Cambodia!

sticklea@gmail.com

jojoebi-designs said...

count me in!
I blogged about you too, does that mean I need to put in an extra comment?

Jennifer said...

Wow, how to decide, all three sound as though there are must reads. I would say, based on the descriptions, I should first read, African Tears by Catherine Buckle.

knittingmomof3 (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Jennifer said...

I most definitely blogged about it!
http://rundpinne.blogspot.com/2009/02/operation-love-zimbabwe.html
(I think I need to begin with African Tears by Catherine Buckle, yet I want to read and re-read all of them).

knittingmomof3 (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Jennifer said...

The Operation Love Zimbabwe Button is indeed on my blog on the right hand side!
Having to choose, I would first read African Tears by Catherine Buckle, then of course, the other two.

knittingmomof3 (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Simply Stacie said...

I'd love to read Beyond Tears.

stacie_vaughan AT hotmail DOT com

Simply Stacie said...

I have your button.

stacie_vaughan AT hotmail DOT com

ShEiLa said...

[African Tears] is my choice...

i need to read all of them though. Although I am not as ignorant about Zimbabwe and surrounding areas and the people that live there... I have so much more to learn.

ToOdLeS.ShEiLa

dani said...

what a great give-away, j!!! i will get the word out on my olz cause on facebook!!!
love,
dani

jojoebi-designs said...

I blogged too
http://jojoebi.blogspot.com/2009/02/spreading-love.html

Marina said...

Hard choice but would chose "Beyond Tears". Thanks - all great choices! ~ :)

Anonymous said...

They are sound like very interesting reads...I would chose "Beyond Tears: Zimbabwe's Tragedy."

danandmarsh said...

I would definitely be interested in winning "Beyond Tears"

danandmarsh said...

Your OLZ is on my blog sidebar:
Giveaway City

Leah said...

I'd so love to read "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa" by Peter Godwin.

Thanks so much for this give~away! : )))

leahita[at]gmail[dot]com

Country Mouse, City Mouse said...

Beyond Tears would be my choice.

GigiSxm said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
GigiSxm said...

I posted about the cause


http://adventuresingigi.blogspot.com/2009/02/more-on-africa.html

gigisxm(AT)gmail(DOT)com

GigiSxm said...

I put your button up

http://adventuresingigi.blogspot.com

gigisxm(AT)gmail(DOT)com

GigiSxm said...

I'd totally love to win any one of these books

gigisxm(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Anonymous said...

I have your button too.

Anonymous said...

I blogged about OLZ today!

Lori said...

I'd live to read When the Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa. Sounds amazing. Thanks.

lkziegler[at]gmail[dot]com

Lori said...

I have your button.

lkziegler[at]gmail[dot]com

ikkinlala said...

I'd choose When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa.

ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

Jennifer said...

They all sound powerful, but the first book, African Tears would be my choice.

Jennifer said...

And I shared your button with my readers.

Anonymous said...

Hello Jane, your sister Ann is telling me to do something here so she can win a book -- is that fair? You have a great blog.. thanks for all the activities listed. we shoul have fun trying them! Happy Valentines Day From Cambodia - Sharyn

loves6cats said...

They all sound so profound that I want to read them all. If I have to chose then, it will be "Beyond Tears - Zimbabwe's Tragedy". Thanks for the giveaway.

daysease said...

You have some of the most fun and educatoinal giveaways!!! You are great at this. I would love to win this. Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about Zimbabwe and about things that matter to you. hope you are well and having a great day!! :-)

daysease said...

by the way, i linked you... :-)

mindy said...

they all sound wonderful and i would be happy with any of them but my first choice is when the crocodile eats the sun thanks for the giveaway

eyeslikesugar said...

I just read 'House of Stone' about Zimbabwe, I am fascinated about that country now. I would LOVE to win these books! Thank you so much for offering this giveaway! eyeslikesugar [at] gmail [dot] com

Renee G said...

I'd love to read Beyond Tears.

rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com

Lady Roxi said...

Love to have When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa.

Thanks,

darkfyre1(at)gmail(dot)com

A Reader said...

Beyond Tears sounds great.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

Liza767 said...

Beyond Tears: Zimbabwe's Tragedy

Susan Woods said...

Hi there!
Ann reminded us of this giveaway. Any books are welcome at our house. Thank you! We miss you! Hugs to Miss Esme!

avalonne83 said...

I'd really love to read When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa.

Please enter me in the contest. Thanks.

avalonne83 [at] yahoo [dot] it