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july2104's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
amsquared's review against another edition
2.5
I really liked the character of Beauty. I was confused by Robin. Sometimes she was innocent and childlike, other times wise and philosophical. What could have been a wonderful device and huge twist was revealed early and with little drama or consequence. Huge plot points were just casually mentioned. Improbable events happened often. Comparisons to The Help seem apt because both have racism as a theme but very much from a white perspective with Black characters there to serve the white character (literally and figuratively).
kaseyfisher's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lexgawellreads's review
4.0
This book was full of so many deep and strong emotions. Loss, grief, fear, and love. I loved getting to read from the perspective of two South Africans, something that I haven’t read before!
rmarcin's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written story set in S. Africa during apartheid. Beauty is a black woman searching for her daughter who has gone missing. Robin is a 10-year old white girl who is now living with her aunt after the death of her parents. Her irresponsible and usually drunk aunt leaves Robin for weeks at a time, and hires Beauty to care for her.
Robin initially looks down on Beauty, as this is how she has been taught. But, through the caring of others, and how they treat Beauty, as well as the love and care Beauty shows to Robin changes their lives, and brings out the true meaning of family. Lyrical and touching.
Robin initially looks down on Beauty, as this is how she has been taught. But, through the caring of others, and how they treat Beauty, as well as the love and care Beauty shows to Robin changes their lives, and brings out the true meaning of family. Lyrical and touching.
sjgrodsky's review against another edition
2.0
If I were Bianca's editor at Putnam, here is what I would say:
"Bianca, we're not going to publish the manuscript you submitted. I want you to start on page 1 and re-write it, page by page. And I want you to think about these things as you rewrite.
First, you have a dynamite topic. There's plenty to say about apartheid, and the small details you reveal (such as the child being revolted by having to share dishes with someone who is black) are illuminating.
Second, the nine year old's point of view allows you to see some things and make some observations that an adult would not see. The trouble with this point of view is that even a precocious nine year old is incapable of the sophisticated observations this nine-year-old makes routinely.
One fix is to add an omniscient narrator. Or maybe your narrator can be a much older Robin, remembering and understanding events much better.
Rethink your characters. Do you really need Johan and Victor and the Goldmans and King George? Do you need Maggie and Wilhelmina? All of these characters zip in and out. We don't get to know much about them. They play roles in advancing the plot, but are not integral to the story.
And be mindful that readers usually know when an event is unlikely. Your book is full of unlikely events. Some examples:
Edith, the air hostess, is made to work shifts that take her away from home for three weeks at a time. Umm, no, most flight schedules keep you away for an night or two at most. And then you are home for the rest of the week.
Edith, not a stupid woman, tries to get jobs as a secretary but fails. Why doesn't she just ask for a transfer from air hostess to gate agent?
Beauty, the schoolteacher, writes a multipage letter to a nine year old full of long words and complex sentences.
King George has PLENTY of reasons to keep his distance and NO reason to take a nine year old white girl into Soweto.
I realize that all these events advance the plot but that is just my point: you need a plot that doesn't strain the reader's disbelief.
You have a good topic. Give me a simpler and more realistic story.
"Bianca, we're not going to publish the manuscript you submitted. I want you to start on page 1 and re-write it, page by page. And I want you to think about these things as you rewrite.
First, you have a dynamite topic. There's plenty to say about apartheid, and the small details you reveal (such as the child being revolted by having to share dishes with someone who is black) are illuminating.
Second, the nine year old's point of view allows you to see some things and make some observations that an adult would not see. The trouble with this point of view is that even a precocious nine year old is incapable of the sophisticated observations this nine-year-old makes routinely.
One fix is to add an omniscient narrator. Or maybe your narrator can be a much older Robin, remembering and understanding events much better.
Rethink your characters. Do you really need Johan and Victor and the Goldmans and King George? Do you need Maggie and Wilhelmina? All of these characters zip in and out. We don't get to know much about them. They play roles in advancing the plot, but are not integral to the story.
And be mindful that readers usually know when an event is unlikely. Your book is full of unlikely events. Some examples:
Edith, the air hostess, is made to work shifts that take her away from home for three weeks at a time. Umm, no, most flight schedules keep you away for an night or two at most. And then you are home for the rest of the week.
Edith, not a stupid woman, tries to get jobs as a secretary but fails. Why doesn't she just ask for a transfer from air hostess to gate agent?
Beauty, the schoolteacher, writes a multipage letter to a nine year old full of long words and complex sentences.
King George has PLENTY of reasons to keep his distance and NO reason to take a nine year old white girl into Soweto.
I realize that all these events advance the plot but that is just my point: you need a plot that doesn't strain the reader's disbelief.
You have a good topic. Give me a simpler and more realistic story.
kmmi_booklover's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
stratfam's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good book. It gave me an insight into South Africa during apartheid in the 1970s. Some of it was sad and some was funny. Mostly the relationships the characters built were tender. I took away one star because the character of Robin made me very mad a few times, which I guess she was supposed to do.