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warrenl's review against another edition
3.0
My personal problem with this book, and I accept that this is entirely a matter of opinion, is Krog's tendency to inject far too much of herself into the narrative. The astonishing, horrifying stories that were told at the TRC are more than enough without Krog's introspective personal experiences and perspective woven throughout.
On the other hand, it's Krog's book, and her prerogative. Her own story of her coverage of and reaction to the TRC is deserving in itself, and as an account of how the TRC affected those closely attached to it, I'm sure it is of interest to many. But in reading about the TRC, I wanted Krog to report the news, not be the news. Of all the books written about the TRC, I guess this was the wrong one for me.
On the other hand, it's Krog's book, and her prerogative. Her own story of her coverage of and reaction to the TRC is deserving in itself, and as an account of how the TRC affected those closely attached to it, I'm sure it is of interest to many. But in reading about the TRC, I wanted Krog to report the news, not be the news. Of all the books written about the TRC, I guess this was the wrong one for me.
cmcarr's review
I had a hard time reading this book, not so much because of the awful stories of violence, but more because I just didn't find that the writing did much to weave a storyline. I was eager to learn a bit more about the reality of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, but just couldn't keep my interest.
emmareitano's review
4.0
“It is ordinary people who appear before the Truth Commission. People you meet daily in the street, on the bus and train – people with the signs of poverty and hard work on their bodies and their clothes. In their faces you can read astonishment, bewilderment, sown by the callousness of the security police and the unfairness of the justice system. ‘We were treated like garbage: worse even than dogs. Even ants were treated better than us.’
And everyone wants to know: Who? Why? Out of the sighing arises more than the need for facts or the longing to get closure on someone’s life. The victims ask the hardest of all the questions: How is it possible that the person I loved so much lit no spark of humanity in you?”
Country of My Skull is an example to all those who seek to record current affairs for the future. It covers the formation and activities of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, created by newly inaugurated Nelson Mandela, to establish a picture of the gross human rights violations committed between 1960 and 1993. It was to seek the truth and make it known to the public and to prevent these brutal events ever happening again. From 1996 and over the following two years South Africans were exposed almost daily to revelations about their traumatic past.
The book begins with a account of how the Commission was formed, with the endless political squabbling and tense drama of constitutional questions - particularly the call to extend both the period covered by the investigation and the deadline for amnesty applications. Krog recounts horrific human rights violations, the questioning and cross-examining of applicants, both black and white, for amnesty, and describes the difficulties arising from the question of reparation and rehabilitation. You see the effect on the reporters and Commissioners as they are forced to watch people relive their worst and most humiliating and traumatising moments.
Krog is a spectacular writer and poet and what could have been a very technical legalese account of the TRC is dripping with emotion. I won’t deny I found it a very hard read, but that was mainly because of how upsetting it was. It’s an incredibly worthwhile read, though. I think it’s incredibly important to bear witness to these dark periods of humanity in order to understand them and their causes, and to be vigilant for the signs to ensure it does not happen again.
And everyone wants to know: Who? Why? Out of the sighing arises more than the need for facts or the longing to get closure on someone’s life. The victims ask the hardest of all the questions: How is it possible that the person I loved so much lit no spark of humanity in you?”
Country of My Skull is an example to all those who seek to record current affairs for the future. It covers the formation and activities of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, created by newly inaugurated Nelson Mandela, to establish a picture of the gross human rights violations committed between 1960 and 1993. It was to seek the truth and make it known to the public and to prevent these brutal events ever happening again. From 1996 and over the following two years South Africans were exposed almost daily to revelations about their traumatic past.
The book begins with a account of how the Commission was formed, with the endless political squabbling and tense drama of constitutional questions - particularly the call to extend both the period covered by the investigation and the deadline for amnesty applications. Krog recounts horrific human rights violations, the questioning and cross-examining of applicants, both black and white, for amnesty, and describes the difficulties arising from the question of reparation and rehabilitation. You see the effect on the reporters and Commissioners as they are forced to watch people relive their worst and most humiliating and traumatising moments.
Krog is a spectacular writer and poet and what could have been a very technical legalese account of the TRC is dripping with emotion. I won’t deny I found it a very hard read, but that was mainly because of how upsetting it was. It’s an incredibly worthwhile read, though. I think it’s incredibly important to bear witness to these dark periods of humanity in order to understand them and their causes, and to be vigilant for the signs to ensure it does not happen again.
megatsunami's review
4.0
Powerful book, beautifully written by a poet and journalist who covered the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in South Africa. I was really moved by some of the insights and issues raised by the book. At the same time, I found it difficult to read, both in terms of the subject matter (though obviously I knew that going into it) and in terms of the style which was fragmented and included a lot of short segments. Although I think artistically this made a lot of sense as a way to express the experience of the TRC and recovery from apartheid, it was hard to stick with the book as there wasn't much long narrative.