This book goes into detail about how Kris and Monique’s friendship blossomed and how they went around the community to help mother’s give birth. Yet, aside from how Monique’s husband and in-laws see her, she still helps save others lives. Throughout their relationship Kris learns that Monique is in an arraigned marriage with someone who does not appreciate her. These two women become best friends and end up saving many women and babies by aiding with their birth. This book is wrote more like a journal is about a Peace Corps volunteer, Kris, who heads to Mali to work alongside a midwife, Monique.

The book “Monique and the Mango Rains” by Kris Holloway is a great read. Despite the help the Malians need, and the problems they face, Holloway never saw life from their eyes.the writing suffers from that anthropological bias. that they are there to teach, rather than learn. I felt this story shared a typical problem among peace corps workers in Mali. The genital mutilation chapter is well done and poignant no doubt the most disturbing but necessary story told in the book.

Her love and admiration for Monique Dembele is honest and heart-felt, but this is definitely written from a WESTERN perspective, with 'poverty' overshadowing the power and beauty of the people.

Unlike many other books on birthing traditions of other cultures, Holloway fails to offer anything positive or beautiful about native Malian traditions. I expected more information on birthing practices of the Malian people, and less anecdotal and 'fish-out-of-water' narrative. An interesting and very personal account of a young American in a southern Mali village.

Monique & the mango rains