"Nothing links person to person like the frequent passage from hand to hand of a good book."

This is a short but fascinating story based in South Africa, about racial tension and the evolving relationship between a white family and their black servant.

This book is travelling by mail to fellow BCer megami-no-ushi in Calgary as a holiday gift. Happy reading!

Thank you for the wonderful HGG gift! I have a couple of committments before it but I hope to spend some quality time with this book over the holidays!

This was a hard book to get into but worth it. I had to take the time to go back and re-read bits when the missing context was revealed and I could finally make sense of who was speaking. While the unique grammar was dificult to decipher I felt like Gordimer couldn't have found a better vehicle for portraying the complexities of miscommunication.

I'd suggest to future readers to have a look at some of the reviews and analysis around after you finish reading. As one reviewer I read put it - she liked the book more after she discussed it.

Reserved for SGG.

Sending of to Texas for SGG - I hope you enjoy this Nobel prize winning author!

Thank you so much for the book! Cover reads interesting and I always enjoy learning more about South Africa.

Also funny that this has now travelled as a HCG and a summer gift - I like the gifts at BCC a lot!

I really liked the book from the first page. Really fascinating how the relationships between the white family that has to be rescued by their black servant is described and how they all feel in this tiny African village.

Only the end I didn't get. Was it happy, unhappy or something mixed? Too cryptic for me...

Travelling to Europe with the First Sentence VBB.

The book arrived safely today.
Thank you so much to weiterferne for sharing!