Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: The Story of an African Childhood

by Robyn Scott

Documents the author's adventures of growing up in Botswana with her loving and eccentric family, an upbringing marked by her doctor father's yearnings to be a vet, her holistic and home-schooling mother, and the apartheid mind-set embraced by their white neighbors. 40,000 first printing.

Genres: Africa, Memoir, Nonfiction, Botswana, Biography, Book Club, Travel

464 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the blurb says, this is the story of the childhood of Robyn Scott, her brother and sister and family in Botswana. From moving there when she was six, homeschooled by her mother, with her father operating a flying doctor service, to her high schooling in Zimbabwe across the border.

With grandparents already established in Botswana, they move in with eccentric Ivor, renovating an old cowshed to become their home. While ostensibly the story of Robyn's childhood, the story encompasses the whole extended family, the challenges and successes, and the coming of AIDS to Botswana, and her fathers efforts to assist his many patients who are HIV positive.

The book, while 450 pages in length, is an unchallenging read, mostly linear and largely anecdote based. It is hilarious in some places and at least amusing for its entirety. While others found the narrative lacked 'action' and 'excitement', I appreciated that the story didn't read as embellished to add these factors when there was no need.

The title refers to her parents challenging her to raise money to contribute to the new saddle Robyn wanted for her horse. It was the first of her money making ventures, where she bought twenty chickens who had completed their year at the battery farm, and coxed another year of eggs from them free-range, and sold them to the white expats. In high school she brought stationery from Botswana to sell in Zimbabwe where the quality was far inferior, at a reasonable markup.

Overall a worthwhile read, with lots of detail about Botswana and the development of the AIDS epidemic. A cast of interesting characters within and outside the family.

4 stars

[Petra X · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy reading undemanding rambling stories that never actually get anywhere but have a cast of interesting characters, you might enjoy this book. Its about a family of three children being unschooled in the bush of Botswana by an alternative-living author from New Zealand, her flying doctor husband and their various friends, enemies and family living in Botswana. They are all very unconventional and none of them gives a damn about that either. For instance, Grandpa's bedroom decoration is the wings from a plane he crashed. Preteens driving trucks without brakes are encouraged by the parents as is riding motorbikes but not guns. Not because guns and shooting are bad, but because an animal might get shot!

The title refers to a business started by the author when she was 11 - rescuing burned-out chickens and inducing them to begin laying again by paradisical (for a hen) living conditions and then selling the organic eggs at a high price to fellow ex-pats, thereby making a profit to buy the much-desired saddle of the title, and delaying the chickens ultimate and obvious end for at least a year.

A good read for a long flight or perhaps a bag book to pull out while waiting in line. Nothing much ever happens so it won't matter if you put the book down or even forget it somewhere.

[Margitte · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way life in Botswana was captured in the book but did not appreciate
the author's lack of respect for other cultures she never tried to get to know or
even tried to understand in her later research for the book. She clearly did not deem it
necessary to even be curious enough. But that also comes as no surprise at all.
She could learn much from other African authors who had modesty and respect for other people
drilled into them since birth and is clearly visible in their writings.

[Lena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Given the title and the description of a childhood in Africa, I had high hopes for this book based on similar books I have read. However, this one was rather boring. For most of the more than 400 pages, the childhood could have been that of any expat child almost anywhere, as the story featured the parents, the siblings, the other relatives, pets, local wildlife and local plants. There was little conflict, very little drama, and I almost gave up reading except that I had ordered this as an interlibrary loan. The exception to the boredom came close to the end, with an informative seemingly well researched chapter on AIDS and the impact it had in Botswana from the late 1980s until recently. I wish the author had added some equally informative decriptions of the effect that the end of apartheid had on the Botswana region - socially, economically, educationally - right by the South African border where much of the "action" was set.

[Beb ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sono state pagine super interessanti che hanno quasi annullato la moltitudine di pagine, precisamente 540. Un libro tosto ma veramente istruttivo verso una cultura che nonostante tutto ci rimane ancora sconosciuta perché per mal informazioni è considerata arretrata. Leggendo questo libro vi sorprenderà quanto questi stati sono piuttosto sviluppati, anche se non al livello degli stati occidentali. Questo è un romanzo che consiglio assolutamente a tutti per iniziare ad avere uno sguardo diverso verso il continente dimenticato che è l'Africa.

Recensione completa

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book. No comparison to the book, "Don't Lets go to the Dogs tonight" (also about a girl and her family during her growing years in Africa) Twenty Chickens was disappointing in that the author was more interested in recounting her intelligence and how she continually challenged teachers and the teaching curriculum in her school. With the continued narration of how smart she and her siblings were, I found myself becoming bored. Of course the end of the book let us know the end result of their education. I bet the schools in Africa were happy when the children left- I know I was happy when the book ended. End result- The book was just OK. Nothing more.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The other evening, myself and a few other Salt Lake City booksellers had the opportunity to meet Robyn Scott, author of the forthcoming book "Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: The Story of An African Childhood." She is a charming, gracious, beautiful young woman whose book I had read previous to our meeting. I could easily see the personality that shone brightly throughout the memoir was the same that was sitting across from me at the table. There was no falseness or pretense about her. I was smitten- having met Robyn in person simply confirmed everything I had enjoyed while reading her book.[return][return]"Twenty Chickens for a Saddle" is not so much Robyn's story as it is the story of her entire family; her siblings, parents and grandparents, and the years they spent living in Africa. Her parents are somewhat eccentric in the approach they take to everything, including the children's education. Robyn and her brother and sister were home schooled by their mother; Robyn until she was fourteen. Self-discovery and exploration were more valued than tests, homework, and learning for the sake of social acceptance.[return][return]The book is filled with stories that explore the cultures of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa, of humor (some of which left me laughing out loud while riding public transit), touching moments with both people and animals, of frustration with the left-over threads of apartheid still highly apparent near the South African border, and the tragedy of a nation struggling to cope with the AIDS epidemic. The cast of characters (and some are REAL characters) is an amazing group of people like none you have ever seen or met. Robyn has taken all these elements, and more, and woven a wonderful tapestry that takes us, heart and soul, into a land and family not our own.[return][return]I must admit, after reading the book and meeting Robyn, who is twenty-seven years old, I had to wonder- at thirty-eight, what have I done with my life? The answer: Not as much as I could, but I have been inspired to remember the quote, "It's never too late to be what you might have been."[return][return]"Twenty Chickens for a Saddle" will be available in stores March 27, 2008. Even if memoirs are not what you normally read, I would highly encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. Seeing how this wonderfully eccentric family lived, learned, loved and cared is an inspiration to all.[return][return]To learn more about "Twenty Chickens for a Saddle" visit Robyn Scott's website- www.twentychickensforasaddle.com

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about an exotic family living in a setting almost as exotic as they are. This is a fun book to read, although I admit to being disappointed at first that it was written by a white ex-pat.
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2020 (advanced): A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does one describe this book? It's about a very unconventional childhood in Botswana. A memoir of sorts written by the eldest daughter in a family full of characters. The family is white, and unlike the other white families in their area of Botswana- this family lives out in the bush, and are believers in health food and natural medicines. The mother who is very passionate home-schools the children, while their father who is a doctor (of western medicine) flies to different clinics throughout the country on a weekly basis. A truly phenominal book; what a life and what a perspective! The family is also positioned at a unique vantage point from which to watch the AIDS epidemic as it ravages their region of Africa. They arrive when AIDS is barely on the radar screen in their community and are there to witness the ensuing tragedy, the father's being a doctor really adds an up-close and personal perspective on the realities of AIDS in that part of the world.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not a book I might have chosen to read, as a selection for my Book Club, I’m glad I read it and found I enjoyed it.

The family dynamic, the cultural aspects of a white child growing up in Botswana, the Aids epidemic in its early stages, created a varied story of the author’s life experience that was very interesting, humorous and often very poignant.

Definitely worth reading.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most interesting memoirs I have read, about a girl growing up in modern-day Botswana, with a rather eccentric family. The book was long, but I enjoyed her tales of family, medicine and culture.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enjoyed this book. The homeschooling was wonderfully eccentric and effective.

[David Butters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gift from a friend who had spent a lot of time in Botswana during the 1990s, the decade largely covered by this book. She had loved her time there and the gift came with her hope that I would enjoy it. I did; I absolutely loved it!
At the age of 6 the author and her younger siblings were uprooted from a fairly normal life in New Zealand by their unconventional parents and began a new life in Eastern Botswana. The father is a reluctant doctor and the mother a hopeful author and home-school teacher. Both parents are incurable optimists and the family initially set up home near Selebe, next door to their deliciously outrageous Grandpa. Later they moved to the Tuli Block, on the banks of Kipling's 'great, grey-green, greasy' Limpopo. The book describes the childhood of the author, a rather serious child apparently, (but judging from her humorous descriptions of events that character trait must have changed somewhere along the line!); and also that of her brother, who likes being 'cool' and things that went 'bang', and her sister who does her best to protect every living thing on earth, no matter how small and creepy.
Their formative years are described brilliantly and we meet several fascinating characters on the way. Apart from home schooling under the watchful eye of Mum (which often included swimming in the Limpopo accompanied by crocodiles) we read of a short spell when they were temporary pupils at an Afrikaans school in Pikfontein, South Africa (to boost a flagging school roll!); and the author's final high schooling at a Convent school in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where she helped stage a riotous and memorable end-of-year Talent Show.
This is a vivid description of rural life in Botswana in the 1990s. Although there are serious moments, such as her father's part in the fight against AIDS, the story is told in an highly entertaining and humorous way that often becomes hilarious; several times I found myself laughing-out-loud. Her observations are acute, not only in regard to herself but also her brother and sister and, especially her parents. It is delightfully illustrated by drawings by her sister, Lulu. This is a book to brighten up any dull day or weekend and is one I know I shall definitely read again. Buy it and find out what the title really means! Thoroughly recommended!

[B Croz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read a great deal of non-fiction, mostly because it just doesn't tend to grab my attention the way most fiction books do, but I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir.
The Scott family, a family of five, moved from New Zealand to Botswana in 1987 - meaning the family would have to make a huge adjustment to an entirely new lifestyle. This book is written by the eldest of the children - Robyn Scott - who is amazingly, a year younger than I am. This book provides insight into the incredible experiences and adventures she had in Africa during her childhood. Since her father was a well-known doctor, she certainly has a great deal to share about the AIDS epidemic that occured during the 90's, and actually went on to study the price of medicines in third world countries in her own personal life. The book contains numerous descriptions of African sceneries and wildlife, and several detailed stories about snakes, scorpions, and interesting insects found only in the bush (which may not appeal to all). All in all, this is a fabulous memoir that sustained my attention until the end, and taught me a great deal about Africa.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find it interesting to read about lives very different from my own and this was no exception. The book was a Christmas present, along with a number of others about Africa, and the final one I chose to read. Now that I have read it I wonder why I left it so long! It was always interesting and frequently amusing - although I only "laughed out loud" on a couple of occasions. I feel enveloped in the story and rather sad that I have now finished the book.

There are a plethora of very interesting memoirs about African childhoods at the moment, many based in Zimbabwe where the War of Independence adds an extra dimension. This book is instead based in Botswana, which has thankfully had a very stable period post-independence. However there is still plenty of interest to read about with a fascinating family life, characterful neighbours, amusing wildlife encounters and the gruelling village clinics as the AIDS crisis hits. The story is told without any glorification and with a considerable amount of self-deprecation. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book.

[Audrey Approved · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read around the world project - Botswana

Wow, the author and I sure had different childhoods... hers involved a lot more snakes than mine! Scott's memoir about growing up in Botswana is basically a string of memories involving her two siblings, parents and grandparents. Many memories were entertaining and funny, although as a whole the piece had neither cohesion nor overarching takeaway. I found the most interesting stories involved Scott's homeschooling and her parents' preference for alternative medicine. I didn't learn a ton about Botswana until the last 1/3 of the book, when it opened up to more racial and social topics.

3.5 stars

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable account of one girl's childhood as an expatriate living in Botswana. I read it expecting it to highlight poverty and development work more than it did; the fact that it didn't actually increased my enjoyment of the book. The author's family witnessed and experienced poverty on many levels, just by virtue of them living in Botswana, but it was never the focus of the author's writing. I appreciated her respect and devotion to her siblings, parents, and grandparents. She seems like a really great person -- interesting, kind, adventurous, and intelligent.

[Hidenzeke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I read other reviews before jumping in and I feel everyone is entitled to their opinion. I love the wholesome goodness of the Scott's. The zany stories and free range parenting. I love the focus on education but in free form. I would have loved to grow up like these kids. Briefly touches on the political climate and Aids epidemic. Robyn's stories are vivid and descriptive. I love their open mindedness and their adaptability! I have already started recommending this book to others.

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

great "growing up in africa" book. this one takes place mostly in Botswana in the 80's-00's. one good thing is this example doesnt include completely drunk dysfunctional parents, which sadly most DO include. Plus parents and family are sustainable, holistic, food lovers, happy seeming too. Alexandra fuller's writing is probably more beautiful, tragic, and literary, but Robyn Scott tells a good straightforward story that reminds me a bit of James Herriot, which is good thing for me.

[Kristina Ruttan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy learning about of a completely different way of living from my own experience of life. This is the type of reading that broadens and enlightens perspective by realizing there is more than one way to go about life! While it’s mostly a collection of semi-related snippets of memory, her description and dialogue is laugh out loud funny at times, and the love of a family permeates it all.

[Shree Mandal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stories were ok, but I gave up because the writing was just too superficial for me. There was no character depth to anyone so it was impossible to get attached, stories were disjointed from each other. The authors voice felt very detached from Botswana as a world, as a culture. Typical narrative of a narcissistic and privileged white person growing up as an expat and trying to make money out of that experience. Yawn

[Ania Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una famiglia fuori dagli schemi, uno spaccato di vita dell’autrice in cui vediamo la bellezza selvaggia della natura africana scontrarsi con la piaga dell’Aids, la stregoneria con la medicina occidentale, le idee liberali con quelle razziste. Un viaggio in un Botswana che toglie il fiato, una storia che stringe il cuore.

[Della · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting about growing up in Africa. Then add in the out-of-the-normal way they lived and there is so much to digest. A little too much description sometimes but all of the absurdities made up for it to keep the readers interest. The lesson I took away is that different countries and different situations are really the same in terms of human reactions. So much of this is happening today.

[Bernadette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially enjoyed the first half of the book which focuses on the children's younger years. Some laugh out loud moments too. It was great to read this after having recently read about Botswana in the Colour Bar.

[Theresa Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now, this is a good read. If you have any interest in homeschooling, Botswana, Flying Doctors, the start of the aids epidemic and a book which will have you laughing out loud this is the book for you. A true story too. What more can you ask for?

[Jan Krehel · Rating 4 out of 5]

well written recounting of an unconventional and de!ightful childhood in Botswana. Especially interesting chapter on Sertse and Ruth Khama.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice flow and tone, with beautiful descriptions and lovely writing.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smoothly told tale of an unusual lifestyle.

[Vanika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I both liked this book and didn't like this book. Which gives it it's middle rating.

The parts talking about Botswana, the aids crisis, the small cultural bits. I really enjoyed those. And I wished there was more of it. Everytime those chapters came I found myself racing through them because it was so engaging

The other parts I didn't love was the long long winded sentences. Perhaps if you enjoy that sort of writing you'd like it more. But it wasn't for me. Some of the childhood bits or other observations very much felt like any other expat in developing world story. Like the parts about dust?? Or the hippie home school bits. I simply couldn't find it in myself to care. Because anyone in the developing world would know the value of a proper education.

So those parts were harder to get through. The subject matters touched definitely did pique my interest and I think I'll probably pick up a more informative version of the story in the future.

[Bertha Rachinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story- dragged in spots.