I'm about a third of the way through this, so far it is very readable and interesting. I have offered it as a INTL Bookring, now just waiting to see if anyone is interested.

Black clinical pyschologist Madikizela is taken through the Truth and Reconciliation Commitee to interview Eugene de Kock, a man commonly refered to as 'Prime Evil' who has come to symbolise the violence and aggression of the apartheid government.
Madikizela seeks to find answers with this man, including why some of his victims families have forgiven him and feel a sense of empathy for this notorious man. She finds de Kock to be a thoughtful and sensitive man; fighting with the things he has done, with his own reasons and explanations for having committed such crimes and with the abandonment of the apartheid government who had sanctioned his crimes.
This book becomes about more than de Kock's answers, but Madikizela's fight with her empathy for him and about the question of evil: can one be both evil and caring? Can we forgive? Should we forgive?
For me the book was five stars from page one, but the final meeting between de Kock and Madikizela had my heart in my mouth:

"Have I ever killed any of your friends or family?"
The words bounced around the large room like an echo in a cave. I actually turned and looked around, expecting perhaps to see someone else in the room other than the guards at the door. Yes, I had heard de Kock's voice. I was sure that was what I'd heard...but had I just imagined it? Standing there stunned, in conversation with a broken man who had been an angel of death, I felt as if I were in a mist of a collision of scattered meanings within these prison walls that had enclosed our conversations. De Kock's words hovered in the room; I was struggling to understand them before I could take them in.

The tension created by this moment and then her subsequent answer made my heart pound, what if he had killed someone she loved, how would she cope with being so close to him and how would he cope, this man who started to seem so fragile.

For someone who rarely reads non-fiction I sped through this, and I'm sending it on a small journey through bookcrossing to a few other readers before it returns to me when I'm sure to read it again. I recommend you to beg, borrow or steal a copy. And I've already picked my next non-fiction read 'Blood River' about the Congo.

Bookring order (Subject to change)
VictoriaWagtail (Sweeden)
Lemon-Crisis (UK)
shovelmonkey1 (UK)

Then back to me

Usual rules apply for this bookring. Try to keep for no longer than a month, journal when you recieve it and send it on. Comments on your thoughts on the book are always much appreciated by previous and future readers.
Thanks for joining

The book arrived today and that made me very happy since I feared it was lost somewhere on the way. But now it's safe with me and I'll read it right after I finish the book I'm on now. I'm really looking forward to it! Thanks Katrinat for sharing this book!

This was a very interesting book that I'm glad I had the chance to read. Most of all it is an important book that shows that healing a wounded society, as well as healing for the wounded individuals in that society, is possible. Trauma on a national level is not an uncommon thing in the world of today and that's why this is such an important knowledge. I’ve thought a lot about this problem, both before and after reading this book. How is it really possible to go on after a horrible event like for example genocide, civil war or massive political violence where one part of the population has been the victims and the other the perpetrators? Can we, the onlookers who’ve never experienced anything that comes even close to it, expect everything to go back to normal in a very short time frame and people from both sides to live as neighbours again? Because that is most often the goal. But how can that be possible?

The narrative of the book was a bit unfocused in certain parts but as a whole it's a good introduction to the history of contemporary South Africa and also a great acount of "the great evil" and its effects on society and us humans. I will always carry with me the words of Pearl Faku (whose husband was killed in an attack planned and sanctioned by Eugene de Kock): "I hope that when he sees our tears, he knows that they are not only tears for our husbands, but tears for him as well."

Gobodo-Madikizela stresses the importance of acknowledging also the perpetrators of evil as victims of their own evil. Not to diminish their guilt, but to allow healing of all involved. I can’t remember any one else saying anything like this before. It feels important and true.

When I was done with this book I emediately started reading "A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali" by Gil Courtemanche (a ring hosted by LiniP), a book about the genocide in Rwanda. And I'm really glad I read them in this order. Courtemanche's book is a pitch dark narrative of hell on earth and after reading it you wonder if such a thing as "forgiveness" and "moving on" can exist. But remembering the words of Pumla Gbodo-Madikizela helps keeping the hope alive.

And the book is now on its way back to the United Kingdom. Enjoy!

Arrived today! Thanks to katrinat for hosting and VictoriaWagtail for passing it on =]

I'm in the middle of a book at the moment, but will get to this one as soon as I can!

Just thought I'd let everyone know I'm almost finished reading! Will PM Shovelmonkey1 in a min for their address so I can post as soon as I'm finished.

Will edit in my thoughts later too =]

Firstly, I have to apologise for the delay (I HATE being 'late' with BC books >:[ ). I had something going on in my family, then I went and caught some kind of bug that quite literally knocked me flat for a while. Unfortunately I couldn't be dealing with the heavy nature of this book at the moment, so I had to skim the last part or I would've had it forever.

Will edit in a few thoughts later - just wanted to get this release entry up before shovelmonkey1 checks in!

I got this off to shovelmonkey1 Saturday, so it should be arriving any day now! =]

This book was waiting for me when I got back from Italy (archaeological busmans holiday to visit historic Roman ports!) so thanks for sending it along. I have three other bookrays up before this one but will endeavour to ensure it travels again asap. Thanks!

Ok, I bumped this one up the pile to get it moving since it's on its way back to the originator of the bookring.

I have to admit that this book dealt with a period of history which I am not amazingly well versed in. Apartheid ended when I was 13 so many of the key events in the history of this brutal period took place before I was old enough to grasp their significance. Of course, this is not an excuse for not learning more about the whole period as an adult but because of my work and research (and as someone who lives in Liverpool), my reading has always tended towards Colonial History and European interaction with Africa between 1700 - 1900 or thereabouts. When this bookring was advertised I saw an opportunity to learn a bit more so thanks to katrinat for hosting this one.

The book is well written, well researched and not overly emotive, nor does it dwell on the brutality of the activities orchestrated and led by Eugene De Kock. If you thought this book would demonize de Kock and provide gruesome descriptions and insights into his reign of terror then you will be disappointed. Instead it examines the opportunities that the end of apartheid have given to allow a process of healing and recovery with the emphasis placed on discussion rather than revenge and retribution. Human history generally espoused that an eye for eye is the best, sweetest and most satisfactory method of revenge. The TRC are trying to move beyond this by highlighting how forgiveness gives the wronged party the power and the upper hand as it is they who are in control. This book is a unique and well written insight but I have realised that I now need to learn a great deal more about this period of history and will be seeking out books accordingly.

This book will be travelling home to katrinat tomorrow.

This book is now heading home to katrinat to complete this bookring. Thanks for the loan of this book!

The book has returned to me and still looks in great condition. Thanks to all who took part. My housemate is going to be reading it soon and then I may get it moving again.

Well my housemate hated it. I have now passed it on to a new reader who I hope has a different reaction to it