A review by oddreads_nicolestins
Innards: Stories by Magogodi oaMphela Makhene
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
What I liked about this book was that the stories were very intimate and the characters reappeared in different stories (sort of a "linked fates" situation). My favorite stories were:
-Indians Can't Fly
-7678B Chris Hani Road
-Jesus Owes Me Money
-The Caretaker
This book definitely made me want to read more #ownstories about the effects of Apartheid and how it affected South African communities as well as how it is still affecting them today.
Overall I feel like this collection of stories is an advanced character study of society during Apartheid in Soweto and South Africa. I describe it as "advanced" because having never read anything on this topic before, there was so much of the language and phraseology that I had a hard time understanding. This doesn't mean it couldn't be understood, of course, but as an entry to the topic and conversation around Apartheid I felt like this was inaccessible for me (this is very much a "me" problem). I need to keep up! 📚
Recommendations for the best reading experience:
- Listen to this book (as an audiobook)! I think that's what I missed out on the most, inflection and tone. If I had been able to hear many of the words/phrases spoken in the original language, I'd at least be able to infer what they were saying and the emotions behind it.
- Read other #ownstories about Apartheid and it's effects before this one. Now if you feel comfortable with the language or history this doesn't apply! But if you're like me and this would be your first foray into the topic/history, do a bit of prep/research beforehand.
-Indians Can't Fly
-7678B Chris Hani Road
-Jesus Owes Me Money
-The Caretaker
This book definitely made me want to read more #ownstories about the effects of Apartheid and how it affected South African communities as well as how it is still affecting them today.
Overall I feel like this collection of stories is an advanced character study of society during Apartheid in Soweto and South Africa. I describe it as "advanced" because having never read anything on this topic before, there was so much of the language and phraseology that I had a hard time understanding. This doesn't mean it couldn't be understood, of course, but as an entry to the topic and conversation around Apartheid I felt like this was inaccessible for me (this is very much a "me" problem). I need to keep up! 📚
Recommendations for the best reading experience:
- Listen to this book (as an audiobook)! I think that's what I missed out on the most, inflection and tone. If I had been able to hear many of the words/phrases spoken in the original language, I'd at least be able to infer what they were saying and the emotions behind it.
- Read other #ownstories about Apartheid and it's effects before this one. Now if you feel comfortable with the language or history this doesn't apply! But if you're like me and this would be your first foray into the topic/history, do a bit of prep/research beforehand.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Rape, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent