Jill Baker

You want a friend, get a dog - Gordon Gekko 'Jeez, look at you, my friend blurted. 'You hardly smile. You used to be hilarious but you haven't laughed in weeks.'She listed the things she thought might help: a bottle of wine, six months at the beach, a year overseas. I was having none of it. Finally, she said: 'Jill, you need something to love.' She was right. I needed someone who cuddled me at night and was still excited to see me in the morning. I just hadn't met him yet. Newspaper editor Jill Baker arrived home to find her husband dead on the bedroom floor. Within weeks, still in shock, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and told her chances of surviving. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment followed in a year from hell. At her lowest ebb, Jill took a chance. She needed something or somebody to make life worth living again. But could it really be a crazy, howling, snoring, digging, chewing, barking orange pup? Turns out Harry and Jill were made to be together. They are an unlikely duo. Jill is quiet, Harry is loud as hell. Jill meticulously plans the day while Harry says let's wing it. She sips pinot while he's an espresso martini guy. Theirs is a beautiful friendship, an unbreakable bond. A DOG CALLED HARRY is the moving story of a dog dubbed Dirty Harry who helped Jill love life again.

A Dog Called Harry (wto)

A deeply personal account of being born into what was first Southern Rhodesia, then Rhodesia. Jill Baker grew up as a white child whose best playmates, until she went to school, were three black children. The paths each of their lives took could not have been more divergent. THE HORNS is founded on careful historical research into the valuable, but scarce, generational Matebele and Mashona oral histories; the vastly differing and biased accounts from early missionaries, pioneers, hunters, miners and traders; and records from the British South Africa Company, as well as government and parliamentary archives. The historical skeleton holds this story firmly in place. What is fictional is for the author to know - and for you the reader to guess. The Horns is presented as storytelling - oral storytelling - as practised in the passing on of oral history in African culture, sometimes indulging in the nostalgic prose of cherished memories, sometimes in the practical narration of the observations of young children making mud cattle, the terror of a teenager in acute distress, or the wise words of experience and learning from an older generation. "What I have heard you say tonight is reconciliation for our hurting nation." was the comment from an African member of the Harare Rotary Club READER REVIEWShetta2 : 5/5 : The sadness of Zimbabwe :November 19, 2018Kindle Edition Verified Purchaseif you love Africa you must read this - beautifully written from personal experience and historically accuratethe author was born and grew up in Southern Rhodesia with a keen eye for the nuances of the timethorough research revealing such facts as Cecil Rhodes was a mentor to the Africans and they wanted to work for himI look forward to books 2 and 3The Horns is up there with some of the best books on Africa I have read in many years. Eat your heart out Wilbur and you, Mr Ruark, look to your bushlore laurels". Martin McGhee UK"You have a gift of writing and telling the story. I have learned a lot after reading your book and in my view you have captured what I believe is a reflection of the whole history. More importantly, you were using Shona and Ndebele words appropriately. You might as well think of turning the book into a movie ...!" Kennedy Mavunganidze MEDIA REVIEWSKnysna and Plett Herald: 23rd August 2018 : Author Jill Baker is currently in South Africa to promote her book the Horns, book one of the Zambezi Trilogy (Porcupine Press). The book is broad in scope and is part memoir/historical fiction set in the then Southern Rhodesia. Baker has conducted meticulous research, scanning original diary entries from the likes of Cecil John Rhodes, gold diggers, "native commissioner" reports and government archival documents. She has peppered these vignettes throughout the text which makes the book come alive. You will laugh out loud, pull out your hair in utter despair and learn a lot. Four friends meet as children and the eventual paths that their lives take could not be more divergent. Carol is the daughter of a native commissioner; Jabulani, son of a Matebele chief; Prune an adopted child of the Scottish nurse in the bush clinic, with guardianship of the african Orderly; and Themba, the son of the district assistant. A must read for anyone who has fallen in love with the precious land between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. Staff reporter Dabengwa launches Jill Baker's book, The HornsNews 24 : September 14th, 2018 Mthulisi NcubeZAPU leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa over the weekend launched Jill Baker's Book titled The HORNS through his Foundation at the Bulawayo Theatre. The book chronicles the history of Matebeleland dating back from the time when king Mzilikazi left South Africa, it touches on all the historical background of King Mzilikazi as the king of Matebeleland and later His son King Lobengula.Let's spread this message about this book.

Zambezi Trilogy: Book One

The Horns

Clare Constant

David Kitchen

Access English is a lively, stimulating course that develops the skills of all your students. It's ideal for those who are struggling with English and the Framework to meet National Curriculum requirements and the objectives in the Framework for Teaching English Years 7-9. There is also an Interactive Student CD-ROM.

Jill Baker

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