Wednesday 30 September 2015

Miss Fortune - Albina Hume


"Who would think that my inability to pronounce the letter R would turn my life upside down and lead me from Ukraine to South Africa?"

Albina Hume is often asked the same question - how did she meet her South African husband John, a property developer and a rhino breeder, who is 36 years her senior? She has always kept her response simple. Until now ...

Her childhood fear that no one in Ukraine would want to marry a 'crow' at first resulted in various misfortunes, from failing dreams and relationships to even ending up in a police cell for 51 days, until she finally learned to focus on her dreams, not her fears.

Now, Albina and John Hume have dedicated their lives to preventing the South African rhino population from becoming extinct by breeding rhinos for future generations. In the past six years, they have bred over 500 white rhinos, with Albina emerging as a pro-rhino activist, advocating for an end to the war on trade in rhino horn that has only resulted in illegal trade and killing of rhinos and also people in Africa. Albina calls for legalising trade in horn - a renewable product - to help create harmony between African people and their natural heritage.

What did I think?

This is a very quick read about the life of Albina Hume, and what a life it is!  Despite everything that she has gone through, you can feel that Albina did it all with a smile on her face as she refused to give up her dreams of finding a husband.  

I found that Albina's naivety caused her to be very unlucky - from taking lifts from the wrong man to illegally entering and working in Greece.  Although it is the nature of Albina not to think of these things as bad luck but as experiences that she amazingly had the strength to write about.

I admit that the writing is a little basic but it is good enough to forget that English is not Albina's first language.  To write a book in a foreign language is another amazing achievement!  It certainly casts a different light on girls working in the entertainment industry - think Bada Bing in the Sopranos!  These girls put their trust in people who abuse such trust without batting an eyelid.  They are trying to make a better life for themselves by saving what little pennies they make whilst the sleazy, greedy club owners play with them like a cat with a cage full of mice.

A book that inspires you to never give up on your dreams despite the troubles that life throws at you.  Albina achieved her happy ending, and with her as inspiration we should never be afraid to dream.

I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:





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