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A review by pebi_books
Dancing the Death Drill by Fred Khumalo
5.0
"historical fiction to grapple with the present. Great historical fiction is more about the present than it is about the past." - Zakes Mda
The story starts with a tragic event that leads to the retelling of a story on the life of Pitso Motaung. A man who just "randomly" killed 2 strangers he was serving at the restaurant where he works. The question on everybody's minds is why could a man such as himself kill complete strangers or are they even strangers?
His history takes us to the beginning of his parents love story (during the Anglo-Boer war). His father being a soldier who deserted the war and somewhat ended up in a village.
In a time when relations between a white and a black person were prohibited their love story began. With possible trouble brewing with the villagers due to their relationship they decide to escape to a more friendlier environment and yet they were met with even more hostility. They find refuge & work at an Indian family's home and that's where their son Pitso is born and raised.
Pitso's life leads to a rather unfortunate love life which is one of the many reasons that lead him to sign up to join the men at war.
His journey from South Africa on the SS Mendi is satisfying to read. The characters the story focuses on mould the story beautifully into a memorable labour of art. Reading and feeling like these are everyday people with emotions and human nature common amongst ourselves.
The book is a wholesome piece of story telling magic. It transports you from the first page into the lives of individuals whose pains and frustrations you feel and sympathize with. It has love stories, beautiful and tragic. It tells of a history many of us might not even be aware of until we grab the book itself and delve into it.
It concludes with each fiber of your curiosity nourished with the magic of good story telling.
It really leaves you feeling wholesome and satisfied.
The story starts with a tragic event that leads to the retelling of a story on the life of Pitso Motaung. A man who just "randomly" killed 2 strangers he was serving at the restaurant where he works. The question on everybody's minds is why could a man such as himself kill complete strangers or are they even strangers?
His history takes us to the beginning of his parents love story (during the Anglo-Boer war). His father being a soldier who deserted the war and somewhat ended up in a village.
In a time when relations between a white and a black person were prohibited their love story began. With possible trouble brewing with the villagers due to their relationship they decide to escape to a more friendlier environment and yet they were met with even more hostility. They find refuge & work at an Indian family's home and that's where their son Pitso is born and raised.
Pitso's life leads to a rather unfortunate love life which is one of the many reasons that lead him to sign up to join the men at war.
His journey from South Africa on the SS Mendi is satisfying to read. The characters the story focuses on mould the story beautifully into a memorable labour of art. Reading and feeling like these are everyday people with emotions and human nature common amongst ourselves.
The book is a wholesome piece of story telling magic. It transports you from the first page into the lives of individuals whose pains and frustrations you feel and sympathize with. It has love stories, beautiful and tragic. It tells of a history many of us might not even be aware of until we grab the book itself and delve into it.
It concludes with each fiber of your curiosity nourished with the magic of good story telling.
It really leaves you feeling wholesome and satisfied.