Maggie 7 - 7
Picked this because it's on been on her shelf and Mantel is one of England's most regarded authors having also written Wolf Hall. Was familiar with all the UK references, so many of which she knows personally which was fun. Lots of life experiences for such a young naive couple to deal with: God, Loss, Religion. They weren't prepared but stuck with it. True believers . . . not. This period of South Africa's history was well documented in England at the time. Ralph was consumed with helping people to the detriment of his own family. After Matthew died, Ralph buried himself with the Trust to save himself. Anna was unable to forgive him for opening the door to Enock. Forgiveness was a theme, but unable to forgive Ralph at the end. Great things to think about.
Sandy 7 - 8
Liked Emma and Anna. Had trouble with the hopping timeline. Ralph falls into an affair. The family drove her nuts. Son Julian arrives at home from college. Nothing. No comment, really? Then it dawned on her that this family is not big on sharing things and that it's a totally normal reaction. They are no fun and boring. Did Ralph really just want to please everyone, or was he a simpleton? Loved the description on page 12 of useful words in our brain just waiting to be employed. The Bible teaches we are to forgive 7x70 times, or in other words, always. Sandy disagrees. You might get forgiven once with her, then watch out. They wanted to go back to Flower Street after prison? Were they too stupid or just so stubborn that they didn't see the writing on the wall? Liked the term Professional Christians. Why would you tell Melanie the unstable street kid in your house that your child died? When Melanie dragged herself across the garden it was too much! Overall liked the book because the writing was so good.
Miles 9 - 9
Wished I hadn't read the blurb about the book -- 'evil' in Africa leads to infidelity -- this would have been a great book to just unfold without preconceptions
Extremely insightful author - about characters, family interplay, roles, human thoughts/emotions
Writing/insight to human emotions and place exceeded the story/plotline
There were about 5 - 10 pages describing the return to England after the loss of Matthew -- really interesting people lived for/savored 'routine' and were incapable of dealing with 'events' (again, insightful)
Oddly, the England parts of the book were more 'page turner's to me than South Africa -- though complexity of time/place (bandustans) was presented really well with characters - Mission help, Afrikaan doctor, trader who lived behind the Dr.
Cultural differences - communication 'calling someone rubbish' may or may not have had consequences
'evil' resides in humans -- outside of any other forces
(I didn't read this so much as an attack on Apartheid that created sequence as much as a very difficult time/place for them to be 'successful')
Kids with different personalities - Kit, Julian, Robin, Becca
Expecting that they would learn about Matthew - and wondered if it is important (or how I would react)
Red house was interesting -- I had the feeling this was a place and setting that was difficult for kids to leave based on how Kit managed the woman who sliced her wrists at the outset.
Infidelity (typically I cringe) -- in this book it was fascinating
How I looked at Ginny (unknown wife of Felix) -- we're feeling for Emma at early part of the book Vs. how I saw Ginny later once she was presented to us (Daniel: "Emma broke my mothers heart") Daniel was a background nondescript person we expect Kit is settling for (what he did for Anna was pretty significant)Sandra and Anna were conveyed very nondescript/two-dimensional initially -- this changed -- they both had more depth than we give them
Great pick - and I will seek more books by her.
K'Lynn 6 - 6
Beginning was choppy for me. I was reading it with a lot going on in the background and couldn't keep the characters straight. I read 57 pages and finally went back and wrote down everyone's name - that helped a lot . . . but slowed me down.
I felt the story didn't really get going until they were arrested.
I didn't have a sense of time. Based on the forward by Kit from 1970 written as a 10 year old I figured out that she was born in 1960. I don't have a sense though of how long they were on Elim street. The story itself felt like it was written in the early 1900's. I don't know why I had that sense?
What was their crime?
Once they were in prison and released to Beuchaland the story picked up for me. I don't know how Anna could ever move on from the loss of her son . . . and Enock and the nanny. Despicable. I don't know that I would've left Africa. They never saw his body, never had proof he was dead. I think there would always be that doubt that would push me over the edge. It reminded me a little of that movie Lion about the boy in India getting on the train.
I thought the writing was beautiful. The addition of the Afrikaan words sometimes affected how well I comprehended the story. Stoep and Kaffir.
In the end when Anna is leaving Ralph she says, 1st time (letting the criminals in the house) 2nd time having the affair with Amy was unforgivable. That was very powerfully written.
Letitia 8 - 8.5
Letitia brought notes so I didn't write anything. In her defense she was reluctant to share these:
Making choices
Nothing fixed in creation
Making other choices
Page 250 getting mixed up from one case file to another
People aren't unique don't have free will, fall into patterns of predictability
60 minutes crime chleag
Animals have no choice. It is why they are different from us. If we could not choose to do evil we would not be human
Choices led to this
Page 226 we must always choose and choose to do good
Page 219 always do our best, push out against unjust circumstances
Page 266 wife talks about Ralph's innocence
Page 113 Ralph was optimist, never gave up on people
Anna's parents blaming him
Emma's affair
All in all I think Letitia's notes had a poetic ring.
Pat 7 - 8
I spent much of the book waiting for a connection to Felix and Ginny's affair. I enjoyed the writing but confess to being confused, especially trying to keep Anna and Emma straight. The story picked up in South Africa. They were doing their best to help those in need but were so ill prepared. I know that more goes into preparing people now, but no amount of book learning can get you ready for such abject circumstances, professional Christian or no. I ranted about South Africa and Trump. I'm sorry. I would read more of this author.
Carolyn 6 - 6
Also thought that what was occurring in 1956 was happening in the late 1800's. Often wondered what decade the story was taking place. Lots of questions. How could Ralph open the door knowing something was going to be wrong? Very unnerving. Lots of good quotes and good deeds. Why did they wind up in prison? For helping others out? How hard it must have been for such a strong people to find out they're wrong. Such a brutal story; how could you tell your child what happened? It would be so much easier to say disease or something killed him. Ralph brought Melanie home and then left! Not cool. She didn't like Ralph. Story had a hard start and an abrupt ending. Felicia the nanny was hanged. No build up. No explanation. No law or order. A sentence mentioning she was hanged. Surprise!
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