I received all 3 books as a birthday gift & finally got around to reading them this summer. Once I started, I couldn't stop! The characters are so real & believeable that I felt like I knew them. The changes they evolve through with life's circumstances are admirable because they seem like real folks going through real trials. Loved the plot between Mabel Rae & Drew....

Not only did I love this book but I felt almost as I was apart of this family that went through trails and tribulations. It was wonderful! Insprirational! If you read this one you must read the other two.

What a touching story! The fact that this series is based upon actual events makes you believe that love can conquer all. Kudos to Ms. Stokes and her family for letting their story be told in such a wonderful way! Thanks!!! DON'T miss the other two books in this series.

This is a cynical story about the beautiful people -- it highlights the adventures of a group of shallow, narcissistic expatriates living in Kenya. Their trust funds allow them to lead the kind of aimless lives that are often shown in the movies.

That said, I enjoyed the book. It had great descriptions about Africa (both the beauty and the horror), it had some political undertones (colonialism, race, violence), and an interesting plot. The main character, Esme is a mixed-up young woman who makes some questionable choices. She realizes the irony of some of her observations -- though seems helpless to affect change. She also has a detached way of looking at her life and her nonchalance can be frustrating. But ultimately I do believe she was interested in a certain amount of self-discovery and introspection.

This book is not for everyone. If you are looking for a meaningful book about what it is like to be white and living in Africa, this book is NOT for you. But, if you are looking for a contemporary and light read about living abroad, I recommend this book.

Esme was eight years old when her mother died. Esme left Manhattan to live with her father, Ferdinando, an Italian poet, who resided for the most part in Naples. Esme is an adult when her father died. Grieving his death, the bored Esme flees the continent to recover on a Kenyan safari.

However, life in East Africa is nothing like Esme expected. Instead of the wild that she expected, she becomes part of the white expatriate population living in Nairobi. This group of individuals suffering from ennui openly use cocaine and nightly swap sex partners. Esme initially moves in with Adam, but quickly switches to cynical English reporter Hunter Reed.

RULES OF THE WILD appears to be an attempt to turn Dinesen and Hemingway upside down and over the author's knees for a well deserved spanking. The disillusioned but opulent white community lingering in Africa is brilliantly described by Francesca Marciano. However, the novel fails to turn satirical, leaving a maudlin taste as readers realize that the females are banal losers while the males are self-indulging mental masturbaters. Though this inability to find something positive to say about these exiles makes the novel quite melancholy, the audience should note that Ms. Marciano has written a witty, interesting book that brings to life another aspect of African society.

Harriet Klausner

Esme was eight years old when her mother died. Esme left Manhattan to live with her father, Ferdinando, an Italian poet, who resided for the most part in Naples. Esme is an adult when her father died. Grieving his death, the bored Esme flees the continent to recover on a Kenyan safari.

However, life in East Africa is nothing like Esme expected. Instead of the wild that she expected, she becomes part of the white expatriate population living in Nairobi. This group of individuals suffering from ennui openly use cocaine and nightly swap sex partners. Esme initially moves in with Adam, but quickly switches to cynical English reporter Hunter Reed.

RULES OF THE WILD appears to be an attempt to turn Dinesen and Hemingway upside down and over the author's knees for a well deserved spanking. The disillusioned but opulent white community lingering in Africa is brilliantly described by Francesca Marciano. However, the novel fails to turn satirical, leaving a maudlin taste as readers realize that the females are banal losers while the males are self-indulging mental masturbaters. Though this inability to find something positive to say about these exiles makes the novel quite melancholy, the audience should note that Ms. Marciano has written a witty, interesting book that brings to life another aspect of African society.

Harriet Klausner