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between_2worlds's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5
elmarie_bassage's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75
I think it would be fairest to review each piece in this anthology seperately:
* Neither Here nor There by Mary Watson - 3.5/5:
A well written account of the author's father dying. There is a rawness of emotion and she describes the clarity of a memory associated with trauma very well.
* The Favourite by Karin Schimke - 3/5:
An account of the author's memories of her abusive father and his death and it's impact on her when she is scheduled for surgery on the anniversary of his death.
* Visiting by Sindiswa Busuku - 4/5:
An account of a child (the author) visiting her terminally ill father. Heartbreaking and beautifully written, especially the father's request.
* The Used-Car Salesman by Sindiswa Busuku - 2.5/5:
The author recounts finding a note in their mechanic father's cubbyhole while cleaning the car in preparation for sale after his death.
*All the Dead by Lucienne Bestall - 2/5:
Unorganized, meandering, pretentious and nebulous. Way too long with not much to say.
*A Death and Life Experience by Khadija Patel - 4.5/5:
The account of a woman who washes bodies in preparation for burial in the community. Beautifully written and compelling.
* This Nightmare of a Place: A Doctor's Story by Shrikant Peters - 4.5/5:
The author recounts the death of a patient. A beautifully written and eloquent indictment of a broken medical system the victimizes the most vulnerable.
* Ferryman by Sudiman Adi Makmur - 3.5/5:
Decently written account of the political machinations involved in dying as a refugee in a foreighn country and being brought home.
* The Grief of Strangers by Lidudumalingani - 4/5:
The author remembers listening to radio obituaries with their mother. A tender and endearing account.
* How to Kill a Man by Paula Ihozo Akuyizibwe - 4/5:
The author takes a self defense class after a friend in her university residence is killed by her boyfriend.
* The Pattern of Trees: A Story by Stacy Hardy - 4/5:
A short story of a murdered forensic pathologist trying to solve her own murder. The only piece of fiction in this collection . Well written with an interesting premise. I only wish it was longer.
* A Man, a Fire, a Corpse by Rofhiwa Maneta - 4/5:
The author recounts the near assination of his father, a police officer in Johannesburg. Well written and gripping.
* Investigation Pieces by Madeleine Fullard - 5/5:
The head of theMissing Persons Task Team for the NPA Writes a beautiful piece on identifying unknown bodies and the challenges the face.
* The Decendants by Bongani Kona - 4/5:
The author reflects on the impact of the Zimbabwean regime change on the lives and deaths of his grandparents. Beautifully written.
* What the Township Did to Us by Musawenkosi Khanyile - 5/5:
An exquisite peom about township life.
* Habeni by Musawenkosi Khanyile - 4.5/5:
Beautifully written peom.
* Living as Ghosts Do by Simone Haysom - 4/5:
Very well written essay on the lives of heroin addicts. insightful and impactful.
* Kukithi La: This House is Not For Sale by Thato Monare - 2.5/5
Short essay and photography piece on infighting in families after a death with no will.
* Spiralling by Malika Ndlovu - 4/5:
The author reflects on the stillbirth of her daughter.
* the girl who the feared to sleep by Angifi Dladla - 5/5:
A beautifully written poem to the poet's dying daughter.
* The Mystery of Death by Nick Mulgrew - 3/5:
Well written and engaging account of the author's near - death experience as a child and it's effect on his life there after.
* Death and Dying in a Brutal World by Ishtiyaq Shukri - 3/5:
The author reflects of particularly violent formative daths and their own mortality. The included poem on it's own would have been 5/5.
* Story of a Name by Tariq Hoosen - 4/5:
The author reflect on his attempted suicides and being transgender.
* Brief Encounters by Shubnum Khan - 3.5/5:
Ten short vignettes of the impact of death on various stages of the author's life.
* Record Keeping by Catherine Boulle - 5/5:
A beautifully written, heartbreaking description of the author's dying grandmother.
* skull by Tatamkhulu Afrika - 4/5
A poem reflecting on a run in with an old friend who is now dying of cancer.
* A Postbox On The Corner Of Eternity by Dela Gwala - 4/5
A Heartbreaking letter to the author's cousin who died in a car accident.
* Small Animals by Anna Hartford - 3.5/5:
The author reflects on attempts at rescuing animals and inadvertently causing suffer vs killing them and when efforts outweigh rewards.
* The Great dying by Hedley Twidle - 2/5:
An incredibly dry and textbook - like piece on extinctions and the effects of humans on nature. Incredibly boring and technical.
* we become women when our mothers die by Toni Giselle Stuart - 4/5:
A beautifully written poem about the death of the poet's mother.
* Years and Years by Sisonke Msimang - 4/5:
An account of the author's anxiety surrounding her own death.
* I Forget to Look by Gabeba Baderoon - 4/5:
A beautiful poem appreciating the comfort and familiarity of a photo of the poet's mother.
* The Pen by Gabeba Baderoon - 3/5:
A poem about the death of the author's father.
* A Phone Call From Craig by Barry Christianson - 3/5:
The author reflects on learning of his father's death.
* Ancestral Wealth by Vonani Bila - 5/5:
A incredible poem about the death of the poet's father.
* Afterlives by Khanya Mtshali - 3/5:
The author reflects on death in the age of social media.
* My Death by Robert Berold - 3/5:
A poem on what the poet wishes his death to be like.
* Neither Here nor There by Mary Watson - 3.5/5:
A well written account of the author's father dying. There is a rawness of emotion and she describes the clarity of a memory associated with trauma very well.
* The Favourite by Karin Schimke - 3/5:
An account of the author's memories of her abusive father and his death and it's impact on her when she is scheduled for surgery on the anniversary of his death.
* Visiting by Sindiswa Busuku - 4/5:
An account of a child (the author) visiting her terminally ill father. Heartbreaking and beautifully written, especially the father's request.
* The Used-Car Salesman by Sindiswa Busuku - 2.5/5:
The author recounts finding a note in their mechanic father's cubbyhole while cleaning the car in preparation for sale after his death.
*All the Dead by Lucienne Bestall - 2/5:
Unorganized, meandering, pretentious and nebulous. Way too long with not much to say.
*A Death and Life Experience by Khadija Patel - 4.5/5:
The account of a woman who washes bodies in preparation for burial in the community. Beautifully written and compelling.
* This Nightmare of a Place: A Doctor's Story by Shrikant Peters - 4.5/5:
The author recounts the death of a patient. A beautifully written and eloquent indictment of a broken medical system the victimizes the most vulnerable.
* Ferryman by Sudiman Adi Makmur - 3.5/5:
Decently written account of the political machinations involved in dying as a refugee in a foreighn country and being brought home.
* The Grief of Strangers by Lidudumalingani - 4/5:
The author remembers listening to radio obituaries with their mother. A tender and endearing account.
* How to Kill a Man by Paula Ihozo Akuyizibwe - 4/5:
The author takes a self defense class after a friend in her university residence is killed by her boyfriend.
* The Pattern of Trees: A Story by Stacy Hardy - 4/5:
A short story of a murdered forensic pathologist trying to solve her own murder. The only piece of fiction in this collection . Well written with an interesting premise. I only wish it was longer.
* A Man, a Fire, a Corpse by Rofhiwa Maneta - 4/5:
The author recounts the near assination of his father, a police officer in Johannesburg. Well written and gripping.
* Investigation Pieces by Madeleine Fullard - 5/5:
The head of theMissing Persons Task Team for the NPA Writes a beautiful piece on identifying unknown bodies and the challenges the face.
* The Decendants by Bongani Kona - 4/5:
The author reflects on the impact of the Zimbabwean regime change on the lives and deaths of his grandparents. Beautifully written.
* What the Township Did to Us by Musawenkosi Khanyile - 5/5:
An exquisite peom about township life.
* Habeni by Musawenkosi Khanyile - 4.5/5:
Beautifully written peom.
* Living as Ghosts Do by Simone Haysom - 4/5:
Very well written essay on the lives of heroin addicts. insightful and impactful.
* Kukithi La: This House is Not For Sale by Thato Monare - 2.5/5
Short essay and photography piece on infighting in families after a death with no will.
* Spiralling by Malika Ndlovu - 4/5:
The author reflects on the stillbirth of her daughter.
* the girl who the feared to sleep by Angifi Dladla - 5/5:
A beautifully written poem to the poet's dying daughter.
* The Mystery of Death by Nick Mulgrew - 3/5:
Well written and engaging account of the author's near - death experience as a child and it's effect on his life there after.
* Death and Dying in a Brutal World by Ishtiyaq Shukri - 3/5:
The author reflects of particularly violent formative daths and their own mortality. The included poem on it's own would have been 5/5.
* Story of a Name by Tariq Hoosen - 4/5:
The author reflect on his attempted suicides and being transgender.
* Brief Encounters by Shubnum Khan - 3.5/5:
Ten short vignettes of the impact of death on various stages of the author's life.
* Record Keeping by Catherine Boulle - 5/5:
A beautifully written, heartbreaking description of the author's dying grandmother.
* skull by Tatamkhulu Afrika - 4/5
A poem reflecting on a run in with an old friend who is now dying of cancer.
* A Postbox On The Corner Of Eternity by Dela Gwala - 4/5
A Heartbreaking letter to the author's cousin who died in a car accident.
* Small Animals by Anna Hartford - 3.5/5:
The author reflects on attempts at rescuing animals and inadvertently causing suffer vs killing them and when efforts outweigh rewards.
* The Great dying by Hedley Twidle - 2/5:
An incredibly dry and textbook - like piece on extinctions and the effects of humans on nature. Incredibly boring and technical.
* we become women when our mothers die by Toni Giselle Stuart - 4/5:
A beautifully written poem about the death of the poet's mother.
* Years and Years by Sisonke Msimang - 4/5:
An account of the author's anxiety surrounding her own death.
* I Forget to Look by Gabeba Baderoon - 4/5:
A beautiful poem appreciating the comfort and familiarity of a photo of the poet's mother.
* The Pen by Gabeba Baderoon - 3/5:
A poem about the death of the author's father.
* A Phone Call From Craig by Barry Christianson - 3/5:
The author reflects on learning of his father's death.
* Ancestral Wealth by Vonani Bila - 5/5:
A incredible poem about the death of the poet's father.
* Afterlives by Khanya Mtshali - 3/5:
The author reflects on death in the age of social media.
* My Death by Robert Berold - 3/5:
A poem on what the poet wishes his death to be like.
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