Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken HeartBlood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart
Score Modern
What it's about
In 2004, the British journalist Tim Butcher set out to retrace the route of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley along the Congo River, across one of the most dangerous and broken countries on earth. Traveling by motorbike, canoe and on foot, relying on aid workers and strangers, he describes the land, its history from Leopold to Mobutu, and how far it has fallen.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the Samuel Johnson Prize (now the Baillie Gifford Prize). It's a gripping, sobering travel adventure.
You'll love it if you liked
King Leopold's Ghost
The Poisonwood Bible
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest DisasterGood to know
It's about danger and decay rather than romance. Butcher is often frightened, and honest about it.
By the numbers
- Readers39 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller2 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #1302 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2379 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the Samuel Johnson Prize (now the Baillie Gifford Prize). It ranks #2,379 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 59.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart about?
In 2004, the British journalist Tim Butcher set out to retrace the route of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley along the Congo River, across one of the most dangerous and broken countries on earth. Traveling by motorbike, canoe and on foot, relying on aid workers and strangers, he describes the land, its history from Leopold to Mobutu, and how far it has fallen.
How long does it take to read Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart?
About 10 hours (386 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart?
If you liked it, try King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver or Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer.