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ebkara's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely splendid book, beautifully written story. I could not put it down but as I neared the end I dreaded turning over each page as I didn't want it to be over. Friendship, love, suffering and hope all played out. The landscape came richly to life. Would thoroughly recommend this beautiful book in fact I am already buying a copy for my mum!
sducharme's review against another edition
4.0
The story of three people with unlikely ties to each other, each looking for their place at a time of change. Political change, failed marriage upheaval, the surprise of new love, each person experiences his or her own story arc against the unforgiving landscapes of Botswana and South Africa.
A completely engaging novel, hard to put down. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that there were a few overly dramatic sections that felt forced (toward the end).
A completely engaging novel, hard to put down. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that there were a few overly dramatic sections that felt forced (toward the end).
cmcarr's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book. The beginning really captured my interest. The writing is very evocative and you develop a strong sense of the country, the culture, and the people. I found the plot questionable at times. Parts of it didn't hold together well for me. But the main thread of the story surrounding Isaac was engaging.
guylou's review against another edition
4.0
One sentence from the book says it all: "It's a fearful thing to love what death can touch." This book is like a lover's kiss which leaves you breathless. I could not put it down. It was like it was the only thing that could quench my thirst. I had to know what the next chapter would bring.
I knew at a high level what happened in South Africa during the Apartheid, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. This book has shared with me the humanity of this period. It helped me realise the fear, the pain and the torment that were part of the every day lives of South Africans.
Eleanor Morse brought Africa to life in a spectacular way. Her descriptions are harmonious and breath taking. It makes you want to go there and see for yourself the beauty of this landscape. She also deals with real subjects and brings to light the horror that mankind imposed on wildlife and the people of Africa.
The story was tender and raw at the same time. Beautiful book.
I knew at a high level what happened in South Africa during the Apartheid, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. This book has shared with me the humanity of this period. It helped me realise the fear, the pain and the torment that were part of the every day lives of South Africans.
Eleanor Morse brought Africa to life in a spectacular way. Her descriptions are harmonious and breath taking. It makes you want to go there and see for yourself the beauty of this landscape. She also deals with real subjects and brings to light the horror that mankind imposed on wildlife and the people of Africa.
The story was tender and raw at the same time. Beautiful book.
lorettalucia's review against another edition
5.0
Lovely and devastating. This novel touches on many things, but the main thread is about the evils of apartheid and considering any living creature “less than.” While the focus is obviously on South African apartheid, and the direct impact that has on one of the two main characters, the neighboring Botswana is not immune from criticism and the author draws subtle comparisons to its treatment of the San people and its treatment of the wildlife under its care. Still, there is a lot of love for Botswana in this book, for its wildlife and its people and for those who choose to live there and love it. A difficult but wonderful read.
liberrydude's review against another edition
2.0
This was slow going initially, more like 2.5 stars as I slowly began to like it more. Took over 100 pages before it got to the point to sustain my interest in how the author was going to shape the characters. I wasn't sure who the main character was in this book and where it was headed. We have the black South African, Isaac, who has fled to Botswana and the white American, Alice. Isaac gets a job as a gardener for Alice. We see their lives separately and together. Then there is the white dog who immediately befriends Isaac almost like a guardian angel. The book rambles through both these lives with tragedies and hardship going God knows where. I was left wondering if maybe the dog is the main character. But perhaps Africa is the character. I liked the compassion and loyalty exhibited by the characters but was turned off by the neverending series of bad events which found them-seemed too contrived. And what about the title? Certainly both Alice and Isaac fell from the sky and landed hard but they were still going strong.
annasbeen's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting down. 4 stars bc I felt disappointed that the story morphed from one about Isaac to one about (white) Alice. I did think she had an interesting narrative, but it just sat a bit wrong that she felt more of a complex, developed character given that it takes place in apartheid era colonial Africa.
saundersmo's review against another edition
4.0
This is an enchanting story told through multiple characters and points of view. It takes place in Botswana during Apartheid in South Africa and centers on a young man who is running away from there. He encounters a young english woman who has come to Botswana with her husband. Both are lost creatures suffering in different ways and each one learns incredible lessons from the seemingly magical land of Botswana and from an incredibly loyal canine called White Dog. Beautifully written and charmingly complex this is a great book and shows off Morse's strong storytelling talent.
ifftellen's review against another edition
2.0
I just could NOT get into this book! After hearing rave reviews, and being on the library wait list for 4 months, I was excited to pick it up. However, after two weeks of trying and rereading, I've decided to put it on hold. Not a summer read for me!