Experience the Epic Journey of Three Children and a Husband Across Africa with 13 Crates in Tow

Sarah White: This book is a delightful account of the adventures of a family of five who moved to African Zambia. I noticed the book when I was looking for Kindle Unlimited books to read and I am so glad I noticed it. The title reeled me in. Imagine packing three children up and flying away. That takes courage. I look forward to reading books 2 and 3 in this series. The author relates many funny experiences. I will not spoil them for you.

United States on Aug 03, 2021

Marlene W.: This book was easy reading but not particularly interesting to me.
It deemed to be less a bout Africa and more about traveling to and fro and the problems of doing so. I had hoped for more adventurousness mmm in a book about Africa.

United States on May 11, 2021

MarieB: Super humour british de Ann Patras. Tout expat en Afrique s'y retrouvera et si vous n'avez jamais vécu la vie d'expat, c'est le moment de vivre l'aventure et la découverte avec Ann Patras.
I highly recommend, very funny, witty, a great read.

France on Mar 09, 2018

HM: Especially for those who were brought up or have lived in Zambia, this book and its sequel a very enjoyable read .

Spain on Oct 02, 2017

Mary Schmidt: I have finished reading this book and here is my review. I found Into Africa a rather enjoyable and fun read full of adventure for this expat family. The flow of the narrative is easy, but quite slow. Patras’ clearly relates comedy into situations, and reading of life as an expat was interesting, and I gained a clearer vision of Zambia at the time frame this story is written from, circa 1980. I wonder how Zambia has changed since 1980? The food and toiletry, not to mention clothing and toy shortages compound Patras’ and her family’s life. This book is well written and interesting.

United States on Mar 11, 2017

Gillgory: I really enjoyed this book , Ann speaks from the heart and takes you on a roller coaster ride of the ups and downs of family life whilst living in Africa

United Kingdom on Jul 21, 2016

Maureen Douglas: enjoyed

Canada on Nov 05, 2014

Vmp: A fun, personal account of what it was like to be an ex-pat in Zambia in the early eighties. Anne Patras emphasises that this is a book of its time and having lived in Africa during the same period and having friends in a similar environment, I could see the parallels. What really struck me was the litany of shortages they experienced in Zambia then. I lived in South Africa on a remote farm (with no electricity and often no water) at the same time as Anne was in Zambia, but we never had any food shortages. I found these differences quite fascinating, as well as the long trips Anne and her family made to buy meat and supplies. For me, this book was really interesting when I compared how different our lives were at that time. I think it would also be great for anyone curious about what it was like to be there then.

United States on Sep 14, 2014

Allan: Having also been a regular reader of the Patras Press offerings through the years (see other reviews), I thought I knew what I was in for when I read this book. Boy, was I dead wrong. There are so many fun stories, near tragedies and facts in this book that I was unaware of ever happening, that it felt like I don't know this family at all. Ann writes like she speaks and so while reading the letters home that are included in her book, I heard them in her voice.
I had a very hard time putting this book down, and even as a slow reader, I was able to get through this whole book in under 2 days. It made me feel like a man who has spent a whole afternoon making a gourmet meal to then go ahead and devour it in 3 minutes. I want more, more, more.
I very much look forward to 'Still in Africa' so I can find out what else I didn't know about the whole adventure.
Keep up the good work Ann, and please don't keep us waiting so long for the next one...

United States on Jul 27, 2014

Tony J: A thoroughly enjoyable read... can't wait for a follow-up, which I'm hoping there will be as only the first year of a thirty year life in Africa is covered. Ann Patras has a gift for spotting the humour in everyday events, although it appears that this particular family are inundated with more mini-adventures and minor disasters than most would encounter in an entire lifetime. And Ann has a talent for expressing them in such a witty way that you chuckle page after page with full-bodied guffaws here and there.

I must confess a sort of vested interest here, for I have known the Patras family for decades - well before they emigrated - and have been the recipient of many of Ann's Newsletters and Christmas 'Patras Press' letters and emails; all equally entertaining and chuckleworthy. I knew she always intended to write a book, but was surprised to find it actually published. I was even more surprised to find an acknowledgment for having fixed her up with her first PC with Word Processor in the mid '80s.

Bias apart though, it's a great read, which I found virtually unput-downable. Other peoples' misfortunes, especially when recounted with a twinkle, always make us laugh,...

United Kingdom on Jul 14, 2014