The People of Ostrich Mountain

By: Ndirangu Githaiga

Narrated by: Lee Goettl

As the 1950s' Mau Mau war breaks out in the foothills of Mt. Kenya, Wambũi, a 14-year-old girl, leaves her besieged village to join a prestigious boarding school, a half day’s journey away by train. There, she becomes aware of her extraordinary mathematical abilities discovered by her teacher Eileen Atwood.

Initially, Wambũi views Eileen’s attentions with suspicion and hostility, but over time, the two grow close and form a lifelong friendship. Unfortunately for Wambũi, the mid-20th century isn’t ready for a female math prodigy, particularly in Kenya. But she quietly and defiantly takes on the obstacles seeking to define her, applying her unusual gifts in new directions, which ultimately benefits her impoverished family and inspires her siblings and their children to pursue their own dreams.

After 40 years in Kenya, Eileen unexpectedly loses her employment authorization and is forced to return to England, where she struggles to adjust to living in a country she barely recognizes. Meanwhile, Wambũi’s son Ray, a doctor, navigates a fraught visa application process and travels to America to begin residency training; however, his hospital becomes insolvent and shuts down a year later.

He and his colleagues are assimilated into other programs where, as foreign-born physicians, they endure relentless prejudice. As a Black man, he also discovers that the streets of Chicago are sometimes quick to judge, with serious consequences.

A saga of family and friendship spanning five decades and three continents, The People of Ostrich Mountain chronicles the interconnected lives of three outsiders as they navigate the vagaries of race, gender, and immigration.

©2020 Andrew Ndirangu Githaiga (P)2021 Andrew Ndirangu Githaiga

A remarkable story that needed to be told.

Beautiful story of a female protagonist which begins in Pre-independence Kenya. The richly portrayed characters and friendships evolve through time and three continents. The descriptions of Kenya are vivid and this book puts in context the history of British colonialism and how it changed the people of Kenya.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Good job telling this story.

The People of Ostrich Mountain

Absolutely love this book and cannot wait for the next one! Resilience, adaptability, and determination are embodied in these people.

Strong story, beautifully written

The People of Ostrich Mountain is, at first blush, an elegantly written story that follows a family over five decades. However, to the reader’s great delight, this book is much richer than the structure of the story itself. The writer artfully gifts a tale which is simultaneously simple and complex. The reader is guided through what is at once remarkable and common place. We follow Wambui from her pastoral childhood throughout her remarkable life laced with junctures that craft a world propelling her family forward and across continents. The writer flawlessly interlaces worlds with prose that provide depth and feeling without sanctimony. This book is a must read for those of us that live a third culture life; who feel belonging that does not always match our passport cover. From Kenya, to England, to the United States this book treats the reader to all the subtitles, pain and joy, and all the similarities, that ultimately tie us together in humanity. There is no shortage of food for thought in this book and it would make a fantastic pick for a book club to spark meaningful discussion.