Slim

By Ruth Linnea Whitney

Ruth Whitney s debut novel is set in a small, interior country of Africa at the start of the AIDS epidemic. The aged president is more aggrieved by a journalist calling his country tiny than by the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 087074478X
• ISBN13: 9780870744785
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Southern Methodist Univ Pr
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Behind an Epidemic

Imagine a place where the truth is hidden behind lies, where the natives are kept in the dark regarding what's going on in their midst, and a place where there isn't much in terms of material possessions but the people still maintain a sense of pride and accomplishment in what they do. Having spent a couple of years in sub-Saharan Africa volunteering with her husband, author Ruth Linnea Whitney pulls from her experience to paint a vivid picture surrounding the AIDS epidemic, known as Slim, and the voices behind the statistics of a small fictional African country and presents it to us in her debut novel, SLIM.Set in late October 1985, the AIDS virus slowly spreads over the tiny country of Kivwe Zandu, Africa. And though not a real country, it is one that could easily mirror those in real life: with dictatorships, a particular culture in which women don't have much say so, and westerners who have come to lend a hand; to make society better for those who live there. In addition is the ignorance of those in power and their inability to focus on the disease that claims the lives of their friends, family, and neighbors. We are introduced to SLIM by a myriad of characters telling this story through their own viewpoint, with ages ranging from young to old, and hearing from the wise to unwise. While SLIM focuses around the discovery and needed treatment of AIDS, Ms. Whitney has also touched on the power, love, and friendship and the sometimes bad turn of events we encounter in our relationships; whether intimate or not. Her portrayal of the different cultures coupled with the dialogue make this novel one which has to be read slowly, in silence, or one will risk the ability to grasp the tragic, yet loving tone surrounding SLIM. I found myself complaining about how slow the book was, but can now appreciate the need to read it slowly. The quirks of the people, the land, and the dialogue all combine for a powerful story...one I would recommend to others.Reviewed by Tee C. Royalof The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

A superb debut novel

What a rich & textured read! Open up SLIM & be enticed into...another people...another way of life...another geography. Elegantly & flawlessly written, with a profound story to tell -- the beginning of AIDS in an African community.

Raves!

What a refreshing, beautifully written book. I felt I was there, inside the mythical Central African country, knowing the people, what they eat, what occupies their minds, how their days are structured...the author's inclusion of authentic detail makes it all live. The gifted child Alinofe Banda and the fat Mamsahib missionary doctor Pia Macloed, will certainly go down as two of my all-time favorite characters in literature. Of course from the title I expected a story about the great plague AIDS, but it in the end is much more a story of people, personalizing the universal themes and questions regarding love, sex, faith, family, morality, death and meaning. It left me wanting to hear much more from this wonderful writer.

AIDS will affect all of us.

Slim was an eye-opener for me. Too often I see conditions such as AIDS as just statistics, and these apply to people in unknown countries far away. People like me need to know of and understand the plague that is moving across the earth. The strength of Whitney’s characters, the captivating story line, and engaging dialogue kept my attention throughout. My outlook on AIDS has changed from dry numbers to understanding the absolute devastation that the disease brings to the individual, the family, the nation, and ultimately the entire earth. This is a must read.

"Slim" is stunning!

"Slim" is a remarkable work of literary art. Beginning with the beautifully designed jacket which sets the venue perfectly, this novel paints a human face on the tragedy of AIDS and its devestating impacts. The story is set in the fictional country of Zandu, Africa during the early years of the AIDS epidemic. The author clearly knows this part of the world and the people who populate it. Whitney does a masterful job of sharing the culture, ambiance, and reality of living in a world where so many have so little in terms of material goods yet live lives of dignity and personal accomplishment. She creates memorable characters who reflect the tensions and challenges of responding to events far beyond their control. "Slim" has a touch of magic that leaves the reader with the realization that life itself is magic. This is a "must read" for those who appreciate a finely crafted story which adds much to ones understanding of a complex subject. Too bad Oprah isn't still doing her book club!