Book 8 – “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” by Alexandra Fuller

Alexandra Fuller grew up in Africa during the 1970s and Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight is her captivating memoir of her childhood. Her parents grew up in Africa themselves and borrowed money to start a farm in Rhodesia growing tobacco. Alexandra (known as Bobo in the book) and her sister grew up on the farm and ran wild for many years. During this period Rhodesia achieved independence and white settlers were removed from their farms amid violence. The Fuller family escaped to Malawi and eventually to Zambia.

The author tells the story of her childhood very much from the point of view of a child. She reports the views of her parents and other white settlers about the indigenous people but makes no comment on them – they very much speak for themselves. She is honest in showing how little the white and Black people mixed and how different their lifestyles are. This way of reflecting the views of those at the time is very effective but often uncomfortable reading.

The author’s parents wanted a good life in Africa and obviously managed to achieve this although they did have to work for it and they were never rich. They did, however, drink a huge amount and this caused them some difficulties in managing their lives and making sensible decisions. They ignored their children most of the time but made sure to send them to boarding schools with other white families. It becomes obvious, after a family tragedy, that Alexandra’s mother has mental health issues which affect the way that she manages the children and her life.

This was an unsettled and often dangerous childhood for the author but it is obvious from the book how much she loved Africa and the landscape – the book is full of vivid descriptions of plants and animals. The author gives us no opinions about her childhood or about the political changes that occur and that makes it a stronger book. This is the story of one child growing up in very unusual circumstances which were always unsettled and often violent and what she saw and felt at the time. It is compelling reading.