Review of The Elusive Elephant: Mama's African Adventure

[Diana Lowery]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Elusive Elephant: Mama's African Adventure" by Jean Roberts Hodges.]

---

4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

In The Elusive Elephant: Mama's African Adventure, Jean Roberts Hodges describes her adventure as she goes on safari with her husband in the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania, East Africa. What makes this safari different is that the hunter will not be using a gun to take down a huge mammoth. He will be using a bow and arrow. The couple was selected for this unique opportunity to help cull the elephants, whose population numbered 110,000. The book follows Jean, who left her five children behind for 21 days to experience the thrills and dangers with her husband.

Because the author kept a detailed journal of the trip that happened thirty years ago, the narrative still feels fresh and includes many facts about the people, locations, and conditions of that trip. This is a quote by the author at the beginning of her tale: "Unlike some, who line their walls with animal heads and hides, these recollections hang in the halls of my mind and are my treasured keepsakes."

One of my favorite things about the book is how the author is treated by the all-male members of this hunting party. Jean’s drive, determination, and courage are appreciated and acknowledged. However, the guides also respect and honor her feminine side. One example is the care they took to ensure the privacy of the outdoor shower. Enduring the grueling, all-day hikes in one hundred degree temperatures brought her praise from the natives. Sleeping in a fragile, treetop blind above a rotting hippo carcass to watch the lions feed below also earned the woman some accolades. The small gestures the crew made to upgrade her accommodations were precious.

Like many memoirs, there are moments when the details become tedious and the storytelling lacks excitement. However, these negative parts were not enough to make me want to quit reading the book. The desire to see if the goal to kill "Ol' Yeller" with only a bow and arrow was achieved kept me going.

Although I am not an advocate for or against hunting, I learned a great deal about both sides of this controversy. My rating is four out of five stars. I found many errors, which requires a deduction. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories with strong female characters, readers who enjoy learning about exotic locations, and readers who like reading about a normal, loving couple who get along despite their circumstances. I learned enough about this exotic continent to know that I will not be booking a safari anytime soon, but I am glad I got to tag along on this one.

******
The Elusive Elephant: Mama's African Adventure
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Stephen Christopher 1]

Hi Diana, wow what an interesting book choice. I'm more on the side of not hunting these animals, but as you indicated, this all happened 30 years ago. Things were different then, and there was an overpopulation of elephants. The Tanzanian location already has my interest, so I'll be adding this one to my list. Thank you for introducing this book to me.

[ShamilaK9]

Diana, I appreciated your honesty and viewpoints while reading your review. Thank you for being so open about your feelings regarding hunting and safaris while still being able to give an objective review of the contents of the book and the author of the memoir.

[Diana Lowery]

Hi Diana, wow what an interesting book choice. I'm more on the side of not hunting these animals, but as you indicated, this all happened 30 years ago. Things were different then, and there was an overpopulation of elephants. The Tanzanian location already has my interest, so I'll be adding this one to my list. Thank you for introducing this book to me.

Thank you, Stephen. It was an interesting choice for me.

[Diana Lowery]

Diana, I appreciated your honesty and viewpoints while reading your review. Thank you for being so open about your feelings regarding hunting and safaris while still being able to give an objective review of the contents of the book and the author of the memoir.

Thank you, ShamilaK9. I appreciate your comments.

[Protais Niyomukiza]

This a very good adventure Diana, the safari in Tanzania to see how elephants, huge mammoth are hunted and brought down using not guns but arrows and bows. This an amazing story that shows courage of the hunters. It is a story of facts that marked the auther narriting 30 years later but still remember all details and feels fresh.
It is a tyical story connecting a culture to a continent and a specific region of Eastern africa in Tanzania.
This is a very nice one that attract the curiosity of readers.

[Diana Lowery]

This a very good adventure Diana, the safari in Tanzania to see how elephants, huge mammoth are hunted and brought down using not guns but arrows and bows. This an amazing story that shows courage of the hunters. It is a story of facts that marked the auther narriting 30 years later but still remember all details and feels fresh.
It is a tyical story connecting a culture to a continent and a specific region of Eastern africa in Tanzania.
This is a very nice one that attract the curiosity of readers.

Thank you for your comments.

[Mary John 10]

The Elusive Elephant: Mama's African Adventure by Jean Roberts Hodges recounts her unique safari experience in Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve, where she and her husband embark on a bow-and-arrow elephant culling mission. With the elephant population at 110,000, they were chosen for this special opportunity. The book follows Jean as she leaves her five children behind for 21 days to face the thrills and dangers of the African wilderness, offering readers a personal and adventurous account of her journey.

[Naimah Agboluaje]

Review: Y'all, The Elusive Elephant: Mama's African Adventure by Jean Roberts Hodges is one heck of a read! This memoir takes you on a thrilling safari in Tanzania, where the author and her husband embark on an extraordinary adventure. I gotta say, the fact that they're using a bow and arrow to take down those massive elephants adds a whole new level of excitement to the story.

Hodges does a fantastic job of transporting you to the Selous Game Reserve with her vivid descriptions and fascinating facts. She kept a journal during her trip, so you know you're getting all the nitty-gritty details straight from the source. Plus, the way the author is treated by the all-male hunting party is quite impressive. They respect her strength and courage while honoring her feminine side - it's a true example of harmony in a testosterone-filled environment.

Sure, there are moments where the storytelling loses a bit of its oomph, but trust me, it's just a minor hiccup. The thrilling goal of taking down "Ol' Yeller" with a bow and arrow keeps you hooked till the very end. I reckon this book is a solid four out of five stars. There may be a few errors, but overall, it's a captivating read.

If you fancy stories with strong female characters, exotic locations, and a peek into a loving couple's adventure, then this book is right up your alley. You'll learn a lot about both sides of the hunting debate and get a real taste of the African wild. Grab a copy, y'all, and join in on this wild ride! Evocative descriptions, brought scenes to life.