shonaningyo's review against another edition
2.0
The reason I give this story two stars is because of PERSONAL ENJOYMENT or lack thereof.
I really had no time to read this and actually care.
I read the synopsis on SparkNotes so I know what happens. In fact, this is a summer reading assignment so I read to chapter 15 then gave up. Well, I haven't "officially" given up on this book, so maybe this review is premature, but right now I feel like giving up.
I guess the poetic style is enriching and entertaining, but personally I find that it doesn't really capture the situation that I want it to. Tell it to me straight: What the hell is happening? Don't just describe everything around the situation, tell me exactly what is happening.
The dialogue between characters, more often than not unnamed and "invisible", disembodied voices really confused me. That one chapter that had that one couple in a Shanty Town and the child with the fever? I had to reread that like five times. Don't get me started on the part about the hotel. It really made no sense to me.
I know this may sound callous, but I really don't care about the problems of racism and Apartheid in South Africa.
Personally, I feel no sympathy for people that attack each other based on race and shit like that, ESPECIALLY say, white people who are trying to help you race, you motherfuckers! You killed that WHITE GUY that was TRYING TO HELP YOUR RACE GAIN EQUALITY! Fucking thugs! Asshole thugs. You probably set back your "Freedom" twenty years. Congrat-u-fucking-lations.
And this whole "race warfare" in South Africa is bullshit, because what the hell, Britain?! They were there first!
I know this may sound a little racist and weird, but it makes sense that white Americans would look down on black Africans. They're essentially foreigners. There were basically no black people in North America except for the odd man servant or trusty buddy, like Lewis and Clark or something. But once slavery became a prime business, they were forcibly migrated to the US.
But in South Africa, and Africa in general, the only people that live there are the "natives" and more up north, Middle Eastern people...what do you call them? North Africans? You know what I'm talking about, Egyptians, Moroccans, they're a special ethnic group. Oh, and don't forget the nomadic desert tribes like the..uh,, Tuareg? Yeah, those guys! With their coolio Tagelmusts. You know what they are.. It's to ward off evil spirits! Isn't that badass? Apparently demons hate the color blue, which is awesome because I love the color blue...
See? I'm actually having more fun telling you about an ethnic group that has NOTHING to do with the book or its people. That's how boring it was for me.
Okay, anyways. Yeah, it makes sense that the "native white Americans" of the US would be like "Hahaha! You slaves! Slave away! We own you! That's all you're here for!"
But in Africa...they're there. They were there first! And you think it's fine to just draw the lines and squish their tribes together and tell them what to do? Where do you get off? You know why they resort to crime? Because you're pushing them into slums and making it so they can't work or properly make a living off their land! You rich white people have some pretty cool shit, like rare Oriental tea sets and diamond studded wrist watches and..bread.
Of course they would attack you. But for God's sake, PLEASE check out the white dude you're about to ice before you do it. Who knows, he might be running a shelter for underprivileged black kids (let's face it. EVERY black child during this time and in this country was underprivileged).
I may sound very defeatist and "whatever, I don't care anymore" and you're right. I DON'T care anymore. If they can't behave themselves, then the current residents of South Africa can go fuck themselves. If they can't keep their dick in their pants and stop raping people, if they can't stop shanking people in their "beautiful" homes, if they can't stop glaring at the white/black people that are minding their own business in their homeland, then they receive no sympathy at all from me. It's been how many years since Apartheid has ended? God damnit, it's a complex issue, but for God's sake! Continue living like a decent human being! Mandela what the hell have you been doing since you've been in office? It's rape city in places like Johannesburg! Why would I go to a "beautiful" place like South Africa if there was a 40% chance I'd get shivved in the gut the first time I took a tram downtown?
No thank you.
I hate South Africa as a country, but really I hate the Europeans for fucking it up in the first place, and I'm angry at the blacks for not getting their shit together. It's like there really isn't any "racial equality" at all there, since it's still ingrained in everyones' minds, despite the issue having been officially settled like, 30 years ago!
Oh, but I've been learning the clicking sounds in the language of Xhosa. I just can't do "C"! I can do "Q" and "X" just fine, though. Jesus, clickity clickity!! :P
I really had no time to read this and actually care.
I read the synopsis on SparkNotes so I know what happens. In fact, this is a summer reading assignment so I read to chapter 15 then gave up. Well, I haven't "officially" given up on this book, so maybe this review is premature, but right now I feel like giving up.
I guess the poetic style is enriching and entertaining, but personally I find that it doesn't really capture the situation that I want it to. Tell it to me straight: What the hell is happening? Don't just describe everything around the situation, tell me exactly what is happening.
The dialogue between characters, more often than not unnamed and "invisible", disembodied voices really confused me. That one chapter that had that one couple in a Shanty Town and the child with the fever? I had to reread that like five times. Don't get me started on the part about the hotel. It really made no sense to me.
I know this may sound callous, but I really don't care about the problems of racism and Apartheid in South Africa.
Personally, I feel no sympathy for people that attack each other based on race and shit like that, ESPECIALLY say, white people who are trying to help you race, you motherfuckers! You killed that WHITE GUY that was TRYING TO HELP YOUR RACE GAIN EQUALITY! Fucking thugs! Asshole thugs. You probably set back your "Freedom" twenty years. Congrat-u-fucking-lations.
And this whole "race warfare" in South Africa is bullshit, because what the hell, Britain?! They were there first!
I know this may sound a little racist and weird, but it makes sense that white Americans would look down on black Africans. They're essentially foreigners. There were basically no black people in North America except for the odd man servant or trusty buddy, like Lewis and Clark or something. But once slavery became a prime business, they were forcibly migrated to the US.
But in South Africa, and Africa in general, the only people that live there are the "natives" and more up north, Middle Eastern people...what do you call them? North Africans? You know what I'm talking about, Egyptians, Moroccans, they're a special ethnic group. Oh, and don't forget the nomadic desert tribes like the..uh,, Tuareg? Yeah, those guys! With their coolio Tagelmusts. You know what they are.. It's to ward off evil spirits! Isn't that badass? Apparently demons hate the color blue, which is awesome because I love the color blue...
See? I'm actually having more fun telling you about an ethnic group that has NOTHING to do with the book or its people. That's how boring it was for me.
Okay, anyways. Yeah, it makes sense that the "native white Americans" of the US would be like "Hahaha! You slaves! Slave away! We own you! That's all you're here for!"
But in Africa...they're there. They were there first! And you think it's fine to just draw the lines and squish their tribes together and tell them what to do? Where do you get off? You know why they resort to crime? Because you're pushing them into slums and making it so they can't work or properly make a living off their land! You rich white people have some pretty cool shit, like rare Oriental tea sets and diamond studded wrist watches and..bread.
Of course they would attack you. But for God's sake, PLEASE check out the white dude you're about to ice before you do it. Who knows, he might be running a shelter for underprivileged black kids (let's face it. EVERY black child during this time and in this country was underprivileged).
I may sound very defeatist and "whatever, I don't care anymore" and you're right. I DON'T care anymore. If they can't behave themselves, then the current residents of South Africa can go fuck themselves. If they can't keep their dick in their pants and stop raping people, if they can't stop shanking people in their "beautiful" homes, if they can't stop glaring at the white/black people that are minding their own business in their homeland, then they receive no sympathy at all from me. It's been how many years since Apartheid has ended? God damnit, it's a complex issue, but for God's sake! Continue living like a decent human being! Mandela what the hell have you been doing since you've been in office? It's rape city in places like Johannesburg! Why would I go to a "beautiful" place like South Africa if there was a 40% chance I'd get shivved in the gut the first time I took a tram downtown?
No thank you.
I hate South Africa as a country, but really I hate the Europeans for fucking it up in the first place, and I'm angry at the blacks for not getting their shit together. It's like there really isn't any "racial equality" at all there, since it's still ingrained in everyones' minds, despite the issue having been officially settled like, 30 years ago!
Oh, but I've been learning the clicking sounds in the language of Xhosa. I just can't do "C"! I can do "Q" and "X" just fine, though. Jesus, clickity clickity!! :P
agoines's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thetoreadlistpodcast's review against another edition
5.0
"People are lining up at Borders, because the new Paton is DROPPING." - Episode 127, CRY, THE BELOVED HYPOTHESIS
https://sites.libsyn.com/150491/cry-the-beloved-hypothesis
https://sites.libsyn.com/150491/cry-the-beloved-hypothesis
nglofile's review against another edition
4.0
re-read several times, including 11/98
re-read (audio) 10/10: Though the story is just as lyrical and engaging many times over, I wasn't as impressed with narrator Michael York's interpretation. Still this remains one of the most hauntingly beautiful stories of forgiveness, perseverance, understanding, and character that I've ever read.
re-read (audio) 10/10: Though the story is just as lyrical and engaging many times over, I wasn't as impressed with narrator Michael York's interpretation. Still this remains one of the most hauntingly beautiful stories of forgiveness, perseverance, understanding, and character that I've ever read.
16swest's review against another edition
4.0
This book had a big impact on me when i discovered it in high school. At the time it was published, apartheid began, and it would another 40 years or so before it’s end.
Never had I read such a beautiful ending so filled with hope and courage, it brought me to tears. I experienced the rising sun through Paton’s words. I don’t remember much but I remember that, and think of it often.
Never had I read such a beautiful ending so filled with hope and courage, it brought me to tears. I experienced the rising sun through Paton’s words. I don’t remember much but I remember that, and think of it often.
seeceeread's review
2.5
💭 "I have lived my life in destruction."
Stephen Kumalo, a Zulu pastor, treks to Johannesburg to find his sister and his son.
Paton's ethics are a bit facile; he's insufficiently attentive to context and realistic motivations, and reaches pat moral conclusions. The secondary details of the book are much more interesting to me than the central characters or their plot lines. In particular, Kumalo's brother has abandoned the church and finnagles his own son out of charges. He's tossed out as selfish and dangerous, yet I'm drawn to his political oratory on the power of South African laborers to demand change. The author mentions mining and a bus boycott and challenges with housing, but obliquely – our MC mostly doesn't grapple with these.
Paton's misogynoir is hard to overlook. Black women are terribly depicted. As he opens, he literally likens Kumalo's wife to a beast of burden, telling us she's like an ox in "mute and patient suffering." Other women are expendable for any whisper of sexuality ... or virtuous only when they patronizingly patrol other women's behaviors, including laughter and eye contact.
The introduction sang of a bold, critical novel on South African apartheid. Not quite.
Stephen Kumalo, a Zulu pastor, treks to Johannesburg to find his sister and his son.
Spoiler
He finds the first easily; Gertrude is a prostitute with a young son and accepts his invitation to return to their childhood home. His son, Absalom, is harder to track; they finally reunite because the youth is detained for the accidental death of a man whose home he planned to rob. After some deliberation, Absalom is sentenced to death and Kumalo must go home with his new, pregnant daughter-in-law instead of his son. There, the umfundisi finds that the father of the man his son killed has had a dramatic change of politics and orchestrates new investments in the land and people of his desolate valley.Paton's ethics are a bit facile; he's insufficiently attentive to context and realistic motivations, and reaches pat moral conclusions. The secondary details of the book are much more interesting to me than the central characters or their plot lines. In particular, Kumalo's brother has abandoned the church and finnagles his own son
Spoiler
(also present at the murder)Paton's misogynoir is hard to overlook. Black women are terribly depicted. As he opens, he literally likens Kumalo's wife to a beast of burden, telling us she's like an ox in "mute and patient suffering." Other women are expendable for any whisper of sexuality ... or virtuous only when they patronizingly patrol other women's behaviors, including laughter and eye contact.
The introduction sang of a bold, critical novel on South African apartheid. Not quite.
dan_oyei's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
really enjoyed this book, especially the prose and the way it flowed. the beginning chapters of the first two parts and they juxtaposition really vividly set the the scene. i also admired how, akin to wole soyinka's writing of yoruba speech in death and the king's horseman, zulu is heaver and richer with proverbs than other languages despite the novel being written in english.
i also like that even though this book is clearly pro-Christianity, it didn't shy away from the fact that in times of trouble in a community, the church should not just sit back but instead take the right stance, and how not doing that could stifle progress. the black people who criticised the church for not doing anything in the fight to end apartheid were completely right, and i wish they had been given more of a voice.
this book did not have an overwhelmingly complicated or heavy plot, which i appreciated. in its simplicity, it was able to transfer the atmosphere of the story and the behaviours of the people in it. the ever-present backdrop of apartheid taught me a lot about the period of time in south africa and how people lived under it.
overall, this book was really an experience to read, and i would recommend it as it's a short but poignant read.
i also like that even though this book is clearly pro-Christianity, it didn't shy away from the fact that in times of trouble in a community, the church should not just sit back but instead take the right stance, and how not doing that could stifle progress. the black people who criticised the church for not doing anything in the fight to end apartheid were completely right, and i wish they had been given more of a voice.
this book did not have an overwhelmingly complicated or heavy plot, which i appreciated. in its simplicity, it was able to transfer the atmosphere of the story and the behaviours of the people in it. the ever-present backdrop of apartheid taught me a lot about the period of time in south africa and how people lived under it.
overall, this book was really an experience to read, and i would recommend it as it's a short but poignant read.
emma_lynn_writes's review against another edition
5.0
Cry, the Beloved Country is one of my favorite classics. Paton manages to capture both the beauty and the darkness of South Africa in the 1940s with this story of two fathers and two sons whose stories begin to interweave when the worst happens. If you love beautiful writing, this book is for you. If you love compelling yet flawed characters, this book is for you. If you love books that engage with serious social and political issues, this book is for you.
wifeslife's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25