From the author of the beloved Hum If You Don’t Know the Words comes a rich, unforgettable story of three unique women in post-Apartheid South Africa who are brought together in their darkest time and discover the ways that love can transcend the strictest of boundaries.In a squatter camp on the outskirts of Johannesburg, seventeen-year-old Zodwa lives in desperate poverty, under the shadowy … poverty, under the shadowy threat of a civil war and a growing AIDS epidemic. Eight months pregnant, Zodwa carefully guards secrets that jeopardize her life.
Across the country, wealthy socialite Ruth appears to have everything her heart desires, but it’s what she can’t have that leads to her breakdown. Meanwhile, in Zaire, a disgraced former nun, Delilah, grapples with a past that refuses to stay buried. When these personal crises send both middle-aged women back to their rural hometown to heal, the discovery of an abandoned newborn baby upends everything, challenging their lifelong beliefs about race, motherhood, and the power of the past.
As the mystery surrounding the infant grows, the complicated lives of Zodwa, Ruth, and Delilah become inextricably linked. What follows is a mesmerizing look at family and identity that asks: How far will the human heart go to protect itself and the ones it loves?
more
Three women whose differences melt away on an unforgettable journey as they rescue an abandoned baby and forge a new path.
There are not enough words to describe the strength of every aspect of this book — vivid characterization, logical plot, searing pain, encompassing love, surprising twists…
Religion, rape, apartheid, alcoholism, poverty, intimidation…
On the surface, it seems to be too much for one novel, but Marais brings it all together in the only way this story could possibly be told.
BLURB
In a squatter camp on the outskirts of Johannesburg, seventeen-year-old Zodwa lives in desperate poverty, under the shadowy threat of a civil war and a growing AIDS epidemic. Eight months pregnant, Zodwa carefully guards secrets that jeopardize her life.
Across the country, wealthy socialite Ruth appears to have everything her heart desires, but it’s what she can’t have that leads to her breakdown. Meanwhile, in Zaire, a disgraced former nun, Delilah, grapples with a past that refuses to stay buried. When these personal crises send both middle-aged women back to their rural hometown to heal, the discovery of an abandoned newborn baby upends everything, challenging their lifelong beliefs about race, motherhood, and the power of the past.
As the mystery surrounding the infant grows, the complicated lives of Zodwa, Ruth, and Delilah become inextricably linked. What follows is a mesmerizing look at family and identity that asks: How far will the human heart go to protect itself and the ones it loves?
http://www.darlenejonesauthor.com
I loved everything about this beautiful book. I’m always up for a multiple POV novel, and each of the main characters, Zodwa, Ruth, and Delilah, have fascinating and important stories. This novel touches on so many important themes—race, prejudice, sexual assault, HIV/AIDs, but really it’s a story about relationships and family. Is family those you are born to, or those you find and make your own along the way? Marais did a remarkable job weaving together the stories of these three women while weaving in their fascinating and often tragic backstories to help us understand what motivates them to make their choices. While there is a lot of sadness and loss, the story is ultimately one of hope and optimism. Pick this one up right away—you’ll thank me for the recommendation for sure.
Marais does it again! A return to days of Apartheid in South Africa where some citizens are more enlightened than others. Two older white women’s lives weave in and around a young female “Kaffir” (a derogatory term). Marais’s writing is exquisite. This book will not be published until July, but I was very fortunate to receive an ARC in order to review it. Well worth a long sit while sipping wine.
This is the second book I have read by this author, and have loved reading each one. She brings together some of the turbulent times in Africa, by the means of fascinating characters and times in history. She is a wonderful story teller, who draws from life experiences and sometimes drawing from true characters to develop some of her characters.
This book is mainly about 3 different women who end up living together, Zodwa, Ruth and Delilah. Ruth and Delilah are sister who have been estranged for many years, each with secrets of their own, and both ending up going back to their childhood home. Zodwa is a young African girl, who’s mother used to work for the sisters family when they were growing up, and who is on a mission of her own. These characters come together through unforeseen circumstances, which will draw you into their stories.
This story deals with the stigma of sexual preference, illness, and having to deal with the effects of racism, family relationships and the power of love. It takes place in Africa towards the end of apartheid and the election of Mandela as president.
A great emotional story line with each of these characters, which had me glued to the story wanting to know more about what would happen next.
I hope the author will keep writing stories about her homeland as she has a way of making her stories, not only give us a piece of history, but always so interesting in an everyday setting.
I would like to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC of this book.