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bassie_bookworm's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
zeinab_'s review against another edition
5.0
"Maru" is truly a special novella because of Head's amazing capability of writing such authentic and complex characters that feel so real in a unique way. Not only are the descriptions of her characters so raw and real, but also the manner in which she describes the environment and the thoughts that the characters have is filled with colour which creates a whimsical, genuine and thoughtful reading experience. Finally, and the most special of all, is witnessing the complicated and deep relationships between the characters that really drives home how much depth is given to each of them.
Some favourite quotes:
"It was here where he could communicate freely with all the magic and beauty inside him. There had never been a time in his life where he had not thought a thought and felt it immediately bound to the deep centre of the earth, then bound back to his heart again - with a reply."
"But there was a trick to him, some shocking, unexpected magic. A moment ago he had been a hateful, arrogant man. Now, he had another face which made him the most beautiful person on earth. It was only his eyes, a though a stormy weather had cleared. What was behind was a rainbow of dazzling light"
"His heart had grown into its own fullness, too suddenly, and he had no control over it. There was also a feeling that he constantly held his heart against hers, or his mouth against hers, and that all human language had now become superfluous and a sacrilege... how was he going to talk when the roar in his heart chocked his throat?"
Some favourite quotes:
"It was here where he could communicate freely with all the magic and beauty inside him. There had never been a time in his life where he had not thought a thought and felt it immediately bound to the deep centre of the earth, then bound back to his heart again - with a reply."
"But there was a trick to him, some shocking, unexpected magic. A moment ago he had been a hateful, arrogant man. Now, he had another face which made him the most beautiful person on earth. It was only his eyes, a though a stormy weather had cleared. What was behind was a rainbow of dazzling light"
"His heart had grown into its own fullness, too suddenly, and he had no control over it. There was also a feeling that he constantly held his heart against hers, or his mouth against hers, and that all human language had now become superfluous and a sacrilege... how was he going to talk when the roar in his heart chocked his throat?"
charliebnl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
misspalah's review against another edition
4.0
When no one wanted to bury a dead body, they called the missionaries; not that the missionaries really liked to be involved with mankind, but that they had been known to go into queer places because of their occupation. They would do that but they did not often like you to walk into their yard. They preferred to talk to you outside the fence.
- Bessie Head, Maru
.
.
Honestly, i enjoyed When Rain Clouds Gather better than this book. It is probably due to my high expectation given that most people recommend this book as her best work among other books. I just couldn’t get past of how utterly selfish and jerk both of the male characters, Maru and Moleka. There’s No redeemable quality whatsoever in these 2 men. Hence, seeing that Margaret Cadmore ended up marrying Maru is something that i wished it wouldn’t happen. I enjoyed the dynamic between shared between Margaret Cadmore and Dilekedi, they are not best friend but they are not stranger either - but fate brought them together as they are pawns in the game played by Maru and Moleka. While the plot was not intriguing at least to me but the subject matter that Bessie Head brought it up in the book is somehow similar with caste. Just like in India, there are dalits/untouchable caste, in this book they have somewhat similar known as the Masarwa / the outcast tribe. They are not considered as human being and most of the time were referred to ‘it’. The insult that usually hurled at them is ‘Bushmen’ which has similar connotation with ‘the N word’. Hence, the story began with Margaret Cadmore which hailed from Masarwa Tribe but were adopted by a white missionary’s wife. She enjoyed the privilege but knew deep down that she was never one of them. Her adopted mother make sure to remind her of that once in a while. When Margaret becomes a teacher and sent to teach at Dilepe Village, her status as a Masarwa become a big issue. Again, Bessie Head explored Prejudice, Caste, Tribal distinction and Discrimination right off the bat with this novel. Due to these themes alone, i add 1 star as originally i feel this is 3 stars at best. I am still glad i read this.
- Bessie Head, Maru
.
.
Honestly, i enjoyed When Rain Clouds Gather better than this book. It is probably due to my high expectation given that most people recommend this book as her best work among other books. I just couldn’t get past of how utterly selfish and jerk both of the male characters, Maru and Moleka. There’s No redeemable quality whatsoever in these 2 men. Hence, seeing that Margaret Cadmore ended up marrying Maru is something that i wished it wouldn’t happen. I enjoyed the dynamic between shared between Margaret Cadmore and Dilekedi, they are not best friend but they are not stranger either - but fate brought them together as they are pawns in the game played by Maru and Moleka. While the plot was not intriguing at least to me but the subject matter that Bessie Head brought it up in the book is somehow similar with caste. Just like in India, there are dalits/untouchable caste, in this book they have somewhat similar known as the Masarwa / the outcast tribe. They are not considered as human being and most of the time were referred to ‘it’. The insult that usually hurled at them is ‘Bushmen’ which has similar connotation with ‘the N word’. Hence, the story began with Margaret Cadmore which hailed from Masarwa Tribe but were adopted by a white missionary’s wife. She enjoyed the privilege but knew deep down that she was never one of them. Her adopted mother make sure to remind her of that once in a while. When Margaret becomes a teacher and sent to teach at Dilepe Village, her status as a Masarwa become a big issue. Again, Bessie Head explored Prejudice, Caste, Tribal distinction and Discrimination right off the bat with this novel. Due to these themes alone, i add 1 star as originally i feel this is 3 stars at best. I am still glad i read this.
georgiarybanks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.25
rileysradreads's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
ronnica's review
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annabarbarabittner's review against another edition
2.0
Bessie Head uważana jest za jedną z najważniejszych pisarek Botswany, choć urodziła się w RPA. Maru to krótka opowieść opublikowana w 1971 roku, której głównym tematem są rasizm i seksizm.
Margaret Cadmore to sierota wychowana przez angielskich misjonarzy, imię i nazwisko otrzymała po swojej przybranej matce. Dzięki niej dziewczyna ukończyła szkołę, w której zawsze odnosiła sukcesy i została nauczycielką. Mimo dobrej edukacji i angielskiego wychowania jej przynależność do plemienia Masarwa naznaczy jej los. To plemię nie cieszy się bowiem popularnością i jego członkowie skazani są na wykonywanie najgorszych prac lub bycie niewolnikami. Gdy Margaret przybywa do Dilepe, gdzie ma objąć swoją pierwszą posadę, jej pochodzenie określi jej pozycję. Kobieta jest świetną nauczycielką i niebawem wzbudzi głębokie emocje u Maru i Moleki.
Ciąg dalszy: http://przeczytalamksiazke.blogspot.com/2022/04/maru-bessie-head.html
Margaret Cadmore to sierota wychowana przez angielskich misjonarzy, imię i nazwisko otrzymała po swojej przybranej matce. Dzięki niej dziewczyna ukończyła szkołę, w której zawsze odnosiła sukcesy i została nauczycielką. Mimo dobrej edukacji i angielskiego wychowania jej przynależność do plemienia Masarwa naznaczy jej los. To plemię nie cieszy się bowiem popularnością i jego członkowie skazani są na wykonywanie najgorszych prac lub bycie niewolnikami. Gdy Margaret przybywa do Dilepe, gdzie ma objąć swoją pierwszą posadę, jej pochodzenie określi jej pozycję. Kobieta jest świetną nauczycielką i niebawem wzbudzi głębokie emocje u Maru i Moleki.
Ciąg dalszy: http://przeczytalamksiazke.blogspot.com/2022/04/maru-bessie-head.html
anetq's review against another edition
4.0
Racism is flourishing in Botswana; between both races and tribes - and the lowest of the low is the Masarwa (in itself a derogatory term) - the bushmen. And in the small village of Dilepe people get upset when the new teacher with the perfect grades, Margaret Cadmore, show up and proclaim that she is Masarwa, not colored (meaning the daughter of a white man and a black mother). And she acts strange as she raised in English style by a white missionary, plagued by the other children for being Masarwa.
But racism is not the only theme: It is also the story of scheming in the village as two men battle it out the woman they love - and all bets are off: Magic dreams, art, intuition, spying and jealousy all play out in a long game.
It is a great book about love and life - including the down sides of both, and a surprising amount of supernatural (but not superstition) in the dry, dry country of the Kalahari desert.
But racism is not the only theme: It is also the story of scheming in the village as two men battle it out the woman they love - and all bets are off: Magic dreams, art, intuition, spying and jealousy all play out in a long game.
It is a great book about love and life - including the down sides of both, and a surprising amount of supernatural (but not superstition) in the dry, dry country of the Kalahari desert.
anniesmanybooks's review against another edition
5.0
A brilliant novella by Bessie Head, portraying how the arrival of an unassuming female San/Basarwa (Kalahari Bushman) teacher wreaks havoc in a Botswana village by stirring up racism and hatred among students and teachers, destroying friendships, and breaking hearts. So short, and yet so complex and unsettling. A book to read, ponder and re-read.