Born For Adventure download epub

Loved this book. Although protagonist might have attitudes more in concert w our contemporary ones, the entire piece bristles w terrifically drawn characters and surprisingly insightful writing about Africa. Loved the encounters w the pygmies and the growing maturity of Tom. Lovely read.

I enjoyed this book. It is probably more of a YA book, but I still liked it.

Very well written

As the adage goes, Mom knows best, so when opportunity knocks to better his position - in the form of a chance to join Henry Morton Stanley's Relief of Emin Pasha Expedition in 1887 arrives his way - sixteen-year-old Tom Ormsby, a low-level employee at Burroughs & Wellcome, seizes it. Okay, this wasn't exactly what his mother had in mind, but what young man could resist? Certainly not Ormsby, whose role in this adventure with actual historic roots, goes by the label general dogsbody, nevertheless imagines achieving fame and glory, thanks to fervent readings of adventure novels. But upon disembarking in Africa, reality sets in fast. Soon, he'll be stumbling through vine-choked vegetation, risking attack by cannibals and other natives, and figuring out how to maintain some form of humanity in a world where chaos is the only constant.

Although the novel starts out strong, I found my attention flagging once the crew reached the Congo. The reason was the style that Tom used to record his findings: more like a journalist than a young boy coming of age on a once-in-a-lifetime expedition. Again and again, we are treated to a factual account of how many men desert or are murdered, and how many supplies are left. Life threatening risks (a tree falling on a character, an animal attack, etc.) are resolved just a paragraph later, decreasing drama. I also questioned the political correctness of the protagonist which at times seemed unrealistic for someone of his time and era, even though they seem self-evident to someone living in 2013. Even the most compassionate person of that time still grew up with some attitudes that seem reprehensible nowadays. But I did learn a lot about this period in Great Britain's history with Africa exploration. Overall, the book succeeds as interesting and informative non-fiction, even when it fails as a true, edge-of-your-seat adventure story.

Kathleen Karr's "Born for Adventure" is the story of Tom Ormesby, a young man from Great Britain during the reign of Queen Victoria who's bored with his life and just about everything in it. He figures there has to be more to life than mere drudgery, so when he gets the opportunity to join up with Henry Morton Stanley's latest expedition "in relief of Emin Pasha" in blackest Africa (and this is how Tom thinks of it, too), Tom goes.

Tom, of course, is your typical older teen in that he thinks he's much wiser, kinder, smarter and accomplished than he actually is. However, Tom does have skills that come in handy during the expedition to first find Emin Pasha (a German emigré who's oddly in charge of a specific part of Africa due to both Pasha's own wishes and the then-current political situation), most particularly a flexibility of mind as Tom can seemingly turn his hand to just about anything.

Giving someone like Tom this many skills -- Tom can serve meals with aplomb like a trusted servant, helps the doctor to the point that the doctor is willing to write a letter of reference for him in case Tom's willing to become a doctor in turn, etc. -- could've backfired badly, but Ms. Karr handles her hero brilliantly. You see, Tom, like the African men he often oversees, has very little power in the current hierarchy. No matter how many skills he has (and as already stated, he has many), he's always seen as a servant by Stanley and Stanley's officers (save the doctor, who's ego is apparently more flexible than most). And because of this, he can empathize far better with the men he often oversees.

Many questions are raised during "Born for Adventure," including the following:

Is it right for one country to impose its own standards on another?
How can anyone believe that Queen Victoria and her advisors, so far away and with little direct knowledge of the situation "on the ground," can understand anything of what's going on in her African colonies?
Would some of the tribes have resorted to cannibalism if they'd been left alone, or even if they'd been treated with some modicum of respect?
And, finally, is it right for people who've been born to a higher station to automatically assume that they're morally superior in every way, shape, or form?

While some of how Tom acts is a bit anachronistic for the time period, Ms. Karr gives good reasons for why Tom behaves the way he does. Tom's inner monologue is excellent, the story structure is good, and the actual adventures that Tom and the others go through -- all historically documented (though Tom himself is the author's conceit) -- are hair-raising in and of themselves.

In other words, "Born for Adventure" is a story that works on every level. It's an excellent "coming of age" story for Tom. It's an excellent action-adventure. It's strong, historically speaking, and the events being discussed are both well-rendered and true to life. The characters are appealing when they're supposed to be (Tom and the Doctor), appalling when they're supposed to be (Stanley in particular does not come off well), and surprisingly likable when they're supposed to be (the Pygmies).

Recommended heartily for young adults on up who are up for a good historical yarn with "all the right stuff."

Five stars.

Barb Caffrey

This book is sooooo British. Some of the phrases were almost laughably hoity toity, but a british child, anglophile, or person otherwise acquainted with British vernacular of the Victorian/Edwardian era, would have no issues understanding.

This is the story of a young man (boy, really) who manages to get himself a job on a ship venturing into the heart of Africa. He learns quite a lot in the first few pages alone about humanity, both his own, his captains, and that of the world at large.

I don't want to give away too much plot here.

The story is perfect for a teen or avid pre-teen (even a precocious 10 year old could probably handle it). It does have quite a lot of exposition (as opposed to being dialogue driven), so someone who is used to Harry Potter or similar may be thrown for a few pages.

It is intensely emotional and requires the reader examine his own beliefs about slavery, humanity, compassion, in a deep self reflection. I think the characters are wonderfully crafted, being complex and multi faceted (for the most part), and not the one-dimensional archetypes we've become so used to seeing.

The writing style is quite different from most YA fiction, but once you get past that, the story and characters will pull you in well enough!