This book serves up a good helping of life before the apartheid in Africa. It follows a young black woman through her life. It made me laugh, cry, shiver with fear and frown with disgust. I could feel sadness for Ada, the main character in the book and at the same time happiness for her little victories in her battles. A beautiful book. But the book is extremely slow. The story is not going anywhere soon. It takes its time. But the author's narrative style succeeds in tugging your heart in all the emotional situations and keeps you hooked. This was a book that I just picked up from the shelves at the Hazen Public Library in Shirley. Set in South Africa in the Karoo, the story begins in 1930 and takes the reader almost up to the time when Nelson Mandella was set free in 1990. The story relives the tension between blacks and whites in a small town as told through the eyes of a woman whose life has been touched by both sides of the issue. The difficulties of anyone living through that time of apartheid must have been extremely stressful and this book allows the reader to pity, love and cheer on woman's who weaves her tale of fortune, loyalty, and personal strength to stay afloat in the world into which she is born.
What do You think about The Housemaid's Daughter (2013)?
Great look into South Africa pre- and during apartheid. Interesting, well-developed characters.
—leahhall
If you like generation type sagas, you will enjoy this book.
—RaspberryJane
This is another book that has stayed with me. Loved it.
—pennylpoe
