37 pages • 1 hour read
Kris HollowayMonique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway, published in 2006, is a narrative nonfiction recounting the life of Monique Dembele, a midwife in Nampossela, Mali, from Holloway’s perspective as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1989. The story highlights Monique’s efforts to educate women and improve healthcare in her village, alongside the deep friendship that forms between Monique and Holloway. The book contains sensitive topics including maternal and child mortality, domestic inequality, and cultural practices.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway receives high praise for its heartfelt narrative and insightful exploration of Malian culture through the life of a dedicated midwife. Readers appreciate the respectful portrayal and genuine connection between the author and Monique. However, some critique the limited scope of the external social and political context.
Who Should Read Monique and the Mango Rains?
Readers who appreciate culturally immersive memoirs about humanitarian work in West Africa will enjoy Monique and the Mango Rains. Fans of Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains or Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love will find similar themes of cross-cultural connections and personal growth in Kris Holloway's tale.