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sunshine_lorena's review against another edition
3.5
This was a good story and I loved seeing the friends and their lives over a few years. I was surprised by something that happened towards the end but definitely the right ending so upped my rating for a 3 to a 3.5 star.
barefootmegz's review against another edition
3.0
The 30th Candle was written fourteen years ago… and it shows.
A novel about four women - best friends - on the cusp of their thirtieth birthdays, presents an opportunity for identity and commiseration. Indeed, these four women - intelligent, witty young women of colour - present a spectrum of personalities that may well have been the reader’s good friends.
After a slow start, The 30th Candle picks up speed and, despite the relentless obsessions with brand names and appearances, becomes a very readable page turner. And yet, it never feels quite like the South Africa I know - or the peers I know.
Granted: not every novel about modern women of colour must be a social commentary, but if presented as a contemporary novel (“updated” as per the author’s note), it is perhaps not unreasonable to hope for an “updated” social milieu.
I’ll always appreciate Makholwa as a South African author, but The 30th Candle is just not my favourite of her works.
Thank you to Negalley and Amazon UK for the eARC.
A novel about four women - best friends - on the cusp of their thirtieth birthdays, presents an opportunity for identity and commiseration. Indeed, these four women - intelligent, witty young women of colour - present a spectrum of personalities that may well have been the reader’s good friends.
After a slow start, The 30th Candle picks up speed and, despite the relentless obsessions with brand names and appearances, becomes a very readable page turner. And yet, it never feels quite like the South Africa I know - or the peers I know.
Spoiler
The maidens find their knights ( or escape the ogres), and in the end their divergent paths all becomes similar again. First, there is the harmful rhetoric of “oh dear all the good men are gay” - and then the gay man isn’t ACTUALLY gay, anyway. Not to mention the good-looking exchange student whose strong queer undercurrents are conveniently left to dissipate.Granted: not every novel about modern women of colour must be a social commentary, but if presented as a contemporary novel (“updated” as per the author’s note), it is perhaps not unreasonable to hope for an “updated” social milieu.
I’ll always appreciate Makholwa as a South African author, but The 30th Candle is just not my favourite of her works.
Thank you to Negalley and Amazon UK for the eARC.
ngreads48's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
nkhensani_m's review
4.0
I was glad to finally get to read an Angela Makholwa book. This one in particular has been just out of reach for me for some years -I guess now, with my own thirtieth birthday not so far away, I felt ready.
This a story about four friends on the brink of 30: they've had eventful lives up until now, but it seems the turn of this decade brings with it a lot of upheaval.
Secrets long-held burst into the centre of everyone's lives, leaving the women to ask themselves some very important questions. Loyalties are shaken and dreams are shattered. Romance blooms and perceptions - of the world, of each other and themselves - are shaped anew.
It's a truly South African book, peppered with references to familiar Johannesburg landmarks and clever comments about the state of South African society.
Each woman's storyline comes to a satisfying conclusion, a feat for any author juggling multiple perspectives in one book.
Dramatic, funny, witty and entertaining, this was an enjoyable read.
This a story about four friends on the brink of 30: they've had eventful lives up until now, but it seems the turn of this decade brings with it a lot of upheaval.
Secrets long-held burst into the centre of everyone's lives, leaving the women to ask themselves some very important questions. Loyalties are shaken and dreams are shattered. Romance blooms and perceptions - of the world, of each other and themselves - are shaped anew.
It's a truly South African book, peppered with references to familiar Johannesburg landmarks and clever comments about the state of South African society.
Each woman's storyline comes to a satisfying conclusion, a feat for any author juggling multiple perspectives in one book.
Dramatic, funny, witty and entertaining, this was an enjoyable read.
booksofjj's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Really enjoyed this book! The different stories of each of the women were written so well that the stories worked well on their own as well as intertwined with each other.
There were twists and turns even to the last moment which made it even more interesting to read.
There were twists and turns even to the last moment which made it even more interesting to read.
xh_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
I enjoyed this book. I think the character development could have been better.
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