You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Kemi and Jen were super close but we never got to see this develop. Or enjoy the relationship building. They felt like caricatures. Kemi was a talented surgeon, intelligent and respected. Jen was described as being the opposite; a bit dizzy and seemed to lack direction
Solam was introduced as arrogant and cocky. As we never really got to know him, it seemed unbelievable that Kemi and Jen would fall for him. Did he have a winning personality that we never got to see because what was shown of Solam was a whole collection of red flags
I had a huge issue with the SA in this book. Kemi had been dating Solam for three months when Solam plied Jen with alcohol (possibly more) then she passed out. She had no memory of what happened then found herself pregnant. Somehow she doesn't talk to her life long bestie Kemi. It wasn't her fault! But instead the SA is referred to as Jen's betrayal...excuse me?
As there was a time jump after the SA, there was no logic behind Jen dating and marrying Solam. It made no sense to me. Solam was also just awful.
I wanted a family saga with strong sisterhood but I got a book about an uninteresting character chasing political greatness. Oh and the big family secret was that Jen's dad was attracted to his own sister and then to Kemi...WHO WAS A CHILD
In the process of writing this review I have decided to change my rating from 2 to 1
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault
A book I'd call a: "mum would like" book. This book was filled with avoidable tragedy, patriarchy tones and frustrating life choices.
This is one book I am glad I checked out of the library- having recently acquired a shiny new library card. Had I paid the standard £7.99 for it I would have been upset with myself. Unlike Lokko’s earlier work some of which had been my favourites, this was a disappointment.
While the saga was sweeping enough starting in 1921 in Matebeleland in Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe) continuing into the 1940s in Edinburgh and following the stories of soul sisters of the title South African Kemi and Scottish Jen across three decades as we see their paths merge and diverge through experiences as dissimilar as the two characters. While I enjoyed seeing their sisterhood take shape and evolve over the years, with a tenderness unbroken by the worst kind of betrayal, Kemi’s love interest Solam, a young, handsome, well-educated South African who had an Afropolitan background and serious political ambitions in post-apartheid South Africa wasn’t developed at all and his greed-driven callousness made him increasingly unlikeable.
The relationships play out against the background of changing politics and shifting loyalties in post-Apartheid South Africa but Lokko handles one of the most interesting periods of South African history with its aspirations and its conflicts is treated with little depth that it remains merely a backdrop.
While I appreciate the need to move the story along with each section on the book focusing on a time between 1997-2010, the last chapter in each delivering a cataclysmic event but sweeping you away to drop you off a few years later also means we don’t get to see the aftermath of many of these big life events as we catch up with the characters some years later where they moved on from the fallout.
What can I add? Intriguing enough to read at one sitting but out of its depth all the same.
Problems of the privileged
An amusing romance about two sisters who - no matter what problems they ever have to face - are featherbedded financially by their rich uncle who provides money whenever they need it. Although I found this very off-putting, I persevered with the story, which is quite well written and contains some interesting insights into the corruption of politics and the exploitativeness of the "art world". I only read this because I'm an architect and so is Lesley Lokko. She's the kind of architect who's interested in power, prestige, and bling and in her novel she never misses an opportunity to mention a brand, or a kind of mineral water she thinks is more prestigious than others; every detail of everyone's clothing is carefully mentioned; the cars are all big, expensive ones; the hotels are the best; and the shanty towns of South Africa are something to hurry past and forget about as quickly as possible- because those are the people "on the other side of the compound wall" who are (emphatically) not even remotely of interest to the black politicians of the "New South Africa". If you're not repulsed by the complacency of these well-heeled bourgeois, you may enjoy this for an amusing read. The (probably unintended) moral of the story is that although one sister is black and the other is white, the constant supply of money means that there's no significant difference between them; it's the money they both have access to that makes them soul sisters.
An amusing romance about two sisters who - no matter what problems they ever have to face - are featherbedded financially by their rich uncle who provides money whenever they need it. Although I found this very off-putting, I persevered with the story, which is quite well written and contains some interesting insights into the corruption of politics and the exploitativeness of the "art world". I only read this because I'm an architect and so is Lesley Lokko. She's the kind of architect who's interested in power, prestige, and bling and in her novel she never misses an opportunity to mention a brand, or a kind of mineral water she thinks is more prestigious than others; every detail of everyone's clothing is carefully mentioned; the cars are all big, expensive ones; the hotels are the best; and the shanty towns of South Africa are something to hurry past and forget about as quickly as possible- because those are the people "on the other side of the compound wall" who are (emphatically) not even remotely of interest to the black politicians of the "New South Africa". If you're not repulsed by the complacency of these well-heeled bourgeois, you may enjoy this for an amusing read. The (probably unintended) moral of the story is that although one sister is black and the other is white, the constant supply of money means that there's no significant difference between them; it's the money they both have access to that makes them soul sisters.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Problems of the privileged
An amusing romance about two sisters who - no matter what problems they ever have to face - are featherbedded financially by their rich uncle who provides money whenever they need it. Although I found this very off-putting, I persevered with the story, which is quite well written and contains some interesting insights into the corruption of politics and the exploitativeness of the "art world". I only read this because I'm an architect and so is Lesley Lokko. She's the kind of architect who's interested in power, prestige, and bling and in her novel she never misses an opportunity to mention a brand, or a kind of mineral water she thinks is more prestigious than others; every detail of everyone's clothing is carefully mentioned; the cars are all big, expensive ones; the hotels are the best; and the shanty towns of South Africa are something to hurry past and forget about as quickly as possible- because those are the people "on the other side of the compound wall" who are (emphatically) not even remotely of interest to the black politicians of the "New South Africa". If you're not repulsed by the complacency of these well-heeled bourgeois, you may enjoy this for an amusing read. The (probably unintended) moral of the story is that although one sister is black and the other is white, the constant supply of money means that there's no significant difference between them; it's the money they both have access to that makes them soul sisters.
An amusing romance about two sisters who - no matter what problems they ever have to face - are featherbedded financially by their rich uncle who provides money whenever they need it. Although I found this very off-putting, I persevered with the story, which is quite well written and contains some interesting insights into the corruption of politics and the exploitativeness of the "art world". I only read this because I'm an architect and so is Lesley Lokko. She's the kind of architect who's interested in power, prestige, and bling and in her novel she never misses an opportunity to mention a brand, or a kind of mineral water she thinks is more prestigious than others; every detail of everyone's clothing is carefully mentioned; the cars are all big, expensive ones; the hotels are the best; and the shanty towns of South Africa are something to hurry past and forget about as quickly as possible- because those are the people "on the other side of the compound wall" who are (emphatically) not even remotely of interest to the black politicians of the "New South Africa". If you're not repulsed by the complacency of these well-heeled bourgeois, you may enjoy this for an amusing read. The (probably unintended) moral of the story is that although one sister is black and the other is white, the constant supply of money means that there's no significant difference between them; it's the money they both have access to that makes them soul sisters.
An interesting, well written and complex story.
I loved the characters and learned a lot about South Africa and it's political history.
The characters are well thought and the descriptions of the different places are fascinating.
The plot is a bit confusing at times but I enjoyed.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I loved the characters and learned a lot about South Africa and it's political history.
The characters are well thought and the descriptions of the different places are fascinating.
The plot is a bit confusing at times but I enjoyed.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The story is an intergenerational tale spanning three generations in Edinburgh, London, and South Africa. It follows two girls Kemi and Jen who have a bond greater than that of sisters. However, as life goes on, they are thrown curve balls that threaten to break their great bond.
I enjoyed most of this book. There was a bit of sexual assault in it and I hated how the author just glossed over it without any second thought and repercussions. None of the characters acknowledge what happen and that singular act changed the course of the story. I hate when this happens, sexual assault is such an important subject that should not just be swept under the rug and not acknowledged.
There were also some things that happened in the book that I didn't see the point of. They neither added nor deducted from the story. The author was just looking for something sensational to add.
The end of the book was the most disappointing part for me because it left so many questions unanswered. My favorite character also dies. At this point, I was crushed.
I enjoyed most of this book. There was a bit of sexual assault in it and I hated how the author just glossed over it without any second thought and repercussions. None of the characters acknowledge what happen and that singular act changed the course of the story. I hate when this happens, sexual assault is such an important subject that should not just be swept under the rug and not acknowledged.
There were also some things that happened in the book that I didn't see the point of. They neither added nor deducted from the story. The author was just looking for something sensational to add.
The end of the book was the most disappointing part for me because it left so many questions unanswered. My favorite character also dies. At this point, I was crushed.
This was incredible- we follow Kemi and Jen as they grow up together, find careers and move to South Africa to live in a post apartheid world. Many years are spanned however it feels seemless.
You really warm to both Kemi and Jen, and root for them.
Solam however...
I do have to say though that it felt like lots of events happened that felt like the were leading to something... but that something never materialised so you're left wanting more. Im not sure if maybe a second book is planned?
You really warm to both Kemi and Jen, and root for them.
Solam however...
I do have to say though that it felt like lots of events happened that felt like the were leading to something... but that something never materialised so you're left wanting more. Im not sure if maybe a second book is planned?
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes