Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: A Book Review

When you pick up your copy of Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: The Story of an African Childhood by Robyn Scott, the quirky title will be the first hint of the delightful read you're about to have.

Robyn Scott's memoir of her childhood in Botswana begins when her parents decide to transplant Scott and her younger siblings from their life in lush New Zealand to a converted cowshed in the wilds of Botswana. She begins with her first impressions as she deplanes from the last leg of her trip, and hooks the reader by setting the scene for her harsh surroundings:
"Heat overwhelmed me as I stood, stunned, in the fierce, dry, completely still air. It was unfairly, unbelievably hot, heat like nothing I had ever felt before. Normal thought, in this temperature and blinding light, was suddenly impossible. Mesmerized, I watched shimmering waves float above the dark tar. Beyond the runway fence posts, the flat green scrub seemed frozen behind the wobbling veil of heat. The almost white sky was empty; nothing stirred in the bushes; a few black cows stood motionless, sleeping beside the fence. Heat was the only thing moving."

Scott quickly moves on to describe her colorful relatives, beginning with her unforgettable grandfather Igor, as well as her father Keith, the reluctant doctor, and her mother Linda, the Oxford scholar. After some light painting and masonry, the family moves into a still smelly abandoned cowshed across the courtyard from the grandparents and begin living their new life. Scott's father starts flying across Botswana to provide healthcare in far flung clinics, Scott's mother begins writing books, and the children are left to discover their new world, riddled with deadly snakes, scorpions, and termite mounds.

The memoir is much more than simply an expose of life in a fascinating African country. It is also an inspirational tale of homeschooling as Scott's mother is an unconventional but passionate teacher. Without relying on any sort of conventional curriculum, often against strong criticism from her family and friends, she succeeds in instilling a deep love of learning in her children and a lifelong curiosity. The flora and fauna of Botswana is their canvas and their house is filled with snakes and other exotic pets to study. After reading Scott's recollections of her mother's teachings, I can only dream of being a similar inspiration to my children.
"Fueled by a steaming cup of rooibos tea, and with Damien joining us, Mum soon extended the remit of her talk. Treat every problem as an opportunity to learn... Every loss of life, as a reminder to savor life... Live every day as if it were your last... Only mum could turn the death of a juvenile brown house snake into an exhilarating philosophical lecture."

Twenty Chickens for a Saddle is the type of book whose vivid images will remain with the reader for a long time. Scott's prose is gorgeous and her characters come alive with her vivid descriptions. I got lost in the memoir, and I heartily recommend it.