THE BOOK SMUGGLERS OF TIMBUKTU

I loved it..The book was very satisfying and gripping.

The book is based on the movement of the manuscripts of Timbuktu to save it from destruction post the capture of the city by the Al Qaida offshoot. In parallel the story of the discovery of the city by the western adventurers also takes place. It was very informative for me as I didn't know anything about Timbuktu standing as a place of learning and bibliophile people.

I enjoyed this book very much. I thought the juxtaposition of Western interest in Timbuctoo from the end of the eighteenth century, with the attempt by the custodians of the Timbuctoo books to protect them from Mali separatists and Isis, was a good way of telling two different but connected stories. I hadn't realised that the majority of the Timbuctoo books were still in the hands of private individuals whose families have presumably looked after them for hundreds of years. The twist at the end which suggests that the guardians of the books had somewhat exaggerated the numbers of books and their danger from potential marauders was unresolved, but interesting to read about.

I admit I knew near to nothing of Timbuktu which was one of the reasons why I bought this book (another was a recommendation of newspaper magazine I read online regularly).That said it surprised me in its intensity and vibrant storytelling. It didn't take long for me to want to know if the city's manuscripts would be saved and who was the first European who finally found the mysterious town in West Africa.The best part, I learned so many things. For example I knew the Sahara is huge but now I know how big and how its parts are called and that its sandy part is actually the smallest. It was all presented in ways that I'm remembering parts form the beginning even though this book isn't one you can read in one go. At least I couldn't. Too many names and like the author said so himself in his notes too many similar names (apparently many of Mali's inhabitants have surnames like Toure or Haidara) which made it confusing at times. I loved the historical retrospects parts. People who explored the world in the 17/18/19 century (and earlier of course) before there were vaccinations, antibiotics, and anti malaria drugs were true heroes. Every single one of them must have had the strength of an ox and a cast-iron will.The ending came a bit sudden for my tastes. In part that's due because the notes take up a considerable part of the book and reading the ebook was deceiving here.All in all it was an entertaining and educational book - and you can never go wrong with one of those. Also a book that makes for a good present.

An excellent and true tale. You need to keep a list of characters as you read or you'll lose track of who did what when, as there are so many players. I wish I had done this because I need to read it again now.

It contained interesting information about Africa, I haven't finished it but I have been reading it for a long time. I usually finish books but this has taken so long that I have lost interest.

An astonishing piece of detailed reportage of an incredibly interesting and complex series of events. Truly a reminder that 'things are not as they seem'. A rich, dense read, and a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down. Beautifully written, weaving between factual, descriptive and commentary writing. A tour de force. I loved it!