East Wind: a True Story

by Jacqueline Richards, Lessil Richards

This is the amazing true story of the ten years that the authors spent in the country of South-West Africa, now known as Namibia. During the last three years of their stay, Jacquie Richards co-owned a restaurant and boarding house in the sea-side resort town of Swakopmund. This book follows the owners and boarders of J.J.'s through heartfelt trials and tribulations with memories of unique people and captivating experiences. A compelling page-turner that is well worth the read!

Genres: Nonfiction, Africa, Memoir, Namibia, Adventure

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 20, 2012

Reviews

[Jesse Kimmel-Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

These authors have a done another amazing job at captivating their readers with a great read. They make true stories in a way that make them a great read. This is a great tale of the authors time in Africa taking on the task of a restaurant and boarding house.

I love how they show the different characters that have come through their lives. Like their Type I Diabetes book, the story is honest, real, and you can relate to it. Have you ever stopped to read something and felt like the author got it, these authors do. They may not write fiction, but their stories are just as good as any book that is completely made up.

I loved every ounce of this book. I hope that these two keep writing. I can't wait to see what else they put out into the world of literature.

I highly recommend anything they write. It's great reading.

[Diana-Michaela Shaffner · Rating 4 out of 5]

East Wind is a first person account spanning roughly ten years. The author and her young son lived in Africa during this time working as a business partner of a guest establishment called JJ's. Although none of this story involves glamorous events or extreme adventures, reading about the daily trials and difficulties encountered is quite eye-opening. We cannot all have all experiences ourselves. Reading a story like this affords us a glimpse into a different life and window in time and space. East Wind is a worthwhile read.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life in a remote part of Africa

An interesting true story of an American woman and her son living in a remote part of Africa. The cultural differences are something most Americans aren't familiar with and seldom think about. The story draws you in and I found it hard to put down until I finished it.

[Z.Zsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong read full of captivating tales and experience from an american expat and her adventurous son.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Namibia in the late 70's, this is the account of the author's experience as a partner running a restaurant / boarding house. Pretty much each chapter stands alone as an account of someone they had contact with or a specific event. The book ends in 1982 when she and her son Lessil moved back to the States when he was in high school.
It was clear to me pretty quickly that this was set in the years prior to independence due to the comments about race relations, the position of women and the war in Angola. But that information didn't detract for me, but added in terms of seeing a picture of the country when it was South West Africa. I enjoyed this too for the place names, several of which I've been to, or if not, I am familiar with the country to know the general geography and location of areas. It's a light, easy read. I had to smile at her comment at the beginning. She mentions it is a non-fiction work based on events as she remembered them. She encourages anyone who sees themselves in the events to write their own book and tell it their way. I thought that was a fun way to relay the message. She has written other books. I didn't like this enough to go on with others, but this was enjoyable specifically because of it being Namibia.

[Buchdoktor · Rating 4 out of 5]

East Wind hat mir den Einstieg nicht gerade leicht gemacht, weil ich mich zuerst durch die Trennung der Autorin von ihrem Mann und die Konflikte beim Führen einer Pension in Swakopmund/Namibia wühlen musste. Ihr Leben im ehemaligen Süd-West-Afrika zwischen 1972 und 1982 erwies sich danach jedoch als ausgesprochen spannend. Keine Gleichberechtigung von Schwarz und Weiß, auch nicht von Mann und Frau, entweder man hatte als Ausländer wie sie Arbeit und eine Arbeitserlaubnis oder musste das Land verlassen, entweder ein Schüler lernte und schaffte seine Prüfungen oder er wurde vom Lehrer mit dem Rohrstock geschlagen. Höchst interessant auch das letzte Kapitel von Lessil Richards über seine afrikanische Kindheit, in der er mit den Eltern Afrika bereiste. Der Vater arbeitete als Geologe und war in jeder Minute seines Lebens Geologe. Lessil erzählt beeindruckend vom Kulturschock, als er in die USA zurückkam und ihn die dort an Schulen herrschende Disziplinlosigkeit und mangelnde Leistungsbereitschaft sprachlos machte. Im vielsprachigenn Namibia sprachen damals und sprechen heute Schüler drei Sprachen und sehen darin auch einen Sinn. Und in den USA?

[Laurie Hanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, as far as the descriptions of life in Namibia as viewed by an American woman and her son. The narrative itself was not in any way compelling reading. There was little drama and no suspense. It’s one of those books that’s easy to set down and hard to pick up again. However, I am glad I read it if only for the knowledge I gained about a place I am sure I will never visit. My interest was piqued enough that I spent some time on the Internet reading more about Namibia and looking at photos. Having grown up in some far off, exotic, and wild lands myself, I did enjoy Lessil’s comments at the back of the book. He talked about what it was like living in Africa as a child, and also what it was like coming back to the states as a teen and trying to adjust to life in the American suburbs.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat interesting look at the life of a mother and son who spend ten years working and trying to exist in Nambia. This is a recollection of their lives as they run a local restaurant. While it gives the reader a look at life in Nambia from an ex patriate's perspective it speaks little of the natives. The descriptions of the land are good. This is a quick and cursory look at life in Nambia from their point-of-view.

[Corgi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed East Wind: A True Story by Jacqueline Richards and Lessil Richards. I learned about the country of Namibia, in southwestern Africa. The authors did a good job of describing the country, the people, countryside and what it was like as an American to live there.

I would recommend this book to readers who like non-fiction, Africa and living as an American in a foreign country.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have visited Namibia several times and become close with our daughter-in-law's family. It was interesting to read this story of life in Namibia when it was still South West Africa. Jacquie Richards ran a restaurant and boarding house in Swakopmund, a seaside resort which we have visited.

[Alison]

kindle memoir

[Teri See · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story

the author lived in Africa during some brutal times which she told little about and
wrote instead about the problems being a partner in a restaurant/boardinghouse

[Sdeangelis Sandy DeAngelis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free book bub selection- was pretty good for a free book.

[Brenda Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!

I learned a lot about Africa and the African life style from this book. Hated for it end, but like all good books it did.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

stasha3

Good read but was hoping to hear more of Africa not the everyday life of two divorced women a quick read,

[Therese]

$0.0