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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I found this book hard to read and rather unimaginative. I was unconnected with both the characters and the plot and I really could not care less what was to happen next.
The book should have been ended like a hundred pages sooner. The climax of the book happened, and the story just dragged its feet, going waaaaaay longer than it needed to.
Also, just a personal preference, the author decided not to use quotation marks, which the person writing the introduction praises, but I just found infuriating. Instead, to indicate if a character was talking, good ol’ Alan Paton put this, “-“ in front of a paragraph that started with dialogue. If there was dialogue in the middle of a paragraph, you get no warning! If the dialogue stops and then picks up again, it’s just there for you to figure out for yourself, which I found really stopped my reading flow.
Also also, randomly Alan decided for some reason not to name one of his characters? He just called her “the girl” the whole book. And it’s not like she wasn’t important either, all the other characters, even ones of lesser importance were named, but for whatever reason, not her. Makes no sense lol.
Honestly, I don’t understand how this is a classic. Two stars is even being a little generous. Would not recommend.
The book should have been ended like a hundred pages sooner. The climax of the book happened, and the story just dragged its feet, going waaaaaay longer than it needed to.
Also, just a personal preference, the author decided not to use quotation marks, which the person writing the introduction praises, but I just found infuriating. Instead, to indicate if a character was talking, good ol’ Alan Paton put this, “-“ in front of a paragraph that started with dialogue. If there was dialogue in the middle of a paragraph, you get no warning! If the dialogue stops and then picks up again, it’s just there for you to figure out for yourself, which I found really stopped my reading flow.
Also also, randomly Alan decided for some reason not to name one of his characters? He just called her “the girl” the whole book. And it’s not like she wasn’t important either, all the other characters, even ones of lesser importance were named, but for whatever reason, not her. Makes no sense lol.
Honestly, I don’t understand how this is a classic. Two stars is even being a little generous. Would not recommend.
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautiful book that tells a beautiful story that should cross the eyes of everyone at least once in their lifetime.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“I have never thought that a Christian would be free of suffering, umfundisi. For our Lord suffered. And I come to believe that he suffered, not to save us from suffering, but to teach us how to bear suffering. For he knew that there is no life without suffering.”
“He pondered long over this, for might not another man, returning to another valley, have found none of these things? Why was it given to one man to have his pain transmuted into gladness? Why was it given to one man to have such an awareness of God? And might not another, having no such awareness, live with pain that never ended? Why was there a compulsion upon him to pray for the restoration of Ndotsheni, and why was there a white man there on the tops, to do in this valley what no other could have done? And why of all men, the father of the man who had been murdered by his son? And might not another feel also a compulsion, and pray night and day without ceasing, for the restoration of some other valley that would never be restored? But his mind would contain it no longer. It was not for man’s knowing. He put it from his mind, for it was a secret.”
I am glad I read this book to have a better understanding of the historical context of apartheid in South Africa. I think this is an important read especially today because it navigates the complicated tensions of race relations in a very nuanced way - avoiding the current tendency to oversimplify the situation by victimizing one “side” while vilifying the “other”. The fact of the matter is that it’s not so clear cut. Paton also does an excellent job of character development by highlighting that these characters (on both “sides”) had real flaws and brings out their real suffering. Having said that, I struggled with the poor writing style and lack of editing. A few places and themes jumped the shark.
“He pondered long over this, for might not another man, returning to another valley, have found none of these things? Why was it given to one man to have his pain transmuted into gladness? Why was it given to one man to have such an awareness of God? And might not another, having no such awareness, live with pain that never ended? Why was there a compulsion upon him to pray for the restoration of Ndotsheni, and why was there a white man there on the tops, to do in this valley what no other could have done? And why of all men, the father of the man who had been murdered by his son? And might not another feel also a compulsion, and pray night and day without ceasing, for the restoration of some other valley that would never be restored? But his mind would contain it no longer. It was not for man’s knowing. He put it from his mind, for it was a secret.”
I am glad I read this book to have a better understanding of the historical context of apartheid in South Africa. I think this is an important read especially today because it navigates the complicated tensions of race relations in a very nuanced way - avoiding the current tendency to oversimplify the situation by victimizing one “side” while vilifying the “other”. The fact of the matter is that it’s not so clear cut. Paton also does an excellent job of character development by highlighting that these characters (on both “sides”) had real flaws and brings out their real suffering. Having said that, I struggled with the poor writing style and lack of editing. A few places and themes jumped the shark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder
Great insight into many different types of complexities—race, colonization, family, religion—without attempting to resolve them.
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced