SA reads discussion

Foreward- Dr Fixit

The foreword of this book sets the tone perfectly. Comparing all of South Africa's brightest achievements with its most terrifying truths. We live in a dichotomous country where extremes abound.

I think growing up in such a country is a unique experience, and that the ordinary people of our country all have unique stories set against this multicultural, beautiful, terrifying, tragic backdrop.

The first thing I noticed about this book was the cover- a woman's face made up of the features of many. For me this gives a dual sense of falling apart and being held together. Diane, where did the idea for such a striking picture come from?

Gogo sounds incredible. One of those women who holds a child's world together. The description of life with her is poignant.

Harding and Cruella- this was a difficult chapter for me, an outsider, to read. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to not only survive but to recount. I keep hoping that these people were brought to justice.

Diane,I enjoy the style of your writing.

I recently read Thinking Up a Hurricane and both these books reinforce two ideas for me.

The remarkable resilience of children who take what life (and adults in particular) throw at them and manage to survive and in many cases make the best of very bad situations. It does not mean that they don't get scarred in the process, but they are incredibly adaptable.

The second relates to the way adults take decisions which have a direct impact on their children with little consultation and often no understanding of the consequences for the children.

I like the sound of Diane's Gogo, she sounds remarkable.

Lisa wrote: "The foreword of this book sets the tone perfectly. Comparing all of South Africa's brightest achievements with its most terrifying truths. We live in a dichotomous country where extremes abound.

I..."

Lisa thank you for the comment and once again thanks for choosing The Sabi for discussion at SA Reads.

About the cover, after the designer read the manuscript he designed three covers - He and I both thought this one captured the essence of the book. I was however reluctant to use it after my son said it scared him to look at it. But in the end I am glad I used it - it captures the real impact of race in South Africa, and of being a woman.

I think grandmothers like my Gogo had an important role in our society in the past, perhaps less so today. So many children of my generation were raised by grandmothers because of migrant labour, seeking greener pastures away from rural areas where there was not much development. She was an amazing woman and did indeed provide some respite from home and societal pressures

You'right about recounting the adventures of Cruella, it was very difficult and took so much out of me (thankfully though - it was time to take it "out")

The idea of writing this book was really about coming to terms with myself, family, community, SA, the past and impact on present and future; and realising how much we are products of what we are born into. There is little to no reflection in SA about this across the spectrum, this will continue to cost us dearly

Unfortunately, there was no justice then Lisa, so in the end the justice is really about talking about it and locating the shame of abuse, apartheid, racism, torture where it really belongs.
That alone was a journey which resulted in another level or tier of personal liberation

Thanks for the comment about the style, much appreciated Lisa

Lisa wrote: "Foreward- Dr Fixit"

Dr Fixit - indeed

Carolien wrote: "I recently read Thinking Up a Hurricane and both these books reinforce two ideas for me.

The remarkable resilience of children who take what life (and adults in particular) throw ..."

Thanks Carolien for the reflection on the impact of adult decisions on children. The scars are often deep and one never truly recovers completely, but part of the recovery is understanding what makes people behave the way they do. Once you realise that even those adults are products of their abusive environments, of humiliation & dehumanisation through an overarching system like apartheid and its impacts on the individual psyche, it at least places things in perspective.

Thanks for the mention of Thinking up a Hurricane, another book now added on my soon-to-be-read list

Diane wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Foreward- Dr Fixit"

Dr Fixit - indeed"

Uh oh? Did I get the chapter wrong? Thanks for popping by.

Vicki wrote: "Is it not week 2? Regardless, all I have to say so far Diane is- wow."

I'm behind with the times

I just started the book yesterday because I've had exams. I'm enjoying it immensely. I love history so I appreciate the history overview at the beginning. I had no idea about how apartheid truly began so it was illuminating for me.I do like Diane's writing style a lot, especially how reflective and thoughtful the content is. And wow, did you ever capture the violence in South Africa, the violence in all areas of society.Also the powerlessness that blacks felt living under a racist regime. It reminds me so much of the several African-American books I've read that were set before the Civil Rights Act, James Baldwin in particular.

This quote just resonates with me, you have no idea!:

"What always first defined you was the colour of your skin. It didn’t matter that I loved to sing, had a good knack for languages, had an incredible memory for things I deemed important or that I loved being alone. All other characteristics both internal and external were secondary or, more precisely, invisible, always subject to what colour you are. "

Lisa wrote: "Diane wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Foreward- Dr Fixit"

Dr Fixit - indeed"

Uh oh? Did I get the chapter wrong? Thanks for popping by."

Not at all Lisa - was just contemplating Dr. Fixit!

Vicki wrote: "Is it not week 2? Regardless, all I have to say so far Diane is- wow."

Thanks Vicki, dont know what to say really

Rowena wrote: "I just started the book yesterday because I've had exams. I'm enjoying it immensely. I love history so I appreciate the history overview at the beginning. I had no idea about how apartheid truly be..."

Rowena, thank you for your kind words and so happy that you are reading the book. Your reflections about history particularly resonate for me, because the root of today's realities and social ills need to be located in what went before, at least they need to be understood, spoken about, brought out in the public space

Diane wrote: "Rowena wrote: "I just started the book yesterday because I've had exams. I'm enjoying it immensely. I love history so I appreciate the history overview at the beginning. I had no idea about how apa..."

You're welcome, Diane:) I agree, that's why I've always enjoyed history. And nowadays I'm trying to rectify the holes in my education where black history wasn't taught, or was simply glossed over as unimportant and inconsequential. Knowing one's history is just so powerful. And exposing social ills and realities is even more so. Thank you:)

I think that because you have phrased so much history around your life, it makes the history so much more accessible Diane.
I agree Rowena, I find that there are gaping holes in my education regarding black history because it has been glossed over and that Diane fills many of those gaps with poise and precision.

I agree with Lisa; just situating your own life around the major events that were occurring in the world at the time does make the story even more appealing. In fact,in an intercultural conflict workshop I attended last year, the facilitator helped us clearly see how the historical events we grew up hearing about (or experiencing) shape our personal biographies and worldviews so strongly.

Rowena wrote: "I agree with Lisa; just situating your own life around the major events that were occurring in the world at the time does make the story even more appealing. In fact,in an intercultural conflict wo..."

Sounds like an interesting workshop

Dr. Fixit was a tough chapter for me to read. Child abuse in Africa is so rife, children shouldn't have to be subjected to such malice, yet it happens because children don't really have a say. Diane's recount of what she experienced as a child at the hands of an adult is so heartbreaking.

Rowena wrote: "Dr. Fixit was a tough chapter for me to read. Child abuse in Africa is so rife, children shouldn't have to be subjected to such malice, yet it happens because children don't really have a say. Dian..."

We now have all these laws to protect children yet in practice we still continue to fail them.

It's devastating how much damage is still wrought to children. There was a picture so some kids in a refugee camp in Iraq this week. Perfectly normal little boys in shorts and T-shirts, and they never asked to be uprooted from their home to flee the violence in their town.

Carolien wrote: "It's devastating how much damage is still wrought to children. There was a picture so some kids in a refugee camp in Iraq this week. Perfectly normal little boys in shorts and T-shirts, and they ne..."

Indeed, Carolien:( It definitely can't be easy for a child to grow up in that sort of environment, especially when they have no idea what's going on. It's incredibly tragic.