Kaffir Boy-True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa
Registered by EMA375 on 5/12/2004
9 journalers for this copy...
One of my favorite books!
Mark Mathabane was weaned on devastating poverty and schooled in the cruel streets of South Africa's most desperate ghetto, where bloody gang wars and midnight police raids were his rites of passage. Like every other child born in the hopelessness of apartheid, he learned to measure his life in days, not years. Yet Mark Mathabane, armed only with the courage of his family and a hard-won education, raised himself up from the squalor and humiliation to win a scholarship to an American university.
Mark Mathabane was weaned on devastating poverty and schooled in the cruel streets of South Africa's most desperate ghetto, where bloody gang wars and midnight police raids were his rites of passage. Like every other child born in the hopelessness of apartheid, he learned to measure his life in days, not years. Yet Mark Mathabane, armed only with the courage of his family and a hard-won education, raised himself up from the squalor and humiliation to win a scholarship to an American university.
Bookring Members: (mailed 5/24)Lobodyke KY (SHIP US) SKIPPED
kristamd MD (SHIP US/CAN) SKIPPED
Please Return To:
EMA375 CA
Book received already via email - thanks EMA375! Can't wait to begin reading. Nothing more urgent ahead of it, and I'm already a couple of pages in.
Will journal again when I've finished.
Will journal again when I've finished.
What a shattering life story, but uplifting to see one young man's personal triumph against an oppressive regime. I really enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to reading the rest of Mark's books, including the continuation of his story! Thanks so much to EMA375 for sharing your favourite book with me! I will send off to jackiea as soon as I have her posting address.
Posted book to Jackiea on 7 June 2004 AEST, by ordinary parcel satchel. Enjoy, Jackiea!
Just arrived. Thanks readinator. Look forward to reading it and passing it along
A remarkable story from a remarkable young man!
Will pass it on to Muffin77 as soon as I have the address.
Thanks EMA375
Will pass it on to Muffin77 as soon as I have the address.
Thanks EMA375
Mailed to muffin77 today. Hope you enjoy it!
received this a few days ago - started reading already. more when I am finished. thanks for sharing *gg*!!!
Journal Entry 10 by Muffin77 at Postal release to fellow bookcrosser (Dresden) in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Sachsen Germany on Friday, August 20, 2004
Released on Friday, August 20, 2004 at Postal release to fellow bookcrosser in Dresden, Sachsen Germany.
Terribly sorry for the delay - had some private things to take care of first. Now I am feeling a bit better and sent the book on today.
Terribly sorry for the delay - had some private things to take care of first. Now I am feeling a bit better and sent the book on today.
Arrived in Rotherham this morning, will read a.s.a.p
Journal Entry 12 by R-W from Rotherham, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, September 11, 2004
What an emotive story, we all know that apartheid is wrong, but yet untill reading this book i didn't fully understand just how severe it was, and the fact that Mark Mathabane beat the system whilst under pressure even from his own comunity attests to his fighting spirit, courage and bravery.
I feel now that i must read Mathabanes other books as i want to know what happened once he got to America.
I think this is a book that everyone should be made to read.
I feel now that i must read Mathabanes other books as i want to know what happened once he got to America.
I think this is a book that everyone should be made to read.
Journal Entry 13 by R-W from Rotherham, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Just mailed to Phillycarol
Journal Entry 14 by phillycarol from King Of Prussia, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, September 20, 2004
Received today. Will get to it as soon as possible (1.5 books ahead of it).
This is an incredible story of perseverance and hope in a desperate situation. I, too, was wondering what happened to Mark Mathabane next and I'm glad to hear that there's another book out there. His descriptions are compelling and really shed light on his whole life. Thanks for sharing this one, EMA375!
I'll send this book out to lonerunner as soon as I get her(?) address.
I'll send this book out to lonerunner as soon as I get her(?) address.
I admit it, I'm a slacker. I haven't mailed the book yet but will do so tomorrow. Sorry for the delay!
Just received in the mail today, and looking forward to reading it very much. Thank you!
An engrossing memoir of survival, enlightenment, and escape. Mark Mathabane's story showed me details about apartheid that I had never read about before, and I was truly shocked and amazed at the severity of the conditions in which he grew up. That Mathabane not only survived, but educated himself and coped so well, is beyond my comprehension.
Thank you, EMA 375, for sharing this extraordinary memoir!
Thank you, EMA 375, for sharing this extraordinary memoir!
Kaffir Boy is going out in the mail tomorrow, and traveling to NH.
I received this book in the mail today. I hope to get to it soon.
Ruth
Ruth
BOOKRING MEMBERS: Just started a new bookring. This is a sequel to Kaffir Boy called "Kaffir Boy in America". If interested please see my bookshelf and PM me. Thanks.
I am so glad I read this book! I was appalled at what I learned about apartheid. I knew it existed, but not what it"really" was. I was stunned at what went on, and the will these people had to survive. Mark prevailed and rose above it, and that was so uplifting! I just saw that you have a ring out for the sequel, and I'm going to search for it right now. Sorry I held the book so long. I was going to send it on without reading it, because of the time, but I'm sure glad that I didn't! Thanks for sharing this book! Sending it on to Lobodyke as soon as I get an address.
Both Lobodyke and kristamd asked to be skipped, so I'm sending this book off to deadsteen today.
Ruth
Ruth
Arrived today. Hope to get started in about a week, when I finish another bookring book that I just started reading.
May 19-- I still have it, started it, then put it down for a while to get some other things done!! Reading time has been slim of late. I will get back to it. Just want you to know that the book is safe, and neither I nor the book have disappeared off the face of the earth.
June 5-- Finally finished this. Now that I understand apartheid a little better, I wonder what it's like for black South Africans now that apartheid is "gone." It also made me think about racism in America. Excellent read... even though it took me a while. Will contact EMA375 since I'm the last person in the ring.
May 19-- I still have it, started it, then put it down for a while to get some other things done!! Reading time has been slim of late. I will get back to it. Just want you to know that the book is safe, and neither I nor the book have disappeared off the face of the earth.
June 5-- Finally finished this. Now that I understand apartheid a little better, I wonder what it's like for black South Africans now that apartheid is "gone." It also made me think about racism in America. Excellent read... even though it took me a while. Will contact EMA375 since I'm the last person in the ring.
Arrived home safely. I hope you all enjoyed this book.
