The Vegetable Grows and the Lion Roars: My Peace Corps Service

Review\nThe Vegetable Grows and the Lion Roars: My Peace Corps Service\nCategory: Biographies and Memoirs\nAuthor: Gary R Lindberg\nPublisher: BookBaby
Publication Date: January 12, 2022 Page Count: 204 ISBN-10: 978-1-667781-273-1 ISBN-13: 978-1-66781-272-4 ASIN: B09PVPSQSQAt times entertaining and adventurous, The Vegetable Grows and the Lion Roars: My Peace Corps Service is a stirring memoir of Gary Lindberg's Peace Corps experience, a book that documents his life in Ivory Coast in the 1960s and his travels in East and West Africa. It takes readers from the moments the author undergoes rigorous training that includes five hours of French language through his deployment, to his life amidst the Africans and adventures through different lands. Not long after his training, the author, together with others, is on the way "to a new land, new culture, new customs, and a new way of thinking." This opens an adventure in Ivory Coast that brings the author into contact with a new culture, new friends, exciting moments, and challenges. The author shares his day-to-day life with a lightness of spirit and a voice that is compelling, presenting exciting moments like learning to plant vegetables and his experience with the school garden. His adventures in East and West Africa and his contact with new cultures are revealing of what it was like to be a Peace Corps volunteer in the early years of the program.\nThis is a beautiful book and a tale that offers a captivating portrait of Africa in the 1960s. The descriptions of places like Déahouépleu —the village where the author worked— are atmospheric and detailed. Friendships are not just enlivening but expertly written to capture the pulse and life of the community. The Vegetable Grows and the Lion Roars: My Peace Corps Service is written in beautiful prose and the author's gift for storytelling melds with the excitement of adventure to deliver an enjoyable reading experience. The author's travels are brimming with discovery and moments that are both entertaining and revealing of the author's exploration of cultural dialogue. From the author's sense of setting to the excellent writing and his ability to share personal stories, this memoir transports readers to the Africa of the 1960s. It is a captivating odyssey that is littered with strong imagery and life flowing through each page, a well-crafted tale that depicts a journey of self-exploration, discovery, and adventure.\nReviewed by Daniel Rhodes Review Date: April 6, 2022\nCategory: Biographies and Memoirs\nSan Francisco Book Review
★★★★\nPrior to reading this book, I was familiar with the Peace Corps group but honestly unsure of a lot of what they actually did. Therefore, I found this book a great introduction to the Peace Corps and the various work they partake in. I appreciated how authentic Lindberg was in his recall of both the good and bad of his service, making this book especially beneficial for someone who may be considering joining themselves. I think this book is a wonderful insight into the life of a Peace Corps volunteer.\nTheresa Kadair\nBookLife Book Review\nRatings: A-AAAA\nLindberg recounts his heartening West African adventures in the Peace Corps of the 1960s in this memoir that illuminates the service experiences of American volunteers in the Ivory Coast, running health and agricultural education programs and working to build schools and gardens, while also offering insights into the place, people, culture, and era. Powered by Kennedy-esque optimism, Lindberg—known as "Monsieur Gary" in the Ivory Coast—taught and led residents of the Gagnoa region in the cultivation of jardins scolaires, or "school gardens," a trial project created to encourage the eating of vegetables. Lindberg's efforts emphasized local favorites tomatoes, okra, and eggplant.\nDrawing on diary entries and his own copious photos, Lindberg's account provides a clear account of Peace Corps life and efforts, circa 1966, from training to teaching to implemen