My Driver

by Maggie Gee

Vanessa Henman, a plucky but accident-prone white writer, flies out from London to Uganda for an African writers' conference. She also means to visit her former cleaner, Ugandan Mary Tendo, now the successful Executive Housekeeper of Kampala's up-market Sheraton Hotel. But Mary has her own her son Jamil is missing, and she has secretly summoned Vanessa's beloved ex-husband Trevor, a plumber, to her home village to build a new well. Vanessa sets off alone on safari to distant Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to see the mountain gorillas. But farce teeters on the edge of something much darker when Vanessa quarrels with her driver and a bloody war closes in on Bwindi from Congo. Can anyone save her? Will Mary Tendo find her son? This swift, sparkling and sharp-edged book juxtaposes dazzling comedy and danger in Maggie Gee's most original work yet.

Genres: Fiction, Africa, Literary Fiction

300 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Maggie Gee is an English novelist. She was born in Poole, Dorset, then moved to the Midlands and later to Sussex. She was educated at state schools and at Oxford University (MA, B Litt). She later worked in publishing and then had a research post at Wolverhampton Polytechnic where she completed the department's first PhD. She has written eleven novels and a collection of short stories, and was the first female Chair of the Royal Society of Literature, 2004-2008. She is now one of the Vice-Presidents of the RSL and Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at Sheffield Hallam University. She has also served on the Society of Authors' management committee and the government's Public Lending Right committee. Her seventh novel, The White Family, was shortlisted for the 2003 Orange Prize and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

She writes in a broadly modernist tradition, in that her books have a strong overall sense of pattern and meaning, but her writing is characterised by political and social awareness. She turns a satirical eye on contemporary society but is affectionate towards her characters and has an unironised sense of the beauty of the natural world. Her human beings are biological as well as social creatures, partly because of the influence of science and in particular evolutionary biology on her thinking. Where are The Snows, The Ice People and The Flood have all dealt with the near or distant future. She writes through male characters as often as she does through female characters.

The individual human concerns that her stories address include the difficulties of resolving the conflict between total unselfishness, which often leads to secret unhappiness and resentment against the beneficiaries, and selfishness, which can lead to the unhappiness of others, particularly of children. This is a typical quandary of late-20th and early-21st-century women, but it is also a concern for privileged, wealthy, long-lived western human beings as a whole, and widens into global concerns about wealth and poverty and climate change. Her books also explore how the human species relates to non-human animals and to the natural world as a whole. Two of her books, The White Family and My Cleaner, have had racism as a central theme, dealt with as a tragedy in The White Family but as a comedy in My Cleaner. She is currently writing a memoir called My Animal Life. In 2009 she published "My Driver", a second novel with many of the same characters as My Cleaner, but this time set in Uganda during a time of tension with neighbouring DRC Congo.

Maggie Gee lives in London with her husband, the writer and broadcaster Nicholas Rankin, an author, and their daughter Rosa.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't think much of the actual story, but I do quite like Gee's writing style, and when reading her books, I can also reminisce about my lovely month in Uganda last year! However, fairly early on in the book, Gee mentioned how calm and serene Kampala can be and from first-hand experience I can safely say that that was one of the most frantic, busy and terrifying place I have ever been to! So that sentence stuck in my head throughout the rest of the book, as I was trying to understand why she would say that- especially as she also said how busy the traffic was etc... I know that's me being very picky, but my mind just kept going back to that sentence and it ended up distracting me from the rest of the book!

[Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this new novel of Maggie we meet Mary Tendo, of old, quite a character, from her last work, My Housekeeper. Mary was, then, the housekeeper of Vanessa, an English writer of middling success. Now, in this story she’s back in her own country, in Uganda. She’s still a housekeeper, but of a different kind, somewhat elevated, in fact. She works for an international hotel, and she has other housekeepers and maids under her.

Throughout the book Mary and Vanessa play hide-and-seek in Uganda. Like a comedy they happen to be in the same place and time but they invariably misses each other. There is a very funny scene in which Vanessa, in Kampala for an international writers conference, actually spots Mary but could hardly recognise her. Mary has stopped by the road side, to buy fruits at a stall. As it happens, she is with none other than Vanessa’s ex-husband, Trevor. Trevor is a plumber in London, and he’s in Uganda to help Mary build or repair some machinery that brings water to a village. Vanessa, too, doesn’t recognise her ex; probably because of the contacts she wearing – vanity in her old age.

In this book, Vanessa hasn’t changed much: still thin, still disgruntled. When we quite liked Mary in the previous book, here, she’s turned into another Vanessa, but much heavier – and curvier – this time. Even Trevor nearly has a fall-out with her, when he couldn’t brook her attitude while driven to the village. We are seeing a whole new Mary, who screams at her child minder; she has a daughter. In the last book we learn her son Jamil was missing, probably kidnapped and forced to be a soldier. Here, we learn that he indeed was, later in the book, quite near the end. In fact the thread running through the narrative is hide-and-seek and happenstance. Happenstance, because things always dovetail neatly in the end, to resolve some issues. How does this happen? Telling you would spoil the ending.

However what I can tell you is Maggie Gee’s writing is superb and nearly flawless. Take the scenes in which Mary is in Bwindi to see gorillas. Also, in the final chapters of the book you’d be able to see how she utilises some poetic elements during some intense moments. Her writing carries through the plot very effectively, so that you’ll laugh at the funny moments, be gripped by the suspense when she is nearly stranded in Bwindi during some heavy downpour, cheer when Trevor, like a movie hero, comes to the rescue, have your heart in your hand reading how they are going to get back to Kampala. An immensely good read.

[Georgy Hadwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Late night is always a good time to reflect on books....Had I been asked to review this book a week or so ago , I would have dismissed it as forced artificial and derivative ...and yet....By the end I had realised I had begun to care about the characters - always a good sign....and realised that the author had things to say about culture about the dispossessed and about the arrogance of the west. Vanessa was meant to make me irritated and yet I still warmed to her as the book progressed. Her ability to self reflect be self critical and that she was not immortal The book festival in Kampala was excruciating realistic and the author knows well that desperation of failing writers to stay with the pack. The plotline was intended to be a device - took me a while to figure that - to bring the key elements of the story together and to a finale. Having lived in Africa I began to recognise not a paler version of No 1 detective agency but an attempt to tell a story about Uganda , its corruption its leader (synonymous) , its boy soldiers over the Rwanda border and an updated version of the prodigal son. I found Trevor down to earth plumber and well engineer extraordinaire believable likable and with real integrity whilst Mary must have sparred with Vanessa at some level when employed by her as they had so much in common.
If you want a good heart warmer that reflects on our joined up world this is the one for you

[Cathie Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not get into this book, and did not finish it.

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like everything about this book. At many points there was passive internalised misogyny (the henpecked husband trope came up in at least 4 separate characters, this would seem more like complexity if it didn't repeat so many times in so many variations, the mother being bad for the son was also hinted at). Some of the stuff around race appeared to play into stereotypes, but I felt that at least there was a fairer critical lens turned back on white wealthy people dimension to this. This book does make you think about the things you can blithely take for granted and the desire to go travelling in poorer countries.

I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. Vanessa was a strange mix of good intention and puzzling fits of ego that came on seemingly only to provide humour. Mary was just characterised by bossiness. I wanted to like her because she'd had a hard life but she seemed all hard edges and entitlement. All the men were weak, whingy about women's power and independence and just not even broadly likeable. I suppose apart from the lost son. He's characterised only by PTSD.

The book is not "realist" though it has realistic observations and settings, it's like an elaborate dance of fate where the characters move around each other oblivious until circumstances force them into better awareness. I didn't realise as I was reading it that it is a sequel to another book, that makes sense but I don't think I want to read that now that I have glimpsed what comes after. The ending, though in many ways unlikely (all the worlds collide back together) was quite satisfying and not aloud by the author to become a musical theatre "happily ever after" but still tinged with real consequences of what came before it. I could have done without the relentless heterosexuality (even the 4 year olds FFS and it's not a detail that adds anything) and the idea of some sort of "call of nature" that the heterosexual/normal gendered being must respond to.

The criticism on inequities and the way race and place are used to construct economic hierarchies struck me as the most important thing about this novel. Even though it was a white author writing about Africa which sounds like a bad idea, there was a self-awareness in it. At times I thought Vanessa's bouts of ego were supposed to call out white complacency. I felt that Trevor, however was portrayed too sympathetically for that and once again white women come under attack but white men get to keep their quietly privileged status protected by all the layers below them.

I don't think I would want to visit the Africa portrayed in this novel, although the gorillas seemes lovely.

[Stephenie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another horrible book that did not live up to its summary. The story goes on and on and on with an irritating character of Vanessa and the story seems to pluck and plonk bits and pieces of Uganda's history and current events at the time into the book. A horrible book and I am a bit annoyed for having read through almost 70% to actually shut it and give it away free.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read - nothing gripping or too challenging. It certainly didn't make me want to put Uganda at the top of my travel wish list!

[Emma Steel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only just 3 stars, and that was more for the trip it gave me down memory lane. I found the story a little silly, and didn’t warm to the characters.

[Martin Boyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remain in two minds about this novel. It is packed with stereotypes and the story-line is far-fetched (and becomes more so as the novel goes on). However, the writing is fluent enough, with good descriptions of places and people, to make this a pleasant read. The observations on some of the European characters not quite sure how to behave in Africa (well, Uganda!) are funny and sometimes uncomfortably accurate, but don't expect anything profound!

[Genna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised at how much I did enjoy this book actually once I'd got into it. It's quite a relaxed pace and there's not really much action but several smaller, interlinked mini-dramas that are all entertaining - sometimes funny, sometimes very sad, tense or disturbing. In-between these dramas the book reflects on political tensions, brewing conflict, Ugandan history as well as the flora and fauna and climate - it really covers a hell of a lot.
I liked the characters - they felt quite real to me - generally pleasant and well-meaning but with realistic human flaws. I liked the fact that the story was told from everyone's perspective at different times - from the main characters to the lesser parts.
I did find some of it a little farcical and the ending, though it was pleasant enough, seemed a little too ideal - basically they all lived [fairly] happily ever after.

[Schmoozyschlepper]

I thoroughly enjoyed My Driver - it is the sequel to My Cleaner, which you should try to read first. Mary is a wonderful character and it is a joy to meet her again on her home ground in Uganda. This is not a Uganda of misery and AIDS, but a place where Mary has a decent job, a partner and works in the tourist industry. Vanessa, her British former employer is visiting Uganda for a writer's conference and trying not to be a tourist. Threads from the previous book are tied up into a satisfactory conclusion that is true to the characters and their situations.

[Clare Coffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The character of Vanessa was good but at times I thought that she was too vague. The other characters especially Mary and Trevor was excellent.
The description of Uganda was amazing. I felt that I was there and I did enjoy the gorilla section- truly amazing. I do hope that Maggie Gee writes another book about Vanessa and Mary as I would certainly like to know if Mary ever gets her novel published and whether Vanessa realises her true potential.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with G, best to have read My Cleaner first, I was much more interested in and entertained by the characters having got to to know them previously. It is tempting to rush through this fairly short book but resist as otherwise it is too easy to miss some of the subtle but devastatingly funny lines, especially from Vanessa, poor old deluded Vanessa. It could have done without the 'meanwhile back in the UK' type stuff but otherwise a recommend

[David Grieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Co-incidences play a big part in this story of a delusional woman visiting Uganda as part of a writers' conference and taking the chance to find an old employee and see the gorillas on the DRC border. Alongside this is the story of her ex husband and also the employee she is looking for. All the while in the background is the unrest on the DRC/Ugandan border.

A good story although it doesn't maintain the initial pace and interest and becomes a little predictable as it goes on.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only rated this book three stars because I couldn't rate it 2.5. Whilst it was easy enough to read, I didn't warm to any of the characters, and found the stereotypes excruciating. I felt that the author simply skimmed the surface, using these stereotypes to tell the story, and so the characters became one dimensional and I knew how their stories were going to develop. This all contributed to what I found to be a very patronising story. Disappointing.

[Leonie Mueller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see why people rate this book highly. But I found it like wading through treacle till more than halfway through. It picks up pace but is still thin on the ground and stylistically difficult. The issues are so huge and I really like the glimpse into one person's mind whilst grappling things that frankly hurt the brain.

[Gaylene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story set mostly in Kampala. I felt like I was in Kampala with the vivid writing and descriptions of the noise and scenery. Vanessa the main character is very annoying but very believable. I would recommend reading My Cleaner first because the characters are the same, just more developed. All the characters are diverse and compelling, a great read.

[Denise Kruse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed My Cleaner and this book, My Driver, continues the story of Ugandan Mary Tendo and British author Vanessa Henman. Set in Africa, this book is not a light read as it delves into the warring. The author tidies up loose ends from My Cleaner with, perhaps, a few too many coincidences.

[Georgie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly well observed. I read bits out loud to my family as I totally identified with some of the 'experiences' of Africa . Bit like 'Marigold Hotel' goes to Uganda - it does of course all end happily ever after but that said, I liked it more than I thought I would. Would I pick up the prequel' My Cleaner' if it was on a shelf in Oxfam? Yes.

[Katherine Govier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps the ending is a little predictable. But it's very satisfying.
And authoritative on the subject of Uganda.
Not to mention gorillas.
I shuddered with recognition, a little, at the description of
Vanessa at international literary festivals, trying to be cool.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Gee writes well and this is a really interesting take the way the British interact with each other and with people in one of their former colonies. An intelligent book which will sometimes make you laugh as well.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is a good read. The plot does rely on unbelievable coincidences but I was pulled along by the story. I also ended up wanting the best for all the characters, despite them all being flawed. It felt good to be in Uganda too!

[Petra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book based on the recommendation from Doris Lessing on the cover but was very disappointed - flimsy main character & plot which I found pretty unengaging but I did enjoy reading about the scenery

[Tracey Wilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. Its a sort of sequel to My cleaner. Outlines the political situation in Uganda very well and poverty outside of the main cities.

Lots of humour and characters very well written.

[janis · Rating 3 out of 5]

i wish the characters were more likable; they made what could/should have been a good and unusual story kind of tedious.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow-up to "My Cleaner," this time set in Africa-Uganda-with the same protagonists and even better than the first. Ties up all the loose ends from the first book.

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the characters very hard to like. All of them seemed fairly unsympathetic in their own way. The setting was interesting. But the plot seemed somewhat farfetched.

[Maria Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle and humorous adventure in Uganda.

[Jean Walton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've had to give up on this one and mark it DNF as I just couldn't engage with the main character Vanessa.