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A review by motobass4321
The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing
3.0
I read this as part of a Back to the Classics challenge for 2016. There are many good reviews on goodreads for this already. I have to agree with the reviews who said it was not an "enjoyable" read or a good-time type of book. The subject matter precludes that - colonialism, racism, the mental breakdown of the main character, her murder at the hands of an African man who worked for her. Be prepared for a direct portrayal of racism in thought and deed.
The story of Mary and Richard Turner on a small farm in colonial South Africa is powerfully presented in economical, vivid prose. Lessing's narrator does not come out and make judgments about the characters of Mary and Richard or their neighbors. We are given enough background to understand them to a certain degree and to understand how they see and hold back from each other. Lessing's ability to capture the desperation and anger and present it in telling gestures or imaginative comparisons really impressed me. While Richard arguably needs Mary much more than she needs him - except that without him, she has no place in society any longer - Mary's wasting away once fully cognizant of her position and her husband's likelihood of success, made me almost want to root for them. That is impressive considering how awful they are towards the Africans who work for them and without whom they could not have attempted to make a living on the farm.
I highly recommend this book and plan to re-read it in a few years time. Now I need to read more fiction having to do with South Africa in general.
The story of Mary and Richard Turner on a small farm in colonial South Africa is powerfully presented in economical, vivid prose. Lessing's narrator does not come out and make judgments about the characters of Mary and Richard or their neighbors. We are given enough background to understand them to a certain degree and to understand how they see and hold back from each other. Lessing's ability to capture the desperation and anger and present it in telling gestures or imaginative comparisons really impressed me. While Richard arguably needs Mary much more than she needs him - except that without him, she has no place in society any longer - Mary's wasting away once fully cognizant of her position and her husband's likelihood of success, made me almost want to root for them. That is impressive considering how awful they are towards the Africans who work for them and without whom they could not have attempted to make a living on the farm.
I highly recommend this book and plan to re-read it in a few years time. Now I need to read more fiction having to do with South Africa in general.