Bookey Peek
Published: 2009
Total Pages: 290
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While the rest of the world scratches its head, life in Zimbabwe lurches on one way or the other. Bookey Peek's sequel to her captivating book ALL THE WAY HOME takes us back to Stone Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, where comedy, tragedy and the antics of "the meanest animal in the world" make every day an experience. In WILD HONEY, Bookey takes the reader back to Stone Hills and the rich experiences this beautiful sanctuary offers. The history of the Matobo hills, daily life of the rangers and their experiences, confronting poachers, dealing with life and death, fighting bush fires and dealing with the loss of a family member to AIDS, to name a few. Poombi, the star of ALL THE WAY HOME, is still alive with her piglets which she successfully rears wild. But Poombi meets a tragic end leaving the Stone hill community bereft. Fortuitously, on a visit to their friends' taxidermy studio Bookey and Richard meet what will become their next Stone hills orphan and charmer; a noisy, smelly occupant of a shoe box - an orphaned honey badger or ratel as they are called in Zimbabwe. Described by Robert Ruark as 'the meanest animal in the world' this delightful little monster stole Richard and Bookey's hearts and minds, when his original owners asked them to take him over when they went on holiday. The story evolves as we follow Bookey's vain attempts to discipline and house train Badge; an animal with a mind of it's own. It is a tale of hilarity, charm and poignancy set against the menacing fear of land grabs, election intimidation and problems of daily living in Zimbabwe.