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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
The 1995 movie with James Earl Jones and Richard Harris
The dialogue and narration mixing sometimes made it difficult to follow and the language bordered on too poetic for my taste at points but the story of hope and redemption for a man, a people, and a land overcomes those barriers. Kumalo exhibits faithfulness and endurance yet is shown to be flawed in his humanity and fragile in his faith, which creates what reads like a very realistic person, and one whose dreams you want to see come to fruition.
So simply, lyrically, beautifully written. Heartbreaking and hopeful. One of the best books I have read in years.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
This is a book often assigned in high school but I managed to miss it at the time. My son read it recently and shared a copy with me so I made up for lost time. Cry, the Beloved Country is a beautiful and highly readable book. Most people probably know that it is about race, injustice and inequality in South Africa. Equally though it is about love for one's homeland, the kindness of strangers, the importance of family ties and hope for change in difficult times. "Wise men write many books, in words too hard to understand. But this, the purpose of our lives, the end of all our struggle, is beyond all human wisdom," writes Paton. I judge Paton well worth reading and his novel contains considerable human wisdom.
Read this book. It will make you think about forgiveness, oppression, restoration, and more. And it is beautiful.
A great book to have been reading during this election...
This book is one that will stay with me.
It defies the descriptors - beautiful, yes, but spare; evocative, yes, but universal; finely wrought, yes, but poured out in one extended cry for justice.
Paton weaves together parallel lives; an odyssey or two (physical and spiritual); lost sheep and prodigals to teach us of place and identity and cultures in a way that haunts and convicts and leads us to do more.
Paton explores ideas of justice, politics, economics, religion, and culture. Sometimes, they seem like expositional asides - mines, stock market, etc -, but always they tie back into the story and the choices the characters make.
Paton's structure was perfectly executed. From following Kumalo in Book I and Jarvis in Book II; their own paths to discovery how best to serve their beloved South Africa and their people. Book III the drawing them together. Yes. When Kumalo's and Jarvis' paths cross in Johannesburg, yet not in their common home region, the reader feels the weight of the separation of communities. Separation and non-interaction is the problem. The two strands are woven.
It isn't a long book, each chapter is easy to approach, but it is a feeling book. I ended with 50 pages to go and tears streaming down my face. There are ends and there is hope. There is despair and there is a sun.
This is a book that leaves one aching for reconciliation and believing that it is possible.
5000 stars.
It defies the descriptors - beautiful, yes, but spare; evocative, yes, but universal; finely wrought, yes, but poured out in one extended cry for justice.
Paton weaves together parallel lives; an odyssey or two (physical and spiritual); lost sheep and prodigals to teach us of place and identity and cultures in a way that haunts and convicts and leads us to do more.
Paton explores ideas of justice, politics, economics, religion, and culture. Sometimes, they seem like expositional asides - mines, stock market, etc -, but always they tie back into the story and the choices the characters make.
Paton's structure was perfectly executed. From following Kumalo in Book I and Jarvis in Book II; their own paths to discovery how best to serve their beloved South Africa and their people. Book III the drawing them together. Yes. When Kumalo's and Jarvis' paths cross in Johannesburg, yet not in their common home region, the reader feels the weight of the separation of communities. Separation and non-interaction is the problem. The two strands are woven.
It isn't a long book, each chapter is easy to approach, but it is a feeling book. I ended with 50 pages to go and tears streaming down my face. There are ends and there is hope. There is despair and there is a sun.
This is a book that leaves one aching for reconciliation and believing that it is possible.
5000 stars.
Instantly took me to Africa. The theme was haunting, told in a gentle way. I like how it gives a glimmer of hope in this cruel world.