My Traitor's Heart |
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Rian Malan
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Pages: 425 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0099749009
Pub: Vintage
Pub date: 1991-01-17
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 17050
Reader Reviews:
Unfolding a tale of Unimaginable Complexity (5/6 people found this helpful)
A lesser writer would not have been able to keep dishing up such appalling facts without driving his readers away. Malan's genetic legacy, his recognition of the conflicts in his own mind and his clear and genuine love of a country whose peoples (all of them) have such violent and confused histories enable him to offer an astounding perspective on his homeland.
His ability to put forth horrific story after horrific story and put them into some sort of context in which he tries to make sense of things is spell binding. This is a difficult read but a rewarding one. Although one's comfortable liberal mind always realised there was more to the South Africa story than a simple good/bad divide it takes an incisive mind to start to lay bare some of the underlying facts which are still relevent in the "new" South Africa and go a long way to explaining why post apartheid governments still have an uphill struggle in trying to unite the many nations of which it is comprised.
The only question is, when can we hope for a similarly reasoned and insightful "take" on events today - more or less 20 years on - please Mr Malan, where is your afterword because I am sure I am not alone in wanting to know where your thoughts have taken you since completing "My Traitor's Heart"
Everyone should read this book! (10/11 people found this helpful)
As an avid follower of all things South African I have a shelf full of literature by the countrys' best known novelists..some being booker and Nobel peace prize winners.Rian Malan is undoubtedly a genius..His journey through the turbulent and striking era of apartheid is told with breathtaking splendidness. His thought processes are totally unique and he automatically encourages the reader to consider how it must feel to be an Afikaaner in post apartheid South Africa. He has a lesson to teach everyone and I urge anyone,even those with little interest in racism and race oppression to give this book a go...He is quite simply one of the best Afrikaans literarys in the 21 st century.
My traitor's heart (5/10 people found this helpful)
I read on average about 2 books a week, and I can honestly say this is the best book I've ever read!!! I couldnt but it down, Rian is a wonderful writer and seeing that I grew up in South Africa I could related to what he was trying to put across. I will recommend this book to everyone I know, especially my sister who still lives in Africa!!! Riverting reading!!!
Honest and fair (6/7 people found this helpful)
Here is a narrative whose author has not bought into the huge amount of propoganda surrounding all the different groups involved in recent South African history, and is courageous enough to tell the truth about his experiences. A thoroughly good read, leading to much introspective thought.
Proof that there is no easy answer (5/6 people found this helpful)
Rian Malan is a wordsmith of such creativity that even if you have no interest in this part of the world - you should read this for the beauty of his prose.
If you have any interest, atrraction or have ever visited South Africa you cannot be without this book. Malan has no axes to grind other that where he sees his own failings. A balanced work that brings home the enormity of the issues facing those that have to govern this diverse group of cultures that may not sit together comfortably for more than one generation to come.
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Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback