A hard read, the characters are difficult to like - the story charts and examines the disintegration of a privileged white Swart family, living on a farm outside Pretoria. The Promise of the story, is a child, Amor Swart, overhears her dying mother make her father promise that her nurse/maid Salome will be given the home that she lives in. This promise is not enacted, reflecting the mess that South Africa now is after the promise of the Nelson Mandela era. Now all lies, greed, corruption, violence affect everything. The family fractures, promises are not held, and around them the country reflects this. There is an assumption of knowledge with this book, but interesting writing.
This book generated an interesting discussion about South Africa, corruption, and families.
Words used to describe it: poetic, humbling disheartening, hopeless, grim
Marks out of 10 - between 7 -8 so highly rated.
Next Book
Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor
Next Meeting
Thursday 4th November at Olivia's
Thursday 9th December - Christmas at Chelsea Arts Club
