A review by kategci
Scatterlings by Rešoketšwe Manenzhe

3.0

Really 3 1/2 stars. Set in South Africa in the early 20th century, Scatterlings examines the ramifications of the 1927 law which prevented blacks and whites from marrying and having relationships and was deemed retroactive. Abram and Alisa have been married and have 2 daughters and their lives are upended as they try to flee north to Southern Rhodesia. Alisa has always written in her journal and seems to have struggled with depression. One horrible act changes everything and the story deals with the fall out from Alisa's behavior. A large chunk near the end of the novel is devoted to Alisa's journals and while they are a character study, ultimately they bogged the novel down. A debut, the author may have tried to do too much. There is a lot of interiority, not only in the journals, but among the other characters. Very descriptive of the south South African flora and fauna, I am glad I was given the opportunity by BookBrowse and HarperVia to read this soon to be published novel.