Over Here: An American Expat in the South of France Book

This is not for the faint-hearted.

An autobiographical account of the war in the Darfur region of Sudan, seen through the eyes of a woman who becomes a doctor. The book starts very gently, depicting the beautiful community in which Halima grows up. Her village is filled with characters and steeped in her Zaghawa culture. The community collectively raise children, neighbours and relatives are all closely involved in everyone's life. Perhaps in the west we would find this intrusive but it is portrayed clearly showing both the good and the negative - ie Halima is disapproved of by some, as she is at medical school rather than married. Yet each family is watched over and given food and assistance as needed.

As the war comes closer Halima is drawn into caring for fighters who come down to her village to have their injuries tended to - this places her in the firing line with the government forces.

Without giving away the main parts of the story, Halima has to flee following terrible events and makes her way to London, where she has to battle not to be sent back.

An eye-opening read on yet not another confllict where the world failed to act on behalf of innocent people.