A review by faintgirl
The Heart of Redness by Zakes Mda

4.0

The Heart of Redness is a parable of sorts - a modern day tale of two related factions of a South African village, one desperate to hang on to the old traditions and beliefs, and the other ready to modernise and embrace the technological and capitalist excitement of the American Dream. This is overlaid by the story of their ancestors, who faced a similar dilemma when the English tried to "civilise" their people many generations ago. It's mostly told through the eyes of Camagu, a member of a distinct tribe who has spend some time in America. It's very well written, and the characters are beautifully drawn. There's touches of magical realism but they don't weigh too heavily on the main message, of trying to find the happy medium between tradition, the past, and a planet that seems to be rapidly evolving without you.