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lsparrow's review
5.0
Really loved this collection of short stories.
such a variety of writing styles and genres.
I especially enjoyed the story Oasis - and how there are no standard (he/she) pronouns used throughout the story.
such a variety of writing styles and genres.
I especially enjoyed the story Oasis - and how there are no standard (he/she) pronouns used throughout the story.
anetq's review
4.0
An interesting collection of 21 short stories (selected blindly among 456 sent in) from mostly southern Africa. The stories are diverse in topics and genres; water boys, mermaids, returning diaspora - this collection has it all including sci-fi and a murder mystery!
And it is great examples of the genre: Short and to the point. Read it for the literary qualities or for the diverse depictions of life in and out of Africa.
And it is great examples of the genre: Short and to the point. Read it for the literary qualities or for the diverse depictions of life in and out of Africa.
zoethewriter_sa's review
3.0
Ah
It's always good to read stories about home, Africa and South Africa in a little book about water. All the familiar characters and places and language, it's quite comforting in a way. That said, I expected more from these shorts, especially surrounding the theme of water, I wanted so much to be moved or excited and that didn't really happen. But while I found most of this collection just okay, I really really liked The Lake Retba Murder, Native Mayonnaise, The tale of the three water carriers, and maybe How We Look Now too. Overall, the stories in this collection were quite good, but unfortunately they kind of bored me.
It's always good to read stories about home, Africa and South Africa in a little book about water. All the familiar characters and places and language, it's quite comforting in a way. That said, I expected more from these shorts, especially surrounding the theme of water, I wanted so much to be moved or excited and that didn't really happen. But while I found most of this collection just okay, I really really liked The Lake Retba Murder, Native Mayonnaise, The tale of the three water carriers, and maybe How We Look Now too. Overall, the stories in this collection were quite good, but unfortunately they kind of bored me.
curatedchoas_books's review
4.0
African culture is laid out through these writers interpretation of one thing: Water. Told through the medium of history, folklore, dystopia, murder-mystery, fantasy and realism, the book emcompasses a truly diverse range of stories. Each is different and beautiful and fully formed, even in their brevity.
It shouldn't need saying that you can't make broad claims about a whole continent, especially one as big as Africa, but often people do. By telling 'Water' through so many interpretations the anthology truly depcits the vivid variety of peoples, cultures, landscapes and problems. The fact that all these styles and writers are often chucked under the 'African Literature' category, as if they're all of a 'type' makes me mad and sad.
This got ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me and I'd enthusiastically recommend it to anyone looking to diversify authors and stretch their view of the world.
It shouldn't need saying that you can't make broad claims about a whole continent, especially one as big as Africa, but often people do. By telling 'Water' through so many interpretations the anthology truly depcits the vivid variety of peoples, cultures, landscapes and problems. The fact that all these styles and writers are often chucked under the 'African Literature' category, as if they're all of a 'type' makes me mad and sad.
This got ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me and I'd enthusiastically recommend it to anyone looking to diversify authors and stretch their view of the world.
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