A review by ayalalev
Agaat, by Marlene van Niekerk
5.0
Where do I start? This is such an exceptional book, both in subject and presentation. It tells the story of Milla, an afrikaner (white Dutch farmer in apartheid South Africa) who has ALS. The story is told from different points of view and time. The present 1996, the past around the 60's and her day journals.
It is also the story of Agaat. saved as a child from "black life" just to belong nowhere because she could never be white and being betrayed when a white substitute came along.
But Can you hate a woman lying paralyzed dying in bed totally dependent of her loyal maid? you find yourself excusing her for what she did to Agaat. She saved Agaat, it was apartheid, she was a victim of domestic violence herself and ALS is an awful way to die so haven't she suffered enough...
Other issues this book deals with are ableism, domestic violence, motherhood and I think also the meat industry (CW contain detailed descriptions of slaughter). I think this book is ideal for bookclubs because it raises lots of thoughts and feelings.
It is also the story of Agaat. saved as a child from "black life" just to belong nowhere because she could never be white and being betrayed when a white substitute came along.
But Can you hate a woman lying paralyzed dying in bed totally dependent of her loyal maid? you find yourself excusing her for what she did to Agaat. She saved Agaat, it was apartheid, she was a victim of domestic violence herself and ALS is an awful way to die so haven't she suffered enough...
Other issues this book deals with are ableism, domestic violence, motherhood and I think also the meat industry (CW contain detailed descriptions of slaughter). I think this book is ideal for bookclubs because it raises lots of thoughts and feelings.