I actually think that's a great idea haha I definitely felt the pressure to like this one and I think that made it harder to decide on my real opinion of this one! It wasn't until like 2 weeks after that I felt confident in how I felt about it haha
Good review, this was one of the first books I read from the longlist which meant I started out with a really high benchmark for the rest of the list to meet. Such depth and so much to think about, I keep returning to it in my mind, the writing is wonderful. I think this is my pick to win.
Yeah, that would be tough! I think I wish I had read this one in the beginning before the literary fiction fatigue set in. But I'm glad it was still able to pull me out of that 😊
Some video ideas since you brought up you're not sure what you're going to do post-booker is read out of your comfort zone, you might find some awesome books that may make you change your mind on genres you don't like. Another is to do a series reading maybe other booktubers-your friends with/may not be-favorite books. The last thing is to read books that are not well known that you think are exceptional and should be talked about. Probably you can find some unknown authors to English speaking audiences through a google search or people like Cliff from Better Than Food
Armor serves as the conscience of the family and in the larger scope of the Whites, always constantly reminding them of a promise (promise of a nation ruled by natives of South Africa) but as you rightly said, her agency isn't active to the actualization of the promise. Been as the last child might have played a part, one could interpret it as how (for the lack of a better word) inattentive we are to some of our moral instincts or conscience when they prick at us. However, as a character Amor displayed some self serving attributes even when she goes off doing good intent work, her siblings were unconvinced about them especially Anton (if I remember correctly). To the point it seems Amor had to do these things to keep a face. For me what was most interesting to me about the book was at the climax when Amor finally fulfill the promise. The responses she got wasn't exactly what she was expecting and this for me seals why her essence of her character is seen as a White Savior complex. The different responses of Salome and her son shows the distinct and deeply rooted differences older generation has for how they view the fate of the country as opposed to how younger generation sees it. If you have taken notice to African politics (I think this phenomenon is quite current in developed world countries as it is in others) you will see that the younger generation, Salome's son, are against the white imperialism that has damaged their country. Amor leaves a badly conditioned house to Amor as some kind of benevolent gift fulfilling a promise that should have been longed kept when it was ripe and at its prime. So Salome's son not only questions Amor's intent and delivery of the promise but also asks what they should do with the house as badly conditioned as it is been that it doesn't even enriches them. This is one of the many reasons of this continuous cycle of how African countries are worse off from when their colonial masters left them to be. Even with the foreign aids sent to the continent, the foundation of the brokenness isn't healed. For the older generation, they (I mean some and also like Salome) will view this promise in a conservative sense, now not in the American right wing sense of the word, but more a preservation sense of the word. So they're more content with the fulfillment of the promise rather than seeking extra recompense from the white imperialist. To them the promise has been fulfilled, they have gotten what is due to them even if it is in a bad shape. To them the younger generation don't understand how they have waited and anticipated for the promise. They were patient, long suffered, and at last here it is. This feeling, this victory can't be understood by the younger generation. While the younger generation sees this as subservient, the older generation are optimistic of the future, just like Salome. So they are willing to be forgiving. The overarching story, and future of South Africa isn't ambiguous in the final pages of the book. I have no doubt this book will win. It is going to win
@@AnnNovella I think this is where I have a problem with the book, is that it's about racism from a white perspective albeit very well done and makes some hard hitting points but the black voices from South Africa are still not heard. It's not easy to find black SA writing where I live.
Well done getting to the end of the Booker recording - and glad you enjoyed this one, though I’m waiting for the fuss to die down before I read it!
I actually think that's a great idea haha I definitely felt the pressure to like this one and I think that made it harder to decide on my real opinion of this one! It wasn't until like 2 weeks after that I felt confident in how I felt about it haha
Good review, this was one of the first books I read from the longlist which meant I started out with a really high benchmark for the rest of the list to meet. Such depth and so much to think about, I keep returning to it in my mind, the writing is wonderful. I think this is my pick to win.
Yeah, that would be tough! I think I wish I had read this one in the beginning before the literary fiction fatigue set in. But I'm glad it was still able to pull me out of that 😊
Just finished reading this book and wow. Amazing❤
Loved this review as well. Shed light on issues or things i didnt see
Can't wait to read this one!
I can't wait to see what you think about it!
Some video ideas since you brought up you're not sure what you're going to do post-booker is read out of your comfort zone, you might find some awesome books that may make you change your mind on genres you don't like. Another is to do a series reading maybe other booktubers-your friends with/may not be-favorite books. The last thing is to read books that are not well known that you think are exceptional and should be talked about. Probably you can find some unknown authors to English speaking audiences through a google search or people like Cliff from Better Than Food
Thanks for the suggestions!
Thanks!
To answer your question, yes it is.
Armor exhibits what we will call White Saviour Industrial Complex. Her virtues were so self-serving and appropriated.
Armor serves as the conscience of the family and in the larger scope of the Whites, always constantly reminding them of a promise (promise of a nation ruled by natives of South Africa) but as you rightly said, her agency isn't active to the actualization of the promise. Been as the last child might have played a part, one could interpret it as how (for the lack of a better word) inattentive we are to some of our moral instincts or conscience when they prick at us. However, as a character Amor displayed some self serving attributes even when she goes off doing good intent work, her siblings were unconvinced about them especially Anton (if I remember correctly). To the point it seems Amor had to do these things to keep a face.
For me what was most interesting to me about the book was at the climax when Amor finally fulfill the promise. The responses she got wasn't exactly what she was expecting and this for me seals why her essence of her character is seen as a White Savior complex.
The different responses of Salome and her son shows the distinct and deeply rooted differences older generation has for how they view the fate of the country as opposed to how younger generation sees it. If you have taken notice to African politics (I think this phenomenon is quite current in developed world countries as it is in others) you will see that the younger generation, Salome's son, are against the white imperialism that has damaged their country. Amor leaves a badly conditioned house to Amor as some kind of benevolent gift fulfilling a promise that should have been longed kept when it was ripe and at its prime. So Salome's son not only questions Amor's intent and delivery of the promise but also asks what they should do with the house as badly conditioned as it is been that it doesn't even enriches them. This is one of the many reasons of this continuous cycle of how African countries are worse off from when their colonial masters left them to be. Even with the foreign aids sent to the continent, the foundation of the brokenness isn't healed.
For the older generation, they (I mean some and also like Salome) will view this promise in a conservative sense, now not in the American right wing sense of the word, but more a preservation sense of the word. So they're more content with the fulfillment of the promise rather than seeking extra recompense from the white imperialist. To them the promise has been fulfilled, they have gotten what is due to them even if it is in a bad shape. To them the younger generation don't understand how they have waited and anticipated for the promise. They were patient, long suffered, and at last here it is. This feeling, this victory can't be understood by the younger generation. While the younger generation sees this as subservient, the older generation are optimistic of the future, just like Salome. So they are willing to be forgiving.
The overarching story, and future of South Africa isn't ambiguous in the final pages of the book. I have no doubt this book will win. It is going to win
Love this comment! What a fantastic analysis 😊
I think it must has been 31 years or so…
I really missed Salomé's voice in this story.
I guess that was the point. No one bothered to ask her what she wanted.
@@janethansen9612 Imagine if the author would've asked a black author to write her story simultaneously. That would've been cool. And complete.
@@AnnNovella I think this is where I have a problem with the book, is that it's about racism from a white perspective albeit very well done and makes some hard hitting points but the black voices from South Africa are still not heard. It's not easy to find black SA writing where I live.
Fun fact: Galgut went to the same high school as Elon Musk.
Wow, I had no idea!