Reviews

A Woman Alone: Autobiographical Writings by Bessie Head, Craig MacKenzie

ameenahlauren's review

informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

I read for a perspective on South African history, and gained insight to Southern Africa as a region and the history of Botswana, which I hope to continue exploring in its current and contemporary form since this was written.

I loved her thought around attributing ‘home’ and ‘belonging’ to people over a place, which seems to have influenced her writing as a refugee to Botswana, and her legacy documenting the landscapes of Southern Africa through observing ordinary life. Adding a layer to historical narratives of ‘barbarism’ imprinted by colonialism reinforced valuing humanistic perspectives versus that dominative lens. 

The importance of illuminating the stories rarely told yet most representative resonates with what inspires my writing life, and I appreciated her ideology on how a writer emerges.. fundamentally rooted in a respect and love for books, that will inspire and unfold into stories in their own time.  

She cited a quote by Albert Camus that I will keep thinking about, “So, you think what you have is your own? What is your own comes to you, bit by bit.”

blessing_aj's review

adventurous challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

I tried to get into Bessie Head’s books a while back and found them to be very intimidating. After reading this book I realized that it was simply because I lacked the proper context with which to interpret the themes.

 I found this book to be very helpful since it offers a lot of insight into the things that inspired Bessie and her mindset at the time she was writing these books.
IMO, everyone who wants to get into Bessie Head’s fictional works should read this first.

A large part of the book also covers her world view on politics and the society touching on culture, religion, womanism, racism and oppression in Southern African countries especially South Africa and Botswana.

 I love that the entire collection is well written and gorgeously curated. Her arguments are rational, illuminating and the conclusions (where there are any) are logical and accommodating.

sookieskipper's review

Bessie Head opens up in A woman alone about her experiences with apartheid and finding herself seeking peace in Botswana. In this collection of her personal writings, she talks about the time she spent in South Africa and its turbulent times. Her words come from experience and that of a seasoned observer of culture. It has always been evident in her books - Maru, especially but since there is no fictional aspect in these writings, it almost takes shape of conversations one would have with their friend.