Books set in (the country) South Africa?
- Redlegs
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Re: Books set in (the country) South Africa?
Of course, there is also Long walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela if you want a detailed non-fiction perspective.
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
- stoppoppingtheP
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Also try the authors J M Coetzee, Zakes Mda and Imraan Covaadia
Another good book is 'The Power of One' by Bryce Courtenay
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Thank youstoppoppingtheP wrote:Try any book by the author Rayda Jacobs. She is a fantastic writer. Some of the books that I can remember are called My Father's Orchids, and Confessions of a gambler.
Also try the authors J M Coetzee, Zakes Mda and Imraan Covaadia
Another good book is 'The Power of One' by Bryce Courtenay
I'll br sure to make a note of them
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I read July's People by Nadine Gordimer several years ago for an African Lit course and it was fascinating. It deals with some heavy themes about race and colonization, but it will definitely make you think.
I also read My Traitor's Heart by Rian Malan, although it was a while ago and the details of the story are a little fuzzier in my mind. I also remember that it confronted the reader with difficult truths about a post-apartheid society.
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The first book that came to mind was Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. I read this book in high school and had to write an essay about the story. I had never thought about the plight of tribal people faced with the erosion of their way of life due to the young members moving to the cities for work. This story brings these issues to light and is a powerful read. I agree with Redlegs about this being an important story to understand South Africa. The book was written in 1948, so it is dated but its importance is still relevant today.Redlegs wrote:You really can't go past Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton if you want to understand South Africa.
Of course, there is also Long walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela if you want a detailed non-fiction perspective.
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I also recommend Lauren Beukes, although I must say that The Shining Girls was a bit of a disappointment. Her other books are very good, though.
J.M. Coetzee is of course one of our major literary exports, but be warned, his work may just depress the hell out of you. Even so, he is a brilliant and perceptive writer. Andre Brink is also great. I find Nadine Gordimer super boring, but many people love her work.
Another great South African author of magic realism is Etienne van Heerden. The Long Silence of Mario Salviati is one of my favourite books. It is quite reminiscent of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Hmm, who else... South African Cat Hellisen is one of my favourite fantasy writers, but most of her books are set in a fantasy land so probably not what you're looking for.
Eek, this list is looking rather whitewashed. Kind of makes me realise I need to broaden my own literary horizons when it comes to my country's literature!
- MrsCatInTheHat
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- Gravy
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Novel by Alan Paton is a must read
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This is an old post but I'm going to answer it anyway - I'm South African, but I now live in France. I left when I was 21 so I was born there, grew up there and attended school and university there.
I'd suggest anything by Alan Paton - Cry, The Beloved Country, being the one most people would recommend. Nadine Gordimer is also an oldie but goody.
Are you looking for anything in particular? Most literature before 1995 will be dealing with Apartheid in some way or at least mentioning it. I studied English at uni between 1990-1994 and read some wonderful commentaries on it. One of my favourites is Woza Albert - a political satire play. It's funny (although you may have to be SAfrican to really appreciate it, I don't know).
Something completely different is the Spud series, three books on a young boy in a boarding school in SA.
Let me know what you think.
- mary-annef
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Tannie Maria & the Satanic Mechanic: A Tannie Maria Mystery by Sally Andrew
Followers of Lightning by Charles Bentley which is currently available for review on Onlinebookclub see my review here viewtopic.php?f=2&t=129284
For something more serious - Memoirs of a Born Free: Reflections on the Rainbow Nation by Malaika Wa Azania
All these authors live in South Africa
- sevencrows
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