Set in South Africa under white rule, Doris Lessing's first novel is both a riveting chronicle of human disintegration and a beautifully understated social critique.

Mary Turner is a self-confident, independent young woman who becomes the depressed, frustrated wife of an ineffectual, unsuccessful farmer. Little by little the ennui of years on the farm work their slow poison, and Mary's despair progresses until the fateful arrival of an enigmatic and virile black servant, Moses. Locked in anguish, Mary and Moses -- master and slave -- are trapped in a web of mounting attraction and repulsion. Their psychic tension explodes in an electrifying scene that ends this disturbing tale of racial strife in colonial South Africa.

The Grass Is Singing blends Lessing's imaginative vision with her own vividly remembered early childhood to recreate the quiet horror of a woman's struggle against a ruthless fate.

On its way to Mathgirl40 as she picked this from the 1001 list VBB! Enjoy!

Thanks for sending me this book, Tizzalicious! I've been wanting to read one of Doris Lessing's books for a long time.

This relatively short but very intense novel leaves quite an impact. Set in South Africa in the 1940's, it follows the life of a young woman through her unhappy marriage and the development of her mental illness. Lessing shows very disturbing scenes of racism and colonialism and the horrible effects of chronic poverty. There are few likable characters or moments of redemption in this novel, but like it is with the proverbial train wreck, I couldn't look away or stop reading.

Thanks again, MMMaartje, for sending me this book, and now I can cross another off my 1001 list!

I passed this on to a friend at a book club meeting.