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ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
I still go into the city sometimes. When it cannot be avoided, I, as we used to say, very-nice myself. I powder my face, paint my lips red, and subdue my body into skintight jeans. I brace myself for the city center and its deceptions.
The stories that make up this collection are all set in Botswana, most in the town of Serowe, but also in the Capitol city of Gabarone. Most are coming-of-age stories, mostly following young women as they try to find their way in a world sandwiched between traditional expectations and modern aspirations. The author grew up in Serowe, where she currently lives, but she attended university in the US and this collection is written with its western audience in mind.
Every winter, Mrs. Botho Kennekae's husband took time off from his driving job in the city and spent three weeks at the cattle-post, where he did whatever men did there--presumably off the softness they withheld from everyone to their cattle, for the cattle were the great loves of their lives, so beloved the men called them wet-nosed gods, so beloved the men agreed: without cattle, a man pined and lost his sleep; still, having cattle, a man fretted and lost his sleep.
Moeng writes well, but where she shines is in her character studies. From an earnest young man trying to avoid any sinful activity, to a lonely married woman who may not have told her family the truth about her life in Gabarone, all of Moeng's characters are wonderfully complex and full of life. I really enjoyed this peek into a place I know very little about.
The stories that make up this collection are all set in Botswana, most in the town of Serowe, but also in the Capitol city of Gabarone. Most are coming-of-age stories, mostly following young women as they try to find their way in a world sandwiched between traditional expectations and modern aspirations. The author grew up in Serowe, where she currently lives, but she attended university in the US and this collection is written with its western audience in mind.
Every winter, Mrs. Botho Kennekae's husband took time off from his driving job in the city and spent three weeks at the cattle-post, where he did whatever men did there--presumably off the softness they withheld from everyone to their cattle, for the cattle were the great loves of their lives, so beloved the men called them wet-nosed gods, so beloved the men agreed: without cattle, a man pined and lost his sleep; still, having cattle, a man fretted and lost his sleep.
Moeng writes well, but where she shines is in her character studies. From an earnest young man trying to avoid any sinful activity, to a lonely married woman who may not have told her family the truth about her life in Gabarone, all of Moeng's characters are wonderfully complex and full of life. I really enjoyed this peek into a place I know very little about.
uzoreads's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bookofcinz's review against another edition
2.0
Bustling with life, energy, we meet fresh characters from contemporary Botswana teaching us about love, loss, family, rejection and redemption.
Gothataone Moeng’s Call and Response is a debut collection of nine short stories that explores life in contemporary Botswana. We meet very ordinary Botswanans who are navigating loss, love, family life, society’s expectation and what it means to be a part of a community.
Moeng writing is inviting, vivid and very engaging. There is a bit of mystery that she starts with for each story that you can’t help but want to solve and be a part of. Majority of the protagonist are women reinventing themselves or trying to not break under tradition and society’s expectation.
Of the nine stories there are a few that stood out to me, A GOOD GIRL who tries to be the good girl for her family, hides all the things she thinks is bad while her brother is doing the opposite. In Botalaote we meet a very young widow who is breaking under the pressure of observing tradition to make sure her husband death is honoured. SMALL WONDERS we find out the meaning of community and desires.
Honestly, this is what I would call a very solid collection of short stories. The author flexes her writing muscles but not too much, she tries, but not too hard and we are transported to Gaborone in Botswana where we meet a colorful, unforgettable cast. I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
Gothataone Moeng’s Call and Response is a debut collection of nine short stories that explores life in contemporary Botswana. We meet very ordinary Botswanans who are navigating loss, love, family life, society’s expectation and what it means to be a part of a community.
Moeng writing is inviting, vivid and very engaging. There is a bit of mystery that she starts with for each story that you can’t help but want to solve and be a part of. Majority of the protagonist are women reinventing themselves or trying to not break under tradition and society’s expectation.
Of the nine stories there are a few that stood out to me, A GOOD GIRL who tries to be the good girl for her family, hides all the things she thinks is bad while her brother is doing the opposite. In Botalaote we meet a very young widow who is breaking under the pressure of observing tradition to make sure her husband death is honoured. SMALL WONDERS we find out the meaning of community and desires.
Honestly, this is what I would call a very solid collection of short stories. The author flexes her writing muscles but not too much, she tries, but not too hard and we are transported to Gaborone in Botswana where we meet a colorful, unforgettable cast. I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
siria's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
A debut collection of short stories set in contemporary Botswana. Gothataone Moeng has often vivid turns of phrase and a real knack for letting a character's words and actions show us who they are. I could "see" many of the people she talks about here—often young women feeling themselves pulled in various directions—with great clarity. There are some beautiful poignant moments here. But I found Call and Response to be more a series of vignettes/character studies than stories proper, with the individual pieces seeming to come to an end rather than truly finishing. And I think I could roll a little more easily with a story that faded out like that if I felt it had been written with a point in mind rather than a theme. That quibble aside, there's a great deal of promise here and I'll keep an eye out of Moeng's forthcoming novel.
moyecome's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bukolayemi's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Short story collection mainly from the point of views of women in Botswana 🇧🇼.
Very engaging stories covering themes like sexuality, grief, societal expectations and culture.
morybaby's review against another edition
The first story rubbed me the wrong way. I was halfway through the second one and I’m like nAh
I really wanted to join the Bookclub discussion for this one but I’ll have to pass
I really wanted to join the Bookclub discussion for this one but I’ll have to pass
bessadams's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thatothernigeriangirl's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this one! Admittedly, many of the stories didn’t have conclusive endings that I’d have liked, but the caliber of Moeng’s writing made up for that.
Phew! Can she write?! I had to keep reminding that myself that this was a debut collection. I loved all the women in these stories — in all their wrongs and rights. I also learnt a lot about Botswana; its many droughts, especially the one just after its independence; its cultures of marriage, burying the dead, farming and cattle rearing; also its tribalism.
I also loved the only story with a male MC — Early Life and Education. It’s the longest and touches on many themes, most notably how misogyny is learnt, even when a person is supposed to buoyed by years of living around (and loving) his womenfolk.
Phew! Can she write?! I had to keep reminding that myself that this was a debut collection. I loved all the women in these stories — in all their wrongs and rights. I also learnt a lot about Botswana; its many droughts, especially the one just after its independence; its cultures of marriage, burying the dead, farming and cattle rearing; also its tribalism.
I also loved the only story with a male MC — Early Life and Education. It’s the longest and touches on many themes, most notably how misogyny is learnt, even when a person is supposed to buoyed by years of living around (and loving) his womenfolk.