Ros Wynne-Jones

At first I really struggled with the reading of Something Is Going to Fall Like Rain by Ros Wynne-Jones. It was a very depressing read, set in Sudan during the 1990s genocide and the brutal acts of violence plus the overbearing sadness of reading about the starvation and disease that persisted no matter what the care workers did was heart rendering.

I admire these aid workers who step away from their lives to go and try to make a difference in the world, but the main character, Maria, was very difficult to warm up to. There was a deep, dark anger inside her that came through forcefully on every page. As I got deeper into the story, I came to understand about this brooding anger and sympathize with her.

The story itself was very gripping as a group of care workers are marooned in the village of Adek by the bombing of the air strip. Making the best of things they set up a feeding station and try to give medical aid where they can. They also arrange to have air drops of food brought in. Of course, these drops bring more people to the area and the increased activity in turn makes them more vulnerable to militia attack.

Something Is Going To Fall Like Rain was an emotionally draining book, but I was pleased that the author ended the story on a note of hope as ten years after Maria left Southern Sudan she returns and finds that things have changed for the better. Her own story also gets resolved and gives the reader hope that she will be able set aside her burden of anger and guilt and learn to live again. I suspect some distance from this book is actually going to make my rating go up.… (mer)