Susan Urbanek Linville

A typical do-good read: inspiring and encouraging, informative enough, but not a dynamic, superbly crafted story.

I would have liked to hear less detail about Kaguri's experiences with fundraising and more about the people who are doing the day-to-day work, and the students' lives.

I really liked that the author included the costs of various items in the book; though early in the book he states that USD$85 is a low-end monthly wage for a teacher in Western Uganda, and that only $2 or $3 will cover a student's tuition and book fees. Later he says $85 is a competitive wage, and a students' books for the year are $45. I'd like to know which is true.

There were also some cultural differences which were not explained, so readers who are unfamiliar with Ugandan culture may be confused at points.

I also couldn't help feeling that the author's Christian beliefs were downplayed, or didn't influence many of his decisions. While it makes perfect sense to me that the school would accept students from any or no religious background, it saddened me that there were nonbelievers in leadership and that the students seemed to be getting indoctrinated with the idea that a person's religion doesn't really matter, as if they are all equally correct and good - an idea which completely contradicts Christianity.… (mehr)

Twesigye Jackson Kaguri’s The Price of Stones is an account of his building a school for AIDS/HIV orphans in rural Uganda. The project is admirable, the writing not as much so. Very little thought seemed to go into word choice or literary technique. Events were listed in the order in which they occurred (with some childhood flashbacks scattered about), and all were delivered with the same tone throughout. The book is liberally sprinkled with praise for Jesus Christ, and there are even a few times when Kaguri tells of the generosity of donors, attributing it to the help of God and barely acknowledging the compassion of his fellow humans. The cover on the book is lovely: smiling children in the vivid purple and white uniforms of the school. The center of the book has photographs of the people in the story, a map is at the front and a helpful glossary of Rukiga words at the back. There is also a list of ways that readers can contribute to the cause. Kaguri’s undertaking is truly worthwhile and heartwarming, his accomplishments enormous. I just would have preferred to read about them in a magazine article.… (mehr)