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jnobrien21's review against another edition
I got this as a mystery book, not sure I would have picked it out myself. The book is divided into sections with related articles written by Malan. While it was an interesting read, I don't know enough about South African politics to always understand the implications of different events throughout each story. My favorite chapter was on the history and origins of the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
patkay85's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
karencarlson's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
sad
4.25
I got this book for the title story, which I loved; I struggled with the rest. First, I have enough trouble sorting out context and motive in USAian commentary; move it to South Africa, where not only am I unfamiliar with the geography, the issues, the players, and how all of that has shifted, sometimes very quickly, over the past thirty years or so, and I'm over my head. Plus, I'm one of the "gormless liberals in the outside world" who annoy Malan because we so want perfect heroes.
I did make some effort with a story about the death rate from AIDS in the 90s, in which Malan presents convincing evidence but runs up against brick walls when it comes to getting anyone to listen. There's an interesting compare/contrast piece about a beauty pageant set against sociopolitical turmoil in 1993. There were several others that presented interesting people in unfamiliar places, but the time gap was often an obstacle for me. I don't remember what the US was like in the 90s let alone what South Africa was going through.
So for me, though the essays were all worth reading (if only to make me more aware of my ignorance), the star was the music story; when I next hear “Wimoweh” it’s Solomon Linda's 1939 version I’ll remember.
FMI see my blog post at A Just Recompense.
I did make some effort with a story about the death rate from AIDS in the 90s, in which Malan presents convincing evidence but runs up against brick walls when it comes to getting anyone to listen. There's an interesting compare/contrast piece about a beauty pageant set against sociopolitical turmoil in 1993. There were several others that presented interesting people in unfamiliar places, but the time gap was often an obstacle for me. I don't remember what the US was like in the 90s let alone what South Africa was going through.
So for me, though the essays were all worth reading (if only to make me more aware of my ignorance), the star was the music story; when I next hear “Wimoweh” it’s Solomon Linda's 1939 version I’ll remember.
FMI see my blog post at A Just Recompense.
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