Comments
EVERY BOOK THAT HAS BEEN SOLD HAS BEEN DELIVERED WITH AN
INVITATION TO THE PURCHASER TO SEND ANY COMMENTS THEY MAY HAVE ONCE THEY HAVE
FINISHED READING THE BOOK. NOT EVERY READER HAS REPLIED, BUT THOSE THAT HAVE I
LIST HERE.
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"I have never set foot in Africa, but this book made me all the
more aware that the atrocities you read about elsewhere also happen in Africa.
The story left me in tears and I enjoyed the book thoroughly. A very easy read."
DM (United Kingdom)
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"I have just finished reading your book and wow. Very emotional and sad! I enjoy your style of writing. I kept wondering how you dealt with witnessing such atrocities. It made me realise (again) why I left (South) Africa. Call me over cautious but I would rather get out early than go through what you did. Guess I'm a scaredy cat. I was surprised that they made such racist remarks to you at work! I have been called "whitey" in SA a few times in the street and while it was tempting to yell: Screw you kaffir! (or something like that) I didn't as I am sure I would have gotten jailed or the shit kicked out of me... or even worse... a bullet in the head. I still strongly believe blacks are FAR more racist than whites.
I enjoyed the bit about Robert Mugabe. Many people always say to me that the guy is a mad lunatic like Hitler or Stalin etc but I disagree. I think to get into a position like that requires intelligence. You don't get to that position in life from being an idiot! I'm not saying I agree with what Mugabe has done to Rhodesia (far from it) but I do not think he is mad... just power hungry and willing to do whatever it takes to stay in power. I just wonder when SA gets its first dictator...
Please don't stop writing, its people like you and Jan that make a difference. It would be great to listen to you again on the Right Perspective! I really enjoy the "raw" truth and that’s what I love about the internet. If you read/listen to the right sources you can get the greatest news ever. In fact, I don't even bother with reading the mainstream news/media anymore. I apply that way of thinking to all areas of my life. I have never followed the crowd nor do I plan to! "
TVD (United Kingdom)
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"Great book!"
DU (United States of America)
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"Overall, I found the book very good. The first bit, detailing
the rise to power of Mugabe, was a little disjointing, too much jumping back and
forward in time, which may lead to a little confusion with people who are not as
familiar with Rhodesia's history as I am. But, once Robb gets on to his personal
history in the police force, the story flowed well and held my attention.
I left Zimbabwe at the end of 1981, so I was intrigued to hear the real story of some of the events that happened after that. Robb has managed to recreate the atmosphere, feelings, and personalities such that I became emotionally involved in his story. The many pictures added spice to the story, and were very interesting.
Well done."
BB (Australia)
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"I read your book and found it totally amazing, a very true and rare chronicle of the atrocities and horrors of the Gukurahundi and Mugabe’s reign of terror, an awakening of reality which no true Rhodesian or Zimbabwean, or in fact, anybody connected to our country should go without reading. Reading parts of your book was also dramatic and emotional for me."
RP (United Kingdom)
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"I like the book, very hard hitting. The book is one that has a
specific audience ie from that part of the world."
PWC (Central Asia)
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"I am on page 195 of your book and I am bloody enjoying it. You have done a great job and yes, it MUST be published!! You know what? I wish you were here in Africa with us."
CG (Republic of South Africa)
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"Just a short note to say that I really enjoyed the book and will certainly recommend it. Without question, Jan was right to encourage you to write this book as it is very informative. I have learnt so much about what life was like behind the scenes, a really good history lesson. Thanks again and good luck with your next book, if you are not writing another... get to it! Maybe a fiction novel?
DY (United Kingdom)
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Have just finished (and thoroughly enjoyed) Without Honour. It brought all sorts of memories back - some not so welcome.I wonder whether you recall the murder of four farmers at Somabula Country Club in the mid 80s by 'dissidents' ? This was the community in which I grew up.
What I cannot understand is why you never took the plunge and did an LLB. It is obvious to me that you would have made a good lawyer.
MP (Unknown Location)
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Robb, I came home and reread your book, cover to cover, absorbing every bloody word!
I felt I was there with you when you found Wally dead, the single quarters, Gwanda, the kraals, yikes man, it was way too real for me! Before, I had skimmed the book on computer because of interruptions etc but this time, it all soaked in, page by page!
I could even see you sitting with Mugabe eating, trying to do your duty but not relishing the fact, loss of friends, black, white, leaving the police force. All in all one fantastic representation of what a decent police officer with no racial bias, but a deep sense of duty to his country, went through!
A fabulous book! Honest, if it wasn't I'd tell you!
I often wondered what life was like in early post Rhodesian days and this said it all!
PM (United States)
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Hi Robb,
My mother has now finished your book so I will pass on what she has to say. She says it is an easy book to read and though she would have liked more experiences, she enjoyed it. She feels that, for your age, you had to see too much evil.
Hope you are getting plenty of good reviews.
AF (United Kingdom)
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I finally got to read Robb's book. It has been sitting there with 10001
things going on.
It was excellent. It has a lot of emotion, anger and humanity. What
surprised me was his naeivity (initially) in fact even with things falling
down around him there was still the possibly, the disbelief that it could
happen - so that means there is another reason.
I felt anger and sorrow with the occasional laugh. For me, what came across
was that it was a release of demons within Robb but this is only part of the
book and does not overwhelm it, more ripple along like a sub tune within the
overall story. Not mentioned but felt.
I would recommend it as a good read, when you can sit and immerse yourself
in a book, it can cause raw emotion then it is well worth reading.
CL
United Kingdom
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"Robb
Finished your book last evening, en excellent read it was. Not sure how you managed to survive all of that. When will your next book be published?
AL
(Iraq)"
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I just wanted to say that l finally got around to reading your book & how much l enjoyed it. Your writing really put the reader ‘on the spot’ with you so-to-speak & in expressing your thoughts throughout the book showed what sort of conflict you were going through in trying to do your job ‘by the letter’, for both duty’s sake as well as upholding your own personal standards, in the midst of the effective & subsequent collapse of the BSAP/ZRP. The scenes you described whilst investigating the atrocities conducted by the 5th Brigade were absolutely horrific & l’m sure you must be consumed with a rage (as l certainly am) that the perpetrators of these crimes will never be brought to justice & just make a real mockery of the law. In the same way with the farm invasions of the last 8 or so years & the murders, rapes, assaults & beatings of not only the farmers & their families but also their hapless employees & their families too will all go unpunished. I suppose that’s life in the third world for you.
I must say it’s been a pleasure corresponding with you & all the best to you in your future endeavours.
CR
United Kingdom
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Just finished Robb's book. I have never been to Africa but the way this book was written I feel like I have! I knew little about the history of Zimbabwe, so the introduction really pulled the book together for me. This was a great book, and I look forward to telling everyone I know to read it.
JM
United States of America