Motorcycle Explorer October 2014 Issue 2 | Page 42

Audio Book Review
Into Africa
A book by Sam Manicom now in audio book.
Reviewed by – James Owens
I’ve read Into Africa, more than read I’ve
reviewed it before now but looking at this new
aspect to books I was unsure of what I would
find. For me Into Africa holds a very special
place in my heart as the book was a pivotal
moment in time for me. Many a review will talk
about the honest and fresh account of the story
but I want to tell you a little story of my own
about the impact this book had on me. world and inspired one reader to start to travel
and start to write. How powerful was this
book? I’m dyslexic and I’m now the editor of
this magazine and I’ve ridden half way around
the world on various bikes. Such is the detail of
the writing that the words cling to your
synapses as Sam never forgets about to tell
you what your five senses would be stimulated
with.
It was a cold wet night in Wales (when isn’t it)
and I was living in a caravan at the time, far
from home and family when I’d found this
book, left in a draw and feeling rather bleak
about my circumstances I went to bed to keep
warm and to just end another night. It was 4am
when I passed out still holding a worn copy of
Into Africa, read by the light of the one working
bulb I had left held secure in an old desk lamp.
I was off to work and now itching to get back to
click on that old lamp and get reading Into
Africa again. So, I was not sure what to make of an audio
book and I leaned back with slight concern as I
clicked ‘play’. Success! Sam does his own
narration and it was if your favourite granddad
was sat at the end of the bed reading you a bed
time story – it was digital nostalgia! Nothing
was lost from the story and these days ... I’m
doing ok with my family (more like a Clan if I’m
honest with the six kids) rather than a single
bulb I was taken back to that caravan as
‘Granddad’ read the same story again.
I can fully recommend this wonderful ‘listen’ to
an outstanding story from a wonderful
What Sam does is he takes you with him, a
vicarious pillion of adventure on a motorcycle
journey and it can breathe hope to your own
escape and dreams as this guy who ran a retail
store was now ‘living’ and riding around the storyteller.
Into Africa
Chapter 5
Read by Sam Manicom
MEM