Reviews

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

suchita_r's review against another edition

5.0

Brilliant and heartbreaking. A must read for any South African.

galaxytesh's review against another edition

4.0

i think it was a good decision to finish this as an audiobook because i enjoyed the story much more in that format.

ego8's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

willow_garden_3697's review against another edition

4.0

Lovely writing and important social commentary.

jayne_tayler's review against another edition

slow-paced

1.0

samarabikman3's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

0.5

laurapoulosky's review against another edition

4.0

This would be a 3.5-star book if I had that option. The author does a good job of creating a tone and ambiance. I liked the use of Zulu vocabulary and other cultural aspects of the novel. The plot was more understated than I'd expected, but still fairly effective in communicating the author's message about racism and its tragic consequences in 1940s-era South Africa.

lollybotrox's review against another edition

4.0

I appreciated the beautiful lyricism of the story and deeply admired the personality of the main character of Stephen Kumalo. The tragedies in the book still mirror what people of color are experiencing in other parts of the world in terms of systemic and individual racism, which resonates with my world.

jmarchek's review against another edition

4.0

March 2009 book club selection - great choice Erika.

I was amazed that this book written so long ago yet felt so relevant. I like the parallels between the two sons and fathers. It really makes you think about mercy, hope, forgiveness, and equality. At first the language makes your brain stretch a little and you feel like you're in freshman english, but the brain cells kick in and it is a very enjoyable read.

libbybooboo1123's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Complicated book written in an older style, sometimes hard to follow the dialogue. Would have liked to see more interaction between the two fathers at the end.