Gorillas in the Mist [Paperback]

 

 

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In reality, Ms. Fossey is regarded by many as a sociopath who did more to kill gorillas than to help them. She would kidnap tribesmen's children as a means of "revenge" against those who messed with her gorillas. In embarking upon such immature acts, she triggered more hostilities with locals than ever. She was not a well-trained scientist, and would touch gorillas in the wild when it is well known that one is not supposed to. Well intentioned though she was, there is a lot about her that goes unmentioned.

Dian Fossey,author of Gorillas in the Mist uses this book to talk about her experiences researching gorillas in the wild. Starting in the year 1963 and ending in the year 1983, Fossey gives us an intimate look into her life and interactions with the mountain gorillas.
The book begins by telling the story of her first experience in Africa. The reader walks away from the first chapter of the book keenly aware that this is not an average woman writing of her weekend stay with gorillas in a zoo. Here is a headstrong woman willing to go to any lengths to travel to Africa to see the majestic gorillas, a physically capable woman handling the challenging terrain of the mountains undeterred even after breaking her ankle along the treacherous path to see the gorillas.
After her first African encounter Fossey cannot wait to come back and research the gorillas for an extended period of time. She leaves the United States in 1966 and travels to the Congo to study. However,this turns into an abbreviated stay because of the wars going on in that country. She moves camp to Rwanda,where she establishes a permanent home at the Karisoke Research Centre. Her study of gorillas starts here, and she quickly finds that living in the Parc National des Volcans will be physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging for her.
I was certainly ready to start reading about experiences with gorillas by the time that Fossey had gotten settled. The research at this point moves very quickly. Groups of gorillas are numbered and individuals are named. At times it became difficult to keep up with all hte names and numbers given to the gorillas; Fossey, however, does a wonderful job of keeping the reader informed of which group and which individual she is talking about.
Involved in the book is information about Fossey's life with other researchers. I was eager to read about how she overcame the language barrier between herself and the Rwandese. It was also interesting to read about thier initial trials and errors with food and locals that were recruited to help track the gorillas.
This book informs about the poaching problemin Africa. She lets the reader know that she is doing everything she can to thwart the poachers efforts at capturing the gorillas; that without support this species will be literally hunted to death. Sometimes her behavior was rash. She wrote about how she retaliated against poachers and their families. In one instance she stole a herd from a local Rwandan until she obtained information about the poachers she was looking for. Some of her tactics in stopping poaching were less than diplomatic,to put it diplomatically, she could have handled many situations differently. Clearly, however her aggression toward poachers came out of her love for gorillas.
I enjoyed reading about the entire life cycle of an individual gorilla from birth until they were sexually mature. I felt more connected with the gorillas because of this and it made me want to turn the page to find out what would happen to my favorite gorillas next. It was also fascinating to read about gorilla interactions. In many wats they are similar to humans in that the infants need a significant amount of love and support and as they grow older they fall into the typical male and female roles. The males would try to imitate their fathers whom they would eventually succeed; and the females would become very interested in infants born into the group, often playing with and grooming the new additions.
After reading several pages I was hooked and found every detail fascinating. My only criticism is that sometimes the order of events is skewed. Fossey would tell an entire story about a gorilla, then go on to talk about a time before this story unfolded. It seemed sometimes that she was putting the proverbial "cart before the horse." This made the story line at times hard to follow. Despite this stylistic shortcoming Gorrilas in the Mist is a moving story about Dian Fossey and her life with the African mountain gorillas. She was passionate about her work and her passion vividly comes through in every page.

Ms. Dian Fossey was a truly remarkable woman. Her strenght of character, her beliefs, and her morals were far beyond her time. She would have been much more respected in today's society. The world is a little worse off due to her murder!!
This book is a must read for anyone interested in Gorillas, the plight of wildlife, or the state of our environmental health.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Chronology in the Mist
The Gorillas are anywhere but in the mist in this scientific journal, about the only thing that is in the mist is the chronology of events. Read more

Published on May 2 2002 by Douglas LaRose

4.0 out of 5 stars

Don't Judge a Book by the Class your Being Forced to Read it in.

Early in the year(2001-02), we were assigned to read a book in high school Biology class. Read more

Published on Jan 2 2002 by Jake

2.0 out of 5 stars Daily Life of a Gorilla
I felt that this book was very long and boring. I don't think I liked it because it incorporated many facts discovered about the gorillas than just telling the interesting and... Read more

Published on Dec 29 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Courage-love-passion
I absolutely love this book. I have learned so much about apes, their natural habitat and lifestyle. Read more

Published on Oct 8 2001 by vikki willis

5.0 out of 5 stars AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF AN ASTOUNDING WOMAN!
The legendary story of Dian Fossey and her "Gorillas in the Mist" is, by now, well known around the world. Read more

Published on July 9 2001 by Sandra D. Peters

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorillas
Gorillas in the Mist, Dian Fosseyís own account of her life with the gorillas, was first published in by Hodder Mifflin in 1983. Read more

Published on Oct 2 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars The passion & courage of Dian and her gorillas
If you have ever had a dream but have being to afraid to do it then right from the opening pages you will be inspired to go right ahead and try. Read more

Published on April 6 2000 by shoegirl24

4.0 out of 5 stars heart-breaking yet inspiring
This book shows how cruel humans can be, and at the same time displays the compassion and kindness that we all strive to achieve. Read more

Published on Jan 13 2000 by aimee hern

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll go bannanas!...
Vividly detailed and expressed beautifully by a woman who's compassion was to study these magnificent creatures. Read more

Published on Dec 13 1999 by Flak Macket

5.0 out of 5 stars it was great
we need more funding for gorillas in Africa to keep their species alive and well to learn more about them since they are the only animals that are closest to our species

Published on July 9 1998

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