A review by serendipitysbooks
Scatterlings by Rešoketšwe Manenzhe

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

 Scatterlings is historical fiction set in South Africa and is the story of the van Zijl family - Abram, of a Dutch and English background, his wife Ailsa, daughter of a Jamaican slave who was orphaned then adopted by a wealthy Englishman, and their two daughters. The story covers a lot of ground - mental illness, racism, colonialism, belonging, family secrets, and more. The 1927 Immorality Act, which essentially made interracial relationships illegal, had a real impact on the family, but I expected it to be more of a focus than it was. Instead the story has a lot of similarities to Wide Sargasso Sea. I liked the way traditional mythology and beliefs were incorporated and enjoyed the poetic and lyrical storytelling. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings