"Harrowing. . .eye opening, gut wrenching journalism," - Kirkus Reviews
Praise from Amazon Reviews
"This author ministers to these sick and dying children and almost pays theultimate price. This story is about the children, but it is also about a caregiver's descent into depression and his journey back. I loved it."
"Two Years of Wonder: A Memoir should spearhead a deeper awareness andappreciation of the sanctity of human life than has ever before beenpossible--may the work reach a wide audience across the continents. Itcertainly deserves to do so."
"In spite of its grim backdrop, Two Years of Wonder is really about hope and love. It's a great read."
"This is serious business, heart-wrenching material, and he brings a sense of humanity to it. These are not pages of statistics. These are realpeople. . .And the fact that royalties that the author receives will goto these children in need? Do you need more reasons to purchase thisbook?"
"This is a great story, and I highly recommend that it goes on everyone's"to read" list."
"Thank you Ted Neill, for helping me to understand the situation so much better. A great book my fellow readers and authors."
"The book is far more than a dry recounting of anecdotes and people . . .itis a pensive statement about the things that divide and/or connect us,such as barriers created by contrasting skin colors and levels of formal education, or the unavoidable commonality of human suffering...whetherinduced by a physical menace like HIV, or inner emotional turmoil."
"In terms of the subject matter, I find that his raw and honest exposure of Africa's HIV challenge reminded me of another book which explores someof the(albeit Apartheid-related) challenges in Africa: Cry the BelovedCountry."
"If you like thoughtful and reflective narratives about Africa, or interactions with the marginalized, this book is for you."
"The book is an honest look at the realities of poverty and injustice,particularly in developing countries, juxtaposed against the internalconflict the author experienced in his desire to help and his shame atfeeling like just one more person with a privileged "whitesavior"complex. Neill writes about his personal struggle with severedepression in away that is full of insight. His humility, sensitivitytoward others, and genuine compassion come through in every word."
"A memoir that will both break your heart and give you hope."
Nominated for American Booksellers Association Indie Next List
Judge, 27th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards
Author quickly lays the foundation of his journey, giving the reader an immediate footing in his subject matter. Overcoming his despair, he sets out to find himself and his place in the world, where he may be of use, or at least find some answers for himself. Even with a common theme to some very successful journey stories, this book sets itself apart via the author's voice and engaging sentence structure. I liked the cadence of his voice, the alternating of complex and simple sentences, the rhythm that he crafts. Very nicely done. A journey book should enjoy this kind of sentence artistry. I see it and appreciate it. It's not easy, but author makes it look easy. Well done.
Excellent, excellent use of sensory details throughout, beginning with the fish market scene that is so layered it bursts in energy and comes to life. We get some gorgeous phrasing throughout, and I was stunned by the brutality of the street boys who dialed up their horrific actions because they couldn't feel pain, via their glue-sniffing habit. We're led to ask about humanity when we come upon these beings along the road. Author does a terrific job of presenting us with many different degrees of people: their challenges, their survival methods, their hopes and beauty. This book is well-populated by fully rounded characters, all operating in a lushly-crafted world. Very nice job."...because if you think of your mother like that, she will come and get you" is going to haunt my dreams for a long time.
Author writes moving, gripping encounters consistently, and weaves within them the work of his own healing. Gorgeous portion at the end with children still singing and laughing in a world that brings loss and tragedy, that children are 'the stewards of mirth.' Beautiful phrasing and a hopeful note on which to end this story. Very well done.
A thoughtful and candid account of a hard life lived out in hardtimes,"Two Years of Wonder: A Memoir" is a riveting read and one thatwill linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the bookitself has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Very highlyrecommended. Midwest Book ReviewFrom Readers' Favorite
A FIVE STAR REVIEW
To live in this environment today, you must pray because every day there is so much tragedy and abuse infiltrating our world,regardless if you are an elderly person, woman, or child. Two Years of Wonder: A Memoir by Ted Neill will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride of what led the author to one day decide that life wasn't worth living anymore by slitting his wrists. As the reader, you will see through the eyes of children - from Oliver, Ivy, Harmony, Mariam,Tabitha, Sofia, and Nea, amongst others - as Ted tells their story and of what he saw during his time working in Kenya for CARE and World Vision International. You will read stories of the despair, survival,sickness and living in a community ravaged by HIV/AIDS. Ted donates his proceeds to all of the Kenyan children featured in the book, as well as organizations that support these causes in Kenya.
This book was really a page-turner yet it was disheartening to see and feel the despair that these children and their families experienced in their daily lives. No one should have to live like this. I can see how mentally overwhelming this was for Ted, an experience that caused his mental psyche to be tested and eventually crack under the pressure and despair that he felt in witnessing the lives of these children and the smell of death on a daily basis. Ted has provided information on some organizations that can use your help as well. As an added bonus he provides a Where Are They Now update in the lives of the featured children that you will enjoy reading about. It's unfortunate that Ted had to consider suicide to ease his pain but at least the story of Kenya, a community of HIV/AIDS and a glimmer of hope is being told and shared.
This book easily deserves five out of five starsfor its brutal honesty, impeccable storytelling, heart wrenching journey into the lives of so many sufferers, and for the author's ability tomake readers understand what the children in The Rainbow Children's Home lived through between 2002 and 2004, in Kenya. It is no easy task torelay the extremes of the human experience while also showing thedelicate nature of human interaction. Ted Neill's work on "Two Years ofWonder" is certainly inspiring.
Literary Titan 5 STAR REVIEW
