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qqjj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Colonisation, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcoholism
sib_reads's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Excrement, Gun violence, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, and Gore
Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Dementia, Self harm, and Sexual content
deedireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
TL;DR REVIEW:
I’m really glad I read The Promise, which brings South Africa from the end of Apartheid to the present day to life on the page, vividly and impressively. Damon Galgut is obviously a masterful writer.
For you if: You are interested in recent South African history, and/or just want a really great literary fiction read.
FULL REVIEW:
I read The Promise for two reasons: first, on my good friend @bernie.lombardi’s recommendation, and second, because it was longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize (as Bernie expected!). I’m glad I did; this is a good one.
The story takes place in South Africa over about 30 years, from almost the end of Apartheid to pretty much modern day. (Bernie sent some great links for short background reading on South Africa that were really helpful: here, here, and here.) It follows one dwindling white family, focusing on the four times they came together for funerals.
The narration is one of the things that really makes this novel stand out. Reading this book is probably the closest I’ve ever come to reading water. The narration flows and jumps from person to person without pause, sometimes mid-paragraph or even mid-sentence, sometimes landing on nobody at all but rather an omniscient voice. There are no section breaks for stretches of ~90 pages. But it’s not a drag; rather, it has a propulsive momentum. I found myself meaning to get up and turn on the light for like half an hour, having found no good moment to pause.
The novel is full of plenty of layers and metaphors; it’s one of those where the title has several different meanings, which I love. It examines patriotism amidst progress, race and power, and whether we applaud those who do the bare minimum. It brings South Africa at this period of history to life on the page in a visceral, unflinching way.
If you like literary historical fiction and family sagas, this one might be for you!
Graphic: Eating disorder, Suicide, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Fatphobia and Racism