Somebody's Heart Is Burning: A Woman Wanderer in Africa

by Tanya Shaffer

“It's my life, and if I want to run from it I can,” quips Tanya Shaffer. An incorrigible wanderer, Shaffer has a habit of fleeing domesticity for the joys and rigors of the open road. This time her destination is Ghana, and what results is a transformative year spent roaming the African continent. Eager to transcend the limitations of tourism, Shaffer works as a volunteer, building schools and hospitals in remote villages. At the heart of her tale are the profound, complex, often challenging relationships she forms with those she meets along the way.

Whether recounting a perilous boat trip to Timbuktu, a night of impassioned political debate in Ghana, or a fumbled romance in Burkina Faso, Shaffer portrays the collision of African and North American cultures with self-deprecating humor and clear-eyed compassion. Filled with warmth, candor, and an exuberant sense of adventure, Somebody’s Heart is Burning raises provocative questions about privilege, wealth, and the true meaning of friendship.

Genres: Travel, Africa, Nonfiction, Memoir

324 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What separates this book from most travel writing is that Shaffer unwittingly exposes the real breakdown of intl development. I don't know that Shaffer understands that her experience is not really hers; it is the entire story of development projects in developing nations. Were there a section on critical analysis of international humanitarian projects, this would be the companion book to the text. Hers is a story that should be heard and understood when creating assumptions about problems and solutions in the third world.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somebody's Heart Is Burning is the memoir of a white American woman who spent a year in Africa, fleeing confusion over a relationship. ("It's my life, and if I want to run from it, I can," she asserts from the first page.) She begins as a work-camp volunteer in Ghana, and then visits Mali and East Africa as a tourist. I went into this book assuming I'd hate the narrator - given her circumstances for traveling, I figured she'd have a bit of an ego and would spend too much time implying that she is a Wonderful Person for having Taken Risks and Experienced Africa. And while she does have a bit of ego to her storytelling style, I was also reassured by how often she questioned her behavior and admitted that she didn't have all the answers. She admits when she acts wrongly, whether out of pride or selfishness or misplaced good intentions.

She travels so much and interacts with so many different people that a lot of the book is a blur. I feel like I picked up a lot of trivia but didn't leave the text with any real insights or understandings - not into Africa or into Tanya Shaffer. It's an enjoyable day's diversion for someone who enjoys reading memoirs or travel books, but that's about as much as it is.

[GoldenjoyBazyll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stated this book two years ago and put it down one day only to pick it back up today. I was supposed to finish it today. Someone's heart is burning- are not all of our hearts a fire in one way or another???? There was a moment in the book where she says "How could I explain my strange life to him? How could I tell yet another person here with everything that had been given to me, I was still restless and unsatisfied? That I felt driven to wander the earth in search of some elusive key that would unlock that chamber of my own happiness? How could I explain that I chose physical hardship; dysentery, heat rash, dizzying rides in crowded vehicles down bumpy potholed roads- hardship he had no choice but to endure- that I chose all of this, because it was the only thing that made me feel truly alive?"

Somehow- I know about this. I am a happy person however- there is something that happens to me while I am on my own adventures. I am alive in a way I cannot describe. While I definately suffer as she describes and maybe there have been times where I have been even worse- I would not trade it. There is something defining about all of it- everytime I return home I return with another little part of myself that somehow got away and was carried afar on the wind.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first paragraph (something about going to Africa to escape a boyfriend) led me to expect 300-pages of navel gazing. Happily, that wasn't the case (for the most part). This collection of short stories, fluidly told, follows a loose chronological order. At its best, we follow her unique experiences with Africans from all walks of life (rich, poor, urban, rural). She conveys their stories with a sharp, lively voice and makes some meaningful insights (with some clichés tossed in here and there). Near the end, though, I found myself becoming increasingly disenchanted with stories that I felt were trying to reach for greater emotional depth than what the words or experiences allowed.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

How long have I had this book sitting on my shelf? Months? Years, even?

Somebody's Heart is Burning is a memoir of the author's time in Africa. She has the usual African travel adventures---run ins with con artists, a bout of sickness, transportation difficulties. All the while, she's thinking about the fellow she left at home. But not enough to actually go home. And she really isn't having a great time in Africa. In addition to her African travel troubles, she has trouble getting along with the other volunteers.

So, my thoughts? One excellent story she shares with us. And that's about it. A nice little travel take.

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually one of my favorite travel writings, if you want to call it that. There is quite a strong social justice and multicultural flavor to this book, along with recognizably foreign encounters, so how could I not like it??

I also like the way Tanya wears her heart on her sleeve, so some of the content is pretty emotionally raw.

In some ways, her experiences were therapeutic, I suppose. I couldn't really identify with that, but it was interesting. Personally, travel like hers seems like a whole lot of new things to deal with, so it doesn't seem like the best time to be trying to solve problems you packed along with you...but that's just my take.

I was also able to see echoes of personal experiences I've had in her encounters, which of course made her book just that much more involving.

So yeah- I recommend it!

[Douglas La Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just so, so bad. I’ve been living in Ghana on and off for 15 years and this book just reveals a total lack of “getting it.” I was surprised that I was able to actually finish this.

[Patricia Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book club read this title and it was a good read.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman travels in Africa, volunteering in various projects to give her a place to stay and meet people. It reminded me of my volunteer time in West Africa.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

So enjoyed seeing Ghana through an open spirit.
I crawled into her storytelling to experience a trip I will never take.
Loved the journey.

[Nyambura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was literally a journey with Tanya across Africa.

[Ashley Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've seen my bookshelves you would know I'm a fan of memoirs - my favorites are either those who have experiences war, usually WWII, or women travelers. Don't bother trying to analyze that one.

Shaffer's memoir seemed very familiar. If you've ever read Incognito Street: How Travel Made Me a Writer, Nothing to Declare: Memoirs of a Woman Traveling Alone, or even Eat, Pray, Love (even though I mostly detest that book) you'll see the similarities. The driving force in these stories was a man back home. They all show a woman who wonders exactly why she travels - is it because she's running away or does she just love and enjoy what she's doing? It's hard, of course, to know. Part of a person, as a traveler, loves it. But the other part is exhausted. When you're away from the placd you grew up, even if you've been there for quite some time, you never can quite let down all of your guard.

In that respect, Shaffer's memoir didn't dredge up new feelings for me, but it really wasn't her fault that she was the fifth or sixth woman traveling memoir I've ready, so I'm not downgrading for that.

I did find two things very unique and refreshing - pictures and people. Shaffer had snapshots scattered throughout and it was fascinating for me to go back and forth between her descriptions and compare them to the face in the photograph. And she described people a lot. In fact, every chapter was focused on someone else - someoen she met along the journey. She didn't so much analyze them as she did talk about her experience with them and by the end of the chapter you realized how Shaffer felt changed by them. It was a very refreshing way to read a memoir. Of course, it was very "Shaffer-focused" but in the most outlooking way possible. You didn't hear too much me-feelings, and if you did it was in relation to someone else.

And now, like how I feel after every memoir, I want to go to Africa.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty years ago, this woman wanderer decided to wrestle with her personal relationship from a distance, from a far corner on this earth, namely Ghana, West Africa where she became a volunteer to build hospitals and schools. Though her year in Ghana gave her time to sort through that relationship, she didn't devote this entire book to her personal life. Fortunately for us, the readers, her main focus in this book was the incredibly unique and special relationships she developed with the many people who crossed her path while being a volunteer. Remember, she was not a typical tourist -- she lived the Ghana way -- working, eating, sleeping, traveling just as they did, and oh, the stories she did tell! She wrote with humor and candid emotion giving us an intimate picture of the people of Ghana, a picture not ordinarily seen in travel books.
In the past twenty years, just about every country in Africa has gone through tremendous changes -- political, social and economic changes. Today, could a woman wander through any part of Africa and have an experience similar to that of Tanya? If that answer is no, we readers should especially appreciate what we learned in this book about the true meaning of friendship.

[Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

not south africa, rather west (Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, then east to Indian ocean, but...) series of short vignettes of author's experiences slumming it and also working and helping and making many friends, some enemies, and lots of acquaintances in her peregrinations in africa. though she tries to synthesize west meets east, and international devel meets underdeveled that part falls short. the good parts are her bravery at meeting and trying to get to know regular folks, her willingness to dance, getting hot and sweaty. not a bad book, very grll-power in may ways, but i wish she could have articulated better the "big picture". but then, so do i:|

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The woman in this book has a wanderlust like none I've ever seen. She does lot of things that I would be afraid to do, like her crazy boat trip to Timbuktu. In some ways she is frustrating becasue she runs away from life to travel whenever things get difficult. But the book mostly concentrates on her travels, not why she left for them. Entertaining and interesting and gives a very balanced view of the countries in Africa that she visits, and touches on her struggles in seeing so much poverty around her.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely, lyrical little book that accurately spills the gut-wrenching moments travel can create. Shaffer describes the lives of African travelers and African natives without complaint, without dramatizing the conditions and with an almost loving reverie for the involuntary reverie of their lifestyles. Sadly, the author's note at the end points out that her trip, taken in the early 90s, was pre-AIDS epidemic. She hints that now she would find a very different scene before her.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book while I was in Mexico and was hooked from the very first sentence. I liked the author's voice and could related to her on so many levels. Emotionally, historically and geographically. I only wish I'd had a book to leave at the "give one, take one" library where I found it, because I would have loved to take it with me.

[Rhonda Sarantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book. I was afraid the writer would be a whiner.. Whenever someone escapes the continent to volunteer I'm suspect! But this woman has a good heart and shared stories about the people she met in Africa with warmth and respect. She learned some important life lessons that I learned from, too.

[Zinaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a woman who decides to explore West Africa after she runs away from love. It tells of her various friendships with other travellers and Africans, gives a bit of color about whites who decide to go work in Africa and talks about what she sees and experiences as she travels throughout the region.

[Karen Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book drew me in because the character descriptions intrigued me. In the end I wished for a little more personal insight from the author but enjoyed the experience of reading it anyway. Travel always results in personal growth for me so I'm usually curious to know if it has the same results for others and if so, what did they learn from the process.

[Astrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book paints a vivid picture of traveling in Western Africa without romanticizing or vilifying its people and culture. However, the book felt a little self-indulgent at times. Still recommended for anyone who enjoys the travel genre or wants to learn more about Africa.

[Pangolin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat boringly self-centered book about a woman's travels in Africa. Not that writing about one's travels isn't usually self-centered. More that the author was immature and the voice she used was a bit irritating.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this could be considered to be just another memoir, I enjoyed the wit and humor of Shaffer's stories in Africa. And I appreciated her willingness to address issues of privlege that doesn't often get looked at as a traveler.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I would expect Gillian to recommend. ;-) Book about all of us who are always looking for something more and aren't sure why.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author might mean well. She wants to show us how a trip to Africa changed her. But she seems so unaware and self-absorbed from the outset that it's not very convincing.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has some interesting encounters while travelling in Africa and describes them well. Unfortunately, she also describes her own relationship issues in more detail than I needed to hear.

[Manda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for travel memoirs, and this one didn't disappoint. Her experiences during her one year stay in Africa were fascinating and beautifully told.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volunteer for a year in West Africa -- Very good. Evokes Africa.

[Liza Schreiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this while in Ghana was a fabulous experience. It really encouraged me to make a difference while I was there, and reminded me of how important it was to volunteer, and to remember.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanya Shaffer is a lot like the me with issues. It was nice to see it from an outside perspective and get a well written good story about a place I long to go in the process.