---
product_id: 8070689
title: "The Village of Waiting"
brand: "george packer"
price: "5094 kr"
currency: ISK
in_stock: null
reviews_count: 11
url: https://www.desertcart.is/products/8070689-the-village-of-waiting
store_origin: IS
region: Iceland
---

# The Village of Waiting

**Brand:** george packer
**Price:** 5094 kr
**Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Village of Waiting by george packer
- **How much does it cost?** 5094 kr with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.is](https://www.desertcart.is/products/8070689-the-village-of-waiting)

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- george packer enthusiasts

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## Description

The Village of Waiting

## Images

![The Village of Waiting - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51J8v1r+3kL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Powerful Memoir About Life in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer
  

*by P***Y on Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2017*

I have been a fan of the writing of journalist George Packer, notably his reporting for The New Yorker and his book of reporting on the Iraq War, The Assassin's Gate. When I heard that he wrote a Peace Corps memoir, The Village Of Waiting (1988), about his experiences in the West African country of Togo I was interested to read his perspective about it. Already his reporting and narrative story telling was strong. The reader learns a lot about the country, community, and the exasperation of Africa from the perspective of a white westerner. It was a powerful experience in the per-internet days and it was a testament to his resolve that he lasted over a year-he did not complete his assignment, he failed to return for his last six months after taking a trip to Europe. Similarly another Peace Corps inspired book from another writer I liked, Chasing The Sea by Tom Bissell in Uzbekistan, also was ultimately about a failed Peace Corps stint where he basically had a nervous breakdown and was inspired to go back and find closure in the country. This is a different book from that one, but in the Afterword by the author we learn about how the country and the people he met there continued to be a significant part of his life as he returned to report there and help the friends that he made there over time. These experiences were exasperating and soul crushing in the recounting of struggles and set backs these people encountered over the years. In that sense the last part calls to mind Paul Theroux's exasperation with Africa in his last foray into the country that defeats him and sends him home packing before he planned to go home in Last Train To Zona Verde. There's also a Foreword by Philip Gourevitch, another reporter and writer about Africa that I respect. I found this to be a powerful first person account full of detailed descriptions of life in Africa in the early 80s from the point of view of an idealistic Peace Corps volunteer.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    What life was really like inTogo in the 1980s
  

*by L***A on Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2022*

An early book by George Packer, journalist, teacher, novelist, and clearly a good listener to the life stories of people in Togo in the 1980s.  He came to know several people quite well, and the book describes the difficulties faced by the citizens of a poor country with an incompetent government.  Like  some other authors (Andrea lee, "Russian Journey", VS Naipaul, "Among the Believers"), Packer was able to get people to trust him and open up about many details of their lives. Burdened by government corruption and mismanagement, the ordinary people are creative and hardworking, but often undermined by incompetence of the politicians.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    ... in the 70's en Cote d'Ivoirve and had a great experience. Also
  

*by D***N on Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2016*

Before you read my review you should know that I was a PCV in the 70's en Cote d'Ivoirve and had a great experience.  Also, during my time in West Africa I traveled to Togo which I found to be a real interesting place, thus my comments may seem a bit bias.  I loved this book for all the wrong reasons.  Poor George Packer did just about everything possible to assure that his Peace Corps experience would be a real "train wreck".  I give him credit for even writing a book like this.  I would recommend this book to anyone considering joining the Peace Corps as a guide for what not to do.  I will not spoil the book for potential readers by picking apart his missteps.  I am somewhat surprised that he was ever allowed to join up in the first place.  As you read this book have some fun trying to figure out at what point Packer is going to 'pack it in' and under what circumstances.  Sadly, from my own observations of other Peace Corps Volunteers, George's story is more common than one might think.

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*Product available on Desertcart Iceland*
*Store origin: IS*
*Last updated: 2026-03-18*