Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Slow paced but worth the ride. What a well written book with a powerful message.
I'd forgotten just how sad this book is. At the same time it is a reminder that through difficulty and tragedy, life just keeps going on. Sometimes it even gets better.
Paton's writing style in this novel is simple but has an equally nuanced way of dealing with the different ways the characters interact--the different languages represented and the levels of difference between groups (black/white, older/younger)--was interesting and makes me want to do some more research into the social systems in place in 1950s-era South Africa.
Paton's writing style in this novel is simple but has an equally nuanced way of dealing with the different ways the characters interact--the different languages represented and the levels of difference between groups (black/white, older/younger)--was interesting and makes me want to do some more research into the social systems in place in 1950s-era South Africa.
Brilliant and heartbreaking. A must read for any South African.
i think it was a good decision to finish this as an audiobook because i enjoyed the story much more in that format.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Lovely writing and important social commentary.
slow-paced
challenging
slow-paced
This would be a 3.5-star book if I had that option. The author does a good job of creating a tone and ambiance. I liked the use of Zulu vocabulary and other cultural aspects of the novel. The plot was more understated than I'd expected, but still fairly effective in communicating the author's message about racism and its tragic consequences in 1940s-era South Africa.
I appreciated the beautiful lyricism of the story and deeply admired the personality of the main character of Stephen Kumalo. The tragedies in the book still mirror what people of color are experiencing in other parts of the world in terms of systemic and individual racism, which resonates with my world.