Daniel V. MeierThe Dung Beetles of Liberia: A Novel Based on True Events

This book is set in Liberia, an unusual site for a story to say the least...so that drew my interest at first, but truthfully it didn't keep my interest because I found the way the author handled dialects in this story a bit annoying at times; it felt awkward and was disruptive to the story. Regardless, Ken's adventures in Africa slowly corrupt him in this coming of age story (I guess that's what you could call it.)I really wanted to like this book more than I did but I found this felt much more like a rough draft of a novel rather than a finely polished, finished piece of writing. Once again I have found a self-published book that wasn't ready to be published. This book would benefit from a good content editor, someone who could help Mr. Meier clean up problem sentences, repetitive phrases, and bring forward issues with story content/continuity.I'm going to be generous and give this author a three star rating simply because I like the concept but more me it truly is more like a 2.5 star book, this manuscript needs work.

Daniel Meier is a really terrific writer. His sentences are to the point, and though prosaic, come alive every now and then with a hint of the poetic. I liked the honesty and vulnerability he was able to capture in Ken Verrier, the protagonist of the story. I had only two issues with the book. First, I found the way he captures the accents of the native Liberians and German pilots a little over the top. I realize it’s tricky but it felt it heavy handed at times. My second issue, and I’ve found this to be true with autobiographical novels where every chapter tells of a specific incident, not all are equal. Those that are not seem like filler and don’t move the story a long quite as well as the rest. All in all though, a fascinating, well-written book that will appeal to anyone who loves adventure.

Even though it’s been many months since I read THE DUNG BEETLES OF LIBERIA by Dan Meier, I have waited awhile to let the book “simmer.” I always do that. I think about books long after I have finished reading them, massaging my memory of them and pulling out what resonates with me.The most enjoyable for me are books that describe culture, history and how characters evolve. This book brought all three.Liberia’s culture and history were interrupted dramatically 200 years ago when U.S. President Monroe helped our own freed slaves to return to Africa where they settled in Liberia. Now they are called Americo-Liberians or “Congo People.” The upheaval must have been a similar to what Chinua Achebe wrote about in his magnificent work, THINGS FALL APART. The settled routines of culture and political life were disrupted and forcibly pushed onto a very different path.In the 1960’s Liberians were living with German ex-Nazis, Israeli spies, missionaries and employees of powerful global oil and mineral companies. The author skillfully delves into the idiosyncrasies of this cultural soup of foreigners, and he further describes Liberian culture complete with dialect, folklore and a complicated political underlayment.Ken Verrier, who dropped out of Cornell to fly for an air transport company in Liberia, has to make sense of everything very quickly. From his first day Ken is struck with the need to make quick decisions before disaster strikes. His adventures are funny and frightening at the same time. Ken has to learn quickly how to negotiate the cobwebs of the life he had dropped himself into. Ken grew up.Definitely worth reading, I’m hoping that the author will continue this story so I can see what happens next as the darkness of civil war looms.

Some years back in my youth I met the guy who’s story is told in this really good book. If you have ever wanted to stop what you are doing and change the direction of your life into a true adventure then this book is for you. He is a bush pilot in primitive Africa. I wish it had been me.

Anybody who has ever lived in Liberia will enjoy this book. Is it the best book on Liberia I have ever read? No. But for a fiction book, it gives a lot of perspective on life in Liberia in the 60's. I moved there in 1970, and he brought to life a lot of the things I saw and experienced while I was there. I'm glad I read it !