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laurajillb's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lynecia's review against another edition
4.0
This was great!
I'm going to post a review here and on my #bookstagram soon. @luvnecia
I'm going to post a review here and on my #bookstagram soon. @luvnecia
kate_in_a_book's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
kkrato's review against another edition
funny
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
samstillreading's review against another edition
4.0
The Woman Next Door initially seems like a quirky book, about the spats between two elderly ladies and reminisces of their youth. But on reading it, it’s so much deeper than that. It looks at post-apartheid South Africa, racism, infidelity, ambition, power and family. The women are almost secondary to the themes, but not quite for they are strong, stubborn characters with a hard backbone!
The story flicks back and forth between neighbours Hortensia and Marion, who live in what appears to be a well off residential community in South Africa. They’ve been neighbours for years, but never friends. Is it because Hortensia is black or something else? Both take delight in trying to gain a reaction from the other in any, petty or not, circumstance. When a freak accident turns both their lives upside down, it turns out that the pair need each other to survive old age. Could that lead to friendship?
Both Marion and Hortensia are fascinating, if not overly likeable characters. Hortensia is strongly aware of race, having married a white man and fending off comments about that all her life. She’s also a successful professional. Hence, she doesn’t suffer fools gladly. The one thing missing from her life was a baby, but it didn’t happen. Marion is racist, but won’t willingly admit it. It’s in the little things, like separate crockery for her maid and buying thinner toilet paper. She’s also been successful as an architect (designing Hortensia’s house and coveting it ever since) but reluctantly gave it away to be a mother. She’s never felt that motherhood came naturally or easily and resents the loss of her career. Micromanaging the local community group is the closest she can get to power.
Where Hortensia and Marion come together is their dislike of old age, but even more, their loss of power and the ability to be needed. Both widows, nobody seems to need them in their lives – not Marion’s children, not their work, not their maids. In fact, it’s them who are being needy to others through illness and misfortune. Neither woman can handle this. Through ups and downs in the plot they get some (but not all) redemption.
The Woman Next Door is a clever, multi-layered book. There is much to discuss in terms of themes. Occasionally the present day sniping between Marion and Hortensia did get dull and I preferred to read their backstories. Some of the events at the end did seem a little strange and out of place with the rest of the novel. Overall, it’s a strong story that took my out of my comfort zone.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story flicks back and forth between neighbours Hortensia and Marion, who live in what appears to be a well off residential community in South Africa. They’ve been neighbours for years, but never friends. Is it because Hortensia is black or something else? Both take delight in trying to gain a reaction from the other in any, petty or not, circumstance. When a freak accident turns both their lives upside down, it turns out that the pair need each other to survive old age. Could that lead to friendship?
Both Marion and Hortensia are fascinating, if not overly likeable characters. Hortensia is strongly aware of race, having married a white man and fending off comments about that all her life. She’s also a successful professional. Hence, she doesn’t suffer fools gladly. The one thing missing from her life was a baby, but it didn’t happen. Marion is racist, but won’t willingly admit it. It’s in the little things, like separate crockery for her maid and buying thinner toilet paper. She’s also been successful as an architect (designing Hortensia’s house and coveting it ever since) but reluctantly gave it away to be a mother. She’s never felt that motherhood came naturally or easily and resents the loss of her career. Micromanaging the local community group is the closest she can get to power.
Where Hortensia and Marion come together is their dislike of old age, but even more, their loss of power and the ability to be needed. Both widows, nobody seems to need them in their lives – not Marion’s children, not their work, not their maids. In fact, it’s them who are being needy to others through illness and misfortune. Neither woman can handle this. Through ups and downs in the plot they get some (but not all) redemption.
The Woman Next Door is a clever, multi-layered book. There is much to discuss in terms of themes. Occasionally the present day sniping between Marion and Hortensia did get dull and I preferred to read their backstories. Some of the events at the end did seem a little strange and out of place with the rest of the novel. Overall, it’s a strong story that took my out of my comfort zone.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
jade_valenzuela's review
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A sweet story about second chances and taking the time to learn about one another. Two unfriendly neighbors learn they share more experiences than not.
magdaleneaf's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookofcinz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A beautiful book about ageing, friendship, grief and change. An unforgettable read
In The Woman Next Door we meet Hortensia James, a Black renowned designer from Barbados whose lived all over the world and decided to make Cape Town her retirement city. She moves into a rich neighbourhood and immediately feels unwelcomed. Hortensia husband is in palliative care at home so she has a lot of free time on her hands. She decides to be a part of the neighbourhood committee where she meets her next door neighbour.
Marion Agostino is a white and has lived in Cape Town majority of her life. Recently widowed, she spends majority of her time with the neighbourhood committee, with her grandchild and her dog. Being the chairman of the neighbourhood watch may be Marion’s entire personality. That is until she finds out her dead husband left her for broke and she may lose everything she holds dear if she loses her house.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I don’t know what it is about reading about older protagonist but I could not put this book down. The friendship was unlikely and I think it goes back to what makes this book so lovely. The author showed us the characters’ humanity. They were two miserable old ladies, but you felt for them in a genuine way. I really loved how everything played out.
This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more. Truly a beautiful book!
hotpapajohns's review against another edition
3.0
3.7 felt a little contrived and buttoned up, but I appreciate it overall.