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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
The straightforward manner that human nature is addressed is beautiful. Even when true sorrows plague the "good" characters they are able to understand and continue moving on. While race is a highly poignant topic regarding South Africa, even today, it is interesting to see the developing friendship between Jarvis and Kumalo despite not only their opposing skin colors, but the tragedy that links them regarding their sons. They complete various stages of grief and are then able to do things that would help others.
I have now read it twice, both times for classes and I absolutely love it. A moving story of parents facing the consequences of their children in South Africa in 1946ish. I highly recommend it to anyone. It's tragic but retains a sense of beauty and hope for the world despite awful conditions.
I am not good writing book reviews. All I'll say is this book will stay with me.
Great story. I love how it's not your typical happy ending but it's as much of a happy ending as you could hope. You can definitely see a possible integrated future for South Africa in the novel. It's impossible not to get attached to Kumalo and feel all he is feeling yet at the same time sympathize with Jarvis.
I first read this book when there was still apartheid in South Africa. It's a lovely book. It doesn't feel as timely as it once did but it still contains important messages about community and its role in society. The characters are simple but not one dimensional. Each has good and bad qualities which help or hurt them.
This is quite possibly the most profoundly beautiful book I have ever read - the word-crafting is exquisite and the story heart-breaking.
All I knew of this book before I read it was that it was written half a century ago, was set in South Africa, and was "a classic". I owned a small old paperback copy for quite a few years, but never got around to reading it, and I think I gave it away last year when I needed to cull my large personal library (a sad story, but true). This year I borrowed a copy from the library and read it as part of a personal book challenge I'm doing.
The story is a simple one. Rev. Kumalo receives a letter from a Theophilus Msimangu in Johannesburg, asking him to come because his sister Gertrude is there and is sick. Kumalo goes, with his wife's blessing and with all their small savings. He goes because their son Absalom also went to Johannesburg and never came back. Johannesburg is a terrible place where Zulus have gone in their thousands and have lost everything that made them part of a cohesive community.
We only have to know a little history to know what kind of things Kumalo found. But he also finds some amazing people with great depths of compassion and a compelling desire to help all the people, black and white, to live lives of justice. Paton has a strong political message and a strong message of hope.
The most powerful thing about this book, however, is the beauty of the prose. I can say no more!
All I knew of this book before I read it was that it was written half a century ago, was set in South Africa, and was "a classic". I owned a small old paperback copy for quite a few years, but never got around to reading it, and I think I gave it away last year when I needed to cull my large personal library (a sad story, but true). This year I borrowed a copy from the library and read it as part of a personal book challenge I'm doing.
The story is a simple one. Rev. Kumalo receives a letter from a Theophilus Msimangu in Johannesburg, asking him to come because his sister Gertrude is there and is sick. Kumalo goes, with his wife's blessing and with all their small savings. He goes because their son Absalom also went to Johannesburg and never came back. Johannesburg is a terrible place where Zulus have gone in their thousands and have lost everything that made them part of a cohesive community.
We only have to know a little history to know what kind of things Kumalo found. But he also finds some amazing people with great depths of compassion and a compelling desire to help all the people, black and white, to live lives of justice. Paton has a strong political message and a strong message of hope.
The most powerful thing about this book, however, is the beauty of the prose. I can say no more!
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cry, the Beloved Country is a story about Stephen Kumalo and how he grappled with his son committing crimes like stealing from peoples’ homes and murdering a white man. This book is set in the ‘30s or ‘40s South Africa, where racial divisions are high. It is a moving story of loving one’s country yet crying for it. The writer wrote the characters so realistically, all of their feelings were expressed well. The prose was so lyrical, there were so many quotes I wanted to book dart. The only thing I didn't like is that the dialogue wasn't always as clear as it should have been.