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袦褍谐懈泻邪泄, 褟泻褖芯 薪械 蟹薪邪褦褕 褋谢褨胁
袥褨褌芯 1976 褉芯泻褍, 袩褨胁写械薪薪邪 袗褎褉懈泻邪, 邪锌邪褉褌械褩写. 袪芯斜褨薪 鈥� 写械胁鈥櫻徰傂秆€褨褔薪邪 写褨胁褔懈薪泻邪 褨蟹 蟹邪屑芯卸薪芯褩 斜褨谢芯褩 褉芯写懈薪懈. 袣芯谢褨褉 褩褩 褕泻褨褉懈 鈥� 锌械褉械锌褍褋褌泻邪 胁 褖邪褋谢懈胁械 屑邪泄斜褍褌薪褦. 袗 褌懈屑 褔邪褋芯屑 褌械屑薪芯褕泻褨褉邪 胁褔懈褌械谢褜泻邪 袘鈥櫻幯傃� 谢械写褜 蟹胁芯写懈褌褜 泻褨薪褑褨 蟹 泻褨薪褑褟屑懈 褨 屑邪褦 谢懈褕械 芯写薪械 锌褉邪胁芯 鈥� 胁懈卸懈胁邪褌懈. 袧械褋锌芯写褨胁邪薪芯 屑褨褋褌芯 薪邪泻褉懈胁邪褦 褏胁懈谢褟 锌褉芯褌械褋褌褨胁 锌褉芯褌懈 锌芯谢褨褌懈泻懈 邪锌邪褉褌械褩写褍. 校褌褉邪褌懈胁褕懈 薪邪泄斜谢懈卸褔褍 褉褨写薪褞, 写褨胁褔懈薪泻邪 泄 褍褔懈褌械谢褜泻邪 胁懈锌邪写泻芯胁芯 芯锌懈薪褟褞褌褜褋褟 胁 芯写薪芯屑褍 斜褍写懈薪泻褍 胁 袡芯谐邪薪薪械褋斜褍褉蟹褨. 袚械褉芯褩薪褟屑 胁懈锌邪写械 褉邪蟹芯屑 锌褉芯泄褌懈 褕谢褟褏 锌褉邪胁写懈 泄 褋锌芯泻褍褌懈 褨 褍褋胁褨写芯屑懈褌懈, 褖芯 泻芯谢褨褉 褕泻褨褉懈 薪褨褔芯谐芯 薪械 芯蟹薪邪褔邪褦. 袙邪卸懈褌褜 谢懈褕械 写褍褕邪. 袗 胁芯薪邪 薪械 屑邪褦 泻芯谢褜芯褉褍鈥�
416 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2017
986 people are currently reading
20717 people want to read
About the author
Bianca Marais
6听books952听followersBianca Marais cohosts the popular podcast, 'The Shit No One Tells You About Writing', which is aimed at emerging writers/aspiring authors. She teaches creative writing through the podcast and was named a winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing at the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies.
Before becoming an author, she volunteered in Soweto where she assisted care workers with providing aid for HIV/AIDS orphans and their caregivers.
She now lives in Toronto, where she loves playing escape-room games and writing about strong female protagonists.
Before becoming an author, she volunteered in Soweto where she assisted care workers with providing aid for HIV/AIDS orphans and their caregivers.
She now lives in Toronto, where she loves playing escape-room games and writing about strong female protagonists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,786 reviews
June 26, 2017
There was something about this title that drew me to read the description and then after reading that this was about apartheid in South Africa I decided that I'd take a chance on this debut novel because what did I really know about it? As it turns out, while I didn't know the specifics of the Soweto Uprising which becomes the event in this story that is instrumental in bringing the two main characters together, the treatment of black people sounded all too sadly familiar as I thought about the history in my own country, the US. But I wanted to know some specifics about this student uprising where many were killed or injured . I've included some links below.
What this story does in alternating narratives is depict what was happening in the country reflected in the lives of two individuals. Robin is an adventurous 9 year old white English girl, who is caught in the horrific events created by racism when she loses her parents on the that fateful night of June 16, 1976. Beauty, a black woman, raising her children alone , finds out not only that her daughter is missing, but that she is front and center in the uprising. It is what happens on that day that brings these two characters together. Beauty embarks on a clandestine search for her daughter while Robin is on a journey of her own seeking love and care.
I found it to be beautifully written in parts. I read a prepublication copy so the final version may be different but I can't help but share at least one excerpt:
"There is no lingering twilight in Africa, no gloaming as day eases into night; a tender give-and-take between light and shadow. Night settles swiftly. If you are vigilant and not prone to distractions, you can almost feel the very moment daylight slips through your fingers and leaves you clutching the inky sap that is the sub-Saharan night. It is a sharp exhalation of the closing of the day, a sigh of relief. Sunrise is the opposite: a gentle inhalation, a protracted affair as the day readies itself for what is to come."
There were a couple of things that didn't make this perfect for me. I felt that at times the author tried too hard to get me to see her message of equality by including some lesser characters who were gay or Jewish and emphasizing that message , but the story itself was powerful enough without telling me . I also found the ending sequences with Robin somewhat unrealistic for a ten year old . Having said that the story has so much to offer - a learning experience for me, a fascinating albeit disturbing look at apartheid, but also a study of grief and loss , family, love, friendship and bravery of the people , both black and white, fighting for equality. For me it's 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because even though I had a few reservations, I found it a worthy read . The end leaves room for maybe a continuation of the story and if that bears out in a sequel, I will definitely read it.
I received an advanced copy of this book from G.P. Putnam's Sons/PenguinRandom House through Edelweiss.
Some information on the Soweto Uprising:
August 9, 2017
A book of unbearable loss, grief, sad and yet for the most part beautiful as well. South Africa apartheid, the Soweto uprising and a nine year old white girl caught up in the terror, as well as a Nineteen year old black girl who wants to fight for the cause.
This book is another that presented me with a conundrum. Loved the character of Robin, she provides most of the humor in her young innocence. Humor mixed with sadness as she has lost both her parents to murder on the night of the uprising. She now lives with her aunt, a childless flight attendant who is away quite often. Enter Beauty, a fifty year old black women who has left her sons, and come to find her daughter, who was part of the uprising. She is now Robin's main caretaker as she searches for her daughter.There are some colorful support characters as well, a gay couple, a Jewish family with a young son Robin's age.
The above which presented me with another slight nudge from my inner critic, maybe too stereotypical? Too much, too obvious. Yet, I did love the characters, all of them. Then we come to the last part of the stories and here I was presented with a loud voice from said critic. Too over the top, too smaltzy, way too obvious the authors agenda, and too unrealistic. Robin in that type of situation would probably never have survived. This author quit trusting her readers and just laid it all out there in some unbelievable occurrences. Please understand I liked this book, for the most part. I learned much I didn't know about this part of the world and it's past, for most of the book I was leaning toward a higher rating, but the end of the book.....just too obvious for me to overlook.
ARC from publisher.
This book is another that presented me with a conundrum. Loved the character of Robin, she provides most of the humor in her young innocence. Humor mixed with sadness as she has lost both her parents to murder on the night of the uprising. She now lives with her aunt, a childless flight attendant who is away quite often. Enter Beauty, a fifty year old black women who has left her sons, and come to find her daughter, who was part of the uprising. She is now Robin's main caretaker as she searches for her daughter.There are some colorful support characters as well, a gay couple, a Jewish family with a young son Robin's age.
The above which presented me with another slight nudge from my inner critic, maybe too stereotypical? Too much, too obvious. Yet, I did love the characters, all of them. Then we come to the last part of the stories and here I was presented with a loud voice from said critic. Too over the top, too smaltzy, way too obvious the authors agenda, and too unrealistic. Robin in that type of situation would probably never have survived. This author quit trusting her readers and just laid it all out there in some unbelievable occurrences. Please understand I liked this book, for the most part. I learned much I didn't know about this part of the world and it's past, for most of the book I was leaning toward a higher rating, but the end of the book.....just too obvious for me to overlook.
ARC from publisher.
April 11, 2020
鉂わ笍鉂わ笍鉂わ笍鉂わ笍鉂わ笍 This one gets all the hearts/stars! What a story!
This novel is set in Apartheid South Africa during the turbulent times of the Soweto Uprising. The time and setting play as pivotal a role in the unfolding of the story as the characters do. You are immersed in the prejudice, racism, tragedy and heartbreaking challenges of the time period.
Beauty is a mother desperate to find and save her daughter, Nomsa, who has become caught up in the protests at Soweto. Robin is a young white girl who loses her parents in a tragic way.
With no other family she goes to live with her carefree aunt Edith. Edith, a flight attendant, is unable to care for her niece on a day to day basis. She hires Beauty to help her in an unorthodox plan that benefits everyone but also put them in danger if found out.
The relationship between Beauty and Robin was breathtaking. I found myself immersed in their story - feeling so much emotion. The secondary characters in their lives really brought so much richness to the novel. This book had me felling so much emotion. I laughed, I cried, I cringed, I gasped out loud. All I can really say is that you haven't read Bianca Marais' books - read them! This is not my usual genre and I am so glad I went outside of my comfort zone for this gem. This will undoubtedly be one of my favorite books of 2020!
This novel is set in Apartheid South Africa during the turbulent times of the Soweto Uprising. The time and setting play as pivotal a role in the unfolding of the story as the characters do. You are immersed in the prejudice, racism, tragedy and heartbreaking challenges of the time period.
Beauty is a mother desperate to find and save her daughter, Nomsa, who has become caught up in the protests at Soweto. Robin is a young white girl who loses her parents in a tragic way.
With no other family she goes to live with her carefree aunt Edith. Edith, a flight attendant, is unable to care for her niece on a day to day basis. She hires Beauty to help her in an unorthodox plan that benefits everyone but also put them in danger if found out.
The relationship between Beauty and Robin was breathtaking. I found myself immersed in their story - feeling so much emotion. The secondary characters in their lives really brought so much richness to the novel. This book had me felling so much emotion. I laughed, I cried, I cringed, I gasped out loud. All I can really say is that you haven't read Bianca Marais' books - read them! This is not my usual genre and I am so glad I went outside of my comfort zone for this gem. This will undoubtedly be one of my favorite books of 2020!
August 22, 2017
3.5 Stars
鈥淪ince June the 16th when South African troops and police opened fire on a peaceful school children鈥檚 demonstration, the white government has presided over the largest massacre of its black population since South Africa came into existence. The school boy who led that day鈥檚 protest was 19 year old Tsietsi Mashinini.鈥�
BBC World Service:
The Day Apartheid Died 鈥� Soweto Uprising
The story that runs through the many layers of this story is set in Apartheid South Africa around the time of the Soweto Uprising, the level of racism prevalent.
Beauty, a mother who is desperate to find her daughter, Nomsa, a young girl caught up in the protests at Soweto who has seemingly disappeared since day of the uprising. Beauty arrives in Soweto, hears the shooting, and runs to the schoolyard to find Nomsa. Another young girl, Robin, whose parents go out to dinner one evening, dressed in their finest.
鈥�13 JUNE 1976 Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
I joined up the last two lines of the hopscotch grid and wrote a big 鈥�10鈥� in the top square. It gave me a thrill writing the age I鈥檇 be on my next birthday because everyone knew that once you hit double digits, you weren鈥檛 a child anymore.鈥�
Robin鈥檚 parents never return from that dinner, will never return. The police come to take her to their headquarters, with Robin is still in her nightclothes, her head spinning with overheard words, phrases鈥lood鈥� slit throats鈥� but no one really has talked to her. No one has told her.
Robin is still a child, and so she goes to live with her aunt Edith, which creates a problem for single Edith, who, as a flight attendant (although being the mid-70s her title would have been stewardess or air hostess) is frequently gone overnight and longer. A search for a helper to care for Robin in her absence brings Beauty to their life.
I had wanted to read this because it is based in South Africa, which was my father鈥檚 route for many years, flying from New York to Johannesburg for most of those flights, but not all. I always loved hearing his stories about the things he saw, but he didn鈥檛 talk as much about the uglier side of life there. Often he would stay at the home of one of his pilot buddies that were based there and stay for a while, refining his photography skills on all the nature that flourished around their home, and those photographs made their way up on the walls in our home, so for much of my life I was surrounded by these photographs.
I wanted to like this story more than I did, or perhaps it鈥檚 more accurate to say I enjoyed much of the story, but I felt that the author tackled so many different avenues of prejudice in one story that I felt that the racial prejudice of the Soweta Uprising was watered down somewhat by the inclusion of character(s) whose only reason seemed to be to include a side story of another variation of prejudice.
What I loved most was the character of Beauty, a schoolteacher before this story really begins, before she sets out on her journey to find her daughter. Through her eyes, you see Soweto, the uprising, the horror of it, her fear, her overwhelming need to find her daughter. When she comes to take care of the young Robin, you see more of her strength and her poise combined with her understanding of children, their thoughts and needs. I also really loved how imperfect Robin was drawn, although she is a child whose world is turned upside down, she is far from perfect.
鈥漌hat greater gift can you give another than to say: I see you, I hear you, and you are not alone?鈥�
October 4, 2017
Hum if You Don't Know the Words is a novel set in 1975-76 South Africa, with the Soweto Uprising as the linchpin that brings the two main characters together and sets in motion the events of the novel. While the writing is fairly strong overall, I would only rate this 2.5 stars (rounded down to be an "it was ok" overall rating) because one of the perspectives is far superior to the other, and the ending seemed implausible and somewhat inauthentic, which changed my opinion from a solid 3 star to a more lukewarm rating.
The novel is told from two perspectives. Beauty, a Xhosa schoolteacher, is a very well drawn character. I was immersed in her story line and character from the beginning, especially since it's told first person present tense so I felt real immediacy with her thoughts and emotions: from her perspective, the reader is on the front lines of the Soweto Uprising, and I had great sympathy and admiration for her decision to leave her young sons in the care of family and move illegally to Johannesburg to track down her freedom fighter daughter who disappeared after the protest turned deadly. Marais avoids traps and potential backlash that other books like (to which this is compared) fell into, in terms of how the black protagonists are given voices and written in such a way as to sound/seem inferior: Beauty's inner strength, her serene but sharp intellect, and the depth of her emotional understanding are all very well presented. She's a fully realized character, and we see just how dignified and powerful she can be as she takes on a domestic position to care for the fragile Robin in a gentle, firm manner (that enables her to have a pass to stay in Johannesburg while searching for her daughter).
By contrast, I never fully connected with Robin as a character or narrator. I think my main issue was that her daily tales weren't as urgent or compelling as Beauty's, but there was also a stylistic choice that increased distance with that character. Robin is 10 years old during the main story and her perspective is told in first person past tense, but her perspective, voice, reflections and thoughts shift haphazardly between the ten-year-old Robin and the adult Robin looking back on the events of the novel. Robin's fragility and fear of desertion following the murder of her parents (in a random act of black vengeance following the Soweto Uprising) are presented well, but I didn't get as much of the rest of her fledgling personality before or after that horrific event. So I never felt as immersed in her emotions and thoughts as I did Beauty's, especially because it would swing from those of a child to an adult who had long processed these events within the same paragraph.
I did think Marais did a very good job of showing agency and empowerment and friendship in 1970s South Africa across a large and diverse backdrop of main and secondary characters. And though I found Beauty's perspective more interesting overall, when her story and Robin's aligned in the second half of the novel, I was really chugging along and enjoying what I was reading. Robin and Beauty's daily lives in Edith's Johannesburg flat and the dinner parties with friends reveal the less known plight and discrimination of homosexuals and Jews in South Africa, and the tense, creepy exchanges Beauty has with varying shadowy figures in the pursuit of her daughter are written nicely. I thought this would be a three star review right up until I arrived at the climax and conclusion of the novel.
Robin makes a critical, selfish decision, and then reveals her error with devastating consequences for Beauty. Robin's motivation for making that choice were well understood from her earlier circumstances and fear of alienation and desertion. What bothered me was the ensuing path to redemption and resolution. . It felt very improbable that this sequence of events could actually occur, and while prior I felt Marais had been very even handed with agency and power, at the final hour Robin assumes the role of white hero to bring Beauty's daughter to her senses and reunite mother and daughter. Overall, the ending left a less pleasant taste in my mouth, both because of how far-fetched it seemed to be (it really felt like something out of a political thriller albeit with a ten year old in the starring role) and because I felt more justice could and should have been done to the ending of Beauty's story, instead of sidelining her dramatically to let Robin save the day.
Ultimately, I have read and will read much stronger South African-set fiction and nonfiction: this was just ok, and I'd never re-read it or pass on to anyone I know personally. The blurb does compare this title to : if you liked Stockett's book and have interest in apartheid era South Africa, this could be a read for you (though I found the overall writing better in The Help than in this one). But I'd prioritize other titles dealing with similar subject matter first.
The novel is told from two perspectives. Beauty, a Xhosa schoolteacher, is a very well drawn character. I was immersed in her story line and character from the beginning, especially since it's told first person present tense so I felt real immediacy with her thoughts and emotions: from her perspective, the reader is on the front lines of the Soweto Uprising, and I had great sympathy and admiration for her decision to leave her young sons in the care of family and move illegally to Johannesburg to track down her freedom fighter daughter who disappeared after the protest turned deadly. Marais avoids traps and potential backlash that other books like (to which this is compared) fell into, in terms of how the black protagonists are given voices and written in such a way as to sound/seem inferior: Beauty's inner strength, her serene but sharp intellect, and the depth of her emotional understanding are all very well presented. She's a fully realized character, and we see just how dignified and powerful she can be as she takes on a domestic position to care for the fragile Robin in a gentle, firm manner (that enables her to have a pass to stay in Johannesburg while searching for her daughter).
By contrast, I never fully connected with Robin as a character or narrator. I think my main issue was that her daily tales weren't as urgent or compelling as Beauty's, but there was also a stylistic choice that increased distance with that character. Robin is 10 years old during the main story and her perspective is told in first person past tense, but her perspective, voice, reflections and thoughts shift haphazardly between the ten-year-old Robin and the adult Robin looking back on the events of the novel. Robin's fragility and fear of desertion following the murder of her parents (in a random act of black vengeance following the Soweto Uprising) are presented well, but I didn't get as much of the rest of her fledgling personality before or after that horrific event. So I never felt as immersed in her emotions and thoughts as I did Beauty's, especially because it would swing from those of a child to an adult who had long processed these events within the same paragraph.
I did think Marais did a very good job of showing agency and empowerment and friendship in 1970s South Africa across a large and diverse backdrop of main and secondary characters. And though I found Beauty's perspective more interesting overall, when her story and Robin's aligned in the second half of the novel, I was really chugging along and enjoying what I was reading. Robin and Beauty's daily lives in Edith's Johannesburg flat and the dinner parties with friends reveal the less known plight and discrimination of homosexuals and Jews in South Africa, and the tense, creepy exchanges Beauty has with varying shadowy figures in the pursuit of her daughter are written nicely. I thought this would be a three star review right up until I arrived at the climax and conclusion of the novel.
Robin makes a critical, selfish decision, and then reveals her error with devastating consequences for Beauty. Robin's motivation for making that choice were well understood from her earlier circumstances and fear of alienation and desertion. What bothered me was the ensuing path to redemption and resolution. . It felt very improbable that this sequence of events could actually occur, and while prior I felt Marais had been very even handed with agency and power, at the final hour Robin assumes the role of white hero to bring Beauty's daughter to her senses and reunite mother and daughter. Overall, the ending left a less pleasant taste in my mouth, both because of how far-fetched it seemed to be (it really felt like something out of a political thriller albeit with a ten year old in the starring role) and because I felt more justice could and should have been done to the ending of Beauty's story, instead of sidelining her dramatically to let Robin save the day.
Ultimately, I have read and will read much stronger South African-set fiction and nonfiction: this was just ok, and I'd never re-read it or pass on to anyone I know personally. The blurb does compare this title to : if you liked Stockett's book and have interest in apartheid era South Africa, this could be a read for you (though I found the overall writing better in The Help than in this one). But I'd prioritize other titles dealing with similar subject matter first.
Read
February 27, 2019The Hook - The author herself hands down. I attended a weekend event called Booktopia at one of the best independent bookstores, Northshire, in Manchester, VT. I was looking forward to meeting and hear speak, Chloe Benjamin, author of The Immortalists,one of my favorite books of 2018. Imagine my disappointment when she had to cancel due to illness. The author, taking her place, Bianca Marais. Bianca Marais, never heard of her. Oh, but was I in for a treat. Ms. Marais turned out to be one of the best speakers, a friendly, warm, globally aware woman, who was also funny, and darn good at trivia. I bought her debut book, Hum If You Don't Know The Words. What took me so long to read it? It's just the way the TBR pile crumbles.
The Line - There were many that I cherish so I will deviate from my usual one line and quote three:
鈥漌hat greater gift can you give another than to say: I see you, I hear you, and you are not alone?鈥�
鈥滻 knew the language of sorrow, my body had spoken it many times and I knew how shamed she was by the tears she did not want to cry. It didn't matter that the difference in our skin color separated us more than the span of the forty years that stretched out between us, I recognized myself.
The Sinker - Bianca Marais includes a glossary, very helpful for words I did not know. I was able to look up many unfamiliar terms used in South Africa, the locale of her book. Even with this, I was only on page 2 when I had to stop to jump up and search the net to find the Hadeda Bird that distracted one of the twins playing, I think, a game of hopscotch. The bird's loud, raucous call was the cause. Just in case the tiniest details such as this drive you to your computer, let me save you the time. .
Getting back to the book. This dual narrated story begins on June 13, 1976 in Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, as Robin, the twin not distracted, soon to celebrate her 10th birthday, writes that number in the top square of the grid. It is an innocent scene but one in which there is a precarious balance between that innocence in the game that is played and the reality of the 鈥漚partness鈥� soon to come.
The other half of this narrative is Beauty Mbali , a Xhosa woman, forced to remain in Johannesburg when her daughter, Nomsa, goes missing after a brutal protest that leaves some dead in its bloody wake.
How the paths of these two unlikely people cross, one ten year old white girl living the privilege of the apartheid-era, the other, a poor but educated teacher, trying to eke out a living for herself and her children in a small village far away, is something you will have to discover for yourself. You know how I dislike telling you the whole story.
Hum If You Don't Know The Words is a beautifully written, often, heart-wrenching, historical novel, peppered with violence, racial issues and characters you will not forget. Don't let this serious theme keep you from reading the book as it also filled with love, hope and a good dose of humor, just as life, even in the worst of times, often is.
I'm pleased to also note that Marais' second book, If You Want To Make God Laugh will be available in July 2019 and that she will once again be a featured author at I don't know if tickets remain but check if you're interested in this fun gathering of book lovers.
The Line - There were many that I cherish so I will deviate from my usual one line and quote three:
鈥漌hat greater gift can you give another than to say: I see you, I hear you, and you are not alone?鈥�
鈥滻 knew the language of sorrow, my body had spoken it many times and I knew how shamed she was by the tears she did not want to cry. It didn't matter that the difference in our skin color separated us more than the span of the forty years that stretched out between us, I recognized myself.
The Sinker - Bianca Marais includes a glossary, very helpful for words I did not know. I was able to look up many unfamiliar terms used in South Africa, the locale of her book. Even with this, I was only on page 2 when I had to stop to jump up and search the net to find the Hadeda Bird that distracted one of the twins playing, I think, a game of hopscotch. The bird's loud, raucous call was the cause. Just in case the tiniest details such as this drive you to your computer, let me save you the time. .
Getting back to the book. This dual narrated story begins on June 13, 1976 in Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, as Robin, the twin not distracted, soon to celebrate her 10th birthday, writes that number in the top square of the grid. It is an innocent scene but one in which there is a precarious balance between that innocence in the game that is played and the reality of the 鈥漚partness鈥� soon to come.
The other half of this narrative is Beauty Mbali , a Xhosa woman, forced to remain in Johannesburg when her daughter, Nomsa, goes missing after a brutal protest that leaves some dead in its bloody wake.
How the paths of these two unlikely people cross, one ten year old white girl living the privilege of the apartheid-era, the other, a poor but educated teacher, trying to eke out a living for herself and her children in a small village far away, is something you will have to discover for yourself. You know how I dislike telling you the whole story.
Hum If You Don't Know The Words is a beautifully written, often, heart-wrenching, historical novel, peppered with violence, racial issues and characters you will not forget. Don't let this serious theme keep you from reading the book as it also filled with love, hope and a good dose of humor, just as life, even in the worst of times, often is.
I'm pleased to also note that Marais' second book, If You Want To Make God Laugh will be available in July 2019 and that she will once again be a featured author at I don't know if tickets remain but check if you're interested in this fun gathering of book lovers.
January 2, 2017
There are some good books that you read once and pass on but occasionally you find one which you can read over and over. I have reread this book 3 times and each time I gain a little more from it. This has to be one of my favourite books of all times and each time I read it, I love it more and more.
The imagery throughout the book is powerful and the author uses language so skillfully that there are passages that I have marked and keep going back to.
One of my favourites is:
Some good-byes are as gentle and inevitable as sunset, while some blindside you like a collision you didn鈥檛 see coming. Some good-byes are schoolyard bullies you are powerless to stop, while others punctuate the end of a relationship because you decide: enough. Some are heartbreaking, leaving you a little more damaged than you were before, while others set you free.
I particularly love the blend of languages and cultures that gives the reader a glimpse of the rich cultural diversity of South Africa, which is named the Rainbow nation for this reason. South Africa has 11 official languages and Marais is so skilled at blending in very colourful bits of this language throughout the book.
Despite great heartbreak and tragedy, the book is balanced with humour and wit. I found myself laughing and crying and not able to put it down.
The imagery throughout the book is powerful and the author uses language so skillfully that there are passages that I have marked and keep going back to.
One of my favourites is:
Some good-byes are as gentle and inevitable as sunset, while some blindside you like a collision you didn鈥檛 see coming. Some good-byes are schoolyard bullies you are powerless to stop, while others punctuate the end of a relationship because you decide: enough. Some are heartbreaking, leaving you a little more damaged than you were before, while others set you free.
I particularly love the blend of languages and cultures that gives the reader a glimpse of the rich cultural diversity of South Africa, which is named the Rainbow nation for this reason. South Africa has 11 official languages and Marais is so skilled at blending in very colourful bits of this language throughout the book.
Despite great heartbreak and tragedy, the book is balanced with humour and wit. I found myself laughing and crying and not able to put it down.
December 10, 2016
As I read Hum If You Don鈥檛 Know The Words, I cried in my bed, laughed on the subway and nodded in agreement in the passport-office lounge.
I often wished I could pause and tell someone 鈥� anyone nearby 鈥� about what I was reading at that particular moment. There were so many beautiful passages. Marais鈥� language is perfect; it is accessible and at the same time, rich. My top contender for favourite line in the book is: 鈥溾€� tears are neither black nor white; they are the quicksilver of our emotional turmoil and their salt flavors our pain equally.鈥�
It was hard to believe this is a debut novel. There was wit and thoughtfulness and warmth throughout bringing the two main narrators, Beauty and Robin, to life. Usually, I end up preferring one voice to the other with this type of narration, but I genuinely cared for each of them. I was equally swept up in both plotlines. Every character was lively, complex and vital. Storytelling, by and large, calls for a certain suspension of disbelief (that鈥檚 one of the most magical things about fiction) and in parts of this novel that is required. But overall, this is a balanced, humorous, poignant tale about some of the most timeless and heartbreaking subject matter possible. There were no lulls. And the ending left me with hope that not only is Hum If You Don鈥檛 Know The Words going to be a book that moves people, but that we might be moved again by these characters in the future.
I often wished I could pause and tell someone 鈥� anyone nearby 鈥� about what I was reading at that particular moment. There were so many beautiful passages. Marais鈥� language is perfect; it is accessible and at the same time, rich. My top contender for favourite line in the book is: 鈥溾€� tears are neither black nor white; they are the quicksilver of our emotional turmoil and their salt flavors our pain equally.鈥�
It was hard to believe this is a debut novel. There was wit and thoughtfulness and warmth throughout bringing the two main narrators, Beauty and Robin, to life. Usually, I end up preferring one voice to the other with this type of narration, but I genuinely cared for each of them. I was equally swept up in both plotlines. Every character was lively, complex and vital. Storytelling, by and large, calls for a certain suspension of disbelief (that鈥檚 one of the most magical things about fiction) and in parts of this novel that is required. But overall, this is a balanced, humorous, poignant tale about some of the most timeless and heartbreaking subject matter possible. There were no lulls. And the ending left me with hope that not only is Hum If You Don鈥檛 Know The Words going to be a book that moves people, but that we might be moved again by these characters in the future.
December 6, 2022
I've hesitated before rating this book only three stars, cos it has some really good parts. But still I had a feeling that the plot was rushed and all those great ideas and human rights messages simply didn't get enough time to unravel. Yet a quite good piece about African apartheid, although not good enough to ever reread it.
January 9, 2018
Full review is up on . Loved this book!
Hum If You Don鈥檛 Know The Words is one of my current favorite debuts! In 1976 apartheid South Africa where racism was a way of life, we meet Robin, a 9 yr old white girl who was daughter to a miner and his wife. Robin鈥檚 father did not always treat blacks fairly and, tragically, both parents were murdered, leaving the little girl alone. Then we meet Beauty, a 50 year old, educated, black, single mother of 3; 2 teenage boys living with her in a small village and a daughter who had been living with a relative鈥檚 family so she could study in the city. When Beauty finds out her daughter has run away to train for the resistance and she is in danger, she travels to the city to find her.
Young Robin exhibits incredible coping skills she has developed since she was a baby and despite the culture of the country鈥檚 environment and being left without her beloved family, she has an open mind looking to receive love and wholeheartedly willing to give. Through circumstances and the kindness of Robin鈥檚 aunt, a woman at the library and the social worker, all strong, independent women with good intentions and love and acceptance in their hearts, two unlikely South Africans鈥� lives become intertwined; Robin and Beauty come to rely on each other. Family is everything to Beauty and she is focused trying to bring her daughter home, but she sees the void in Robin鈥檚 life and steps in to fulfill her needs, becoming attached in her own way.
Inequality breeds strife and respect feeds strength, support and positivity. Marais does a wonderful job telling a grueling South African apartheid story while showing the beauty and resilience of all types of women and the way they connect to help each other survive.
I loved Bianca Marais鈥檚 writing and the structure of this phenomenal debut book; chapters have alternating narrators with dates and locations to keep the chronology clear. I was 9 years old in 1976 and I am 50 now so I felt a special connection with both of the main characters and appreciated their depth. Both had experienced so much in their unique lifetimes and they are fully round, and richly expressed. These powerful women roll models create unlikely friendships and develop relationships that transcend race, built on love and the need to be loved. According to the author, there is more to this story of Robin and Beauty and I am excited to see when the next book will be published.
Hum If You Don鈥檛 Know The Words is one of my current favorite debuts! In 1976 apartheid South Africa where racism was a way of life, we meet Robin, a 9 yr old white girl who was daughter to a miner and his wife. Robin鈥檚 father did not always treat blacks fairly and, tragically, both parents were murdered, leaving the little girl alone. Then we meet Beauty, a 50 year old, educated, black, single mother of 3; 2 teenage boys living with her in a small village and a daughter who had been living with a relative鈥檚 family so she could study in the city. When Beauty finds out her daughter has run away to train for the resistance and she is in danger, she travels to the city to find her.
Young Robin exhibits incredible coping skills she has developed since she was a baby and despite the culture of the country鈥檚 environment and being left without her beloved family, she has an open mind looking to receive love and wholeheartedly willing to give. Through circumstances and the kindness of Robin鈥檚 aunt, a woman at the library and the social worker, all strong, independent women with good intentions and love and acceptance in their hearts, two unlikely South Africans鈥� lives become intertwined; Robin and Beauty come to rely on each other. Family is everything to Beauty and she is focused trying to bring her daughter home, but she sees the void in Robin鈥檚 life and steps in to fulfill her needs, becoming attached in her own way.
Inequality breeds strife and respect feeds strength, support and positivity. Marais does a wonderful job telling a grueling South African apartheid story while showing the beauty and resilience of all types of women and the way they connect to help each other survive.
I loved Bianca Marais鈥檚 writing and the structure of this phenomenal debut book; chapters have alternating narrators with dates and locations to keep the chronology clear. I was 9 years old in 1976 and I am 50 now so I felt a special connection with both of the main characters and appreciated their depth. Both had experienced so much in their unique lifetimes and they are fully round, and richly expressed. These powerful women roll models create unlikely friendships and develop relationships that transcend race, built on love and the need to be loved. According to the author, there is more to this story of Robin and Beauty and I am excited to see when the next book will be published.
January 7, 2019
A suspenseful family drama that turns into a thriller. The novel is set in 1976 in South Africa. After her parents are murdered, Robin, a 9 yr old child, is sent to Johannesburg to live with her only relative, her deceased mother鈥檚 wild, carefree, single sister Edith, who never in her wildest dreams banked on, or ever wanted to a child. Working as an airline stewardess further complicates the situation.
In the second story, Beauty is on the hunt for her 17 yr old daughter who has joined the revolution in South Africa, some say helping lead the rebellion. Beauty fears for her daughter鈥檚 life but in order to move about freely in South Africa to seach for her, she needs a passbook. And it can only be obtained if she has employment. Thus she enters Robin鈥檚 life. With the racial divide in South Africa, their lives would have never intertwined, but the uprising conflict has changed all that.
Robin is a worldly child who plays at being a detective (think 鈥楬arriet the Spy鈥�), while Beauty is a trained teacher who has become caught up in an extremely dangerous situation because of her daughter.
While I enjoyed the book for the most part, it does have a few issues. At one point Robin is placed in a very dangerous situation that I found stretched credulity. Also the author inserts many African words that are never translated, and because I know absolutely nothing about the language, I couldn鈥檛 even guess at their meanings. Rather than spend time looking them all up, I just skipped over all of them. However, the words made no difference to the understanding or overall readability of the story.
Considering that the author was raised in South Africa, I was surprised at all of the sterotypes. However, I did enjoy the setting, learning more about South Africa, the people, and their customs. I also learned more about the appalling of treatment of the citizens, the conditions of where they lived and worked.
Overall, this book is a bit of a kitchen sink stew, but ultimately I did enjoy the suspenseful aspects of the story that included numerous secrets, subterfuge & clandestine networks.
I read this for my travel book club which will be meeting towards the end of January.
The author Bianca Marais is actually coming to our book club so it should be very interesting but how can you really criticize any aspects of the book with the author in attendance? 馃槈
3.5 猸愶笍
In the second story, Beauty is on the hunt for her 17 yr old daughter who has joined the revolution in South Africa, some say helping lead the rebellion. Beauty fears for her daughter鈥檚 life but in order to move about freely in South Africa to seach for her, she needs a passbook. And it can only be obtained if she has employment. Thus she enters Robin鈥檚 life. With the racial divide in South Africa, their lives would have never intertwined, but the uprising conflict has changed all that.
Robin is a worldly child who plays at being a detective (think 鈥楬arriet the Spy鈥�), while Beauty is a trained teacher who has become caught up in an extremely dangerous situation because of her daughter.
While I enjoyed the book for the most part, it does have a few issues. At one point Robin is placed in a very dangerous situation that I found stretched credulity. Also the author inserts many African words that are never translated, and because I know absolutely nothing about the language, I couldn鈥檛 even guess at their meanings. Rather than spend time looking them all up, I just skipped over all of them. However, the words made no difference to the understanding or overall readability of the story.
Considering that the author was raised in South Africa, I was surprised at all of the sterotypes. However, I did enjoy the setting, learning more about South Africa, the people, and their customs. I also learned more about the appalling of treatment of the citizens, the conditions of where they lived and worked.
Overall, this book is a bit of a kitchen sink stew, but ultimately I did enjoy the suspenseful aspects of the story that included numerous secrets, subterfuge & clandestine networks.
I read this for my travel book club which will be meeting towards the end of January.
The author Bianca Marais is actually coming to our book club so it should be very interesting but how can you really criticize any aspects of the book with the author in attendance? 馃槈
3.5 猸愶笍
July 9, 2017
I despair that we are all becoming murderers, white and black alike, and that we will never be able to wipe this blood from our hands. I pray that I am wrong.
I loved these characters - Beauty and Robin yes, but also the rest of the cast - Edith, Victor and Morris. The amazing sense of humor throughout provided a much needed lighter side to the story. The writing is beautiful and honest. Written in alternating chapters, Beauty's centered and wise narration balances beautifully with Robin's capricious and naive account. The author does a brilliant job of showing us how horrible apartheid was by describing the effect on Beauty's daily life. I grew up in a mine community in South Africa, so this was like a trip down memory lane - the good and the bad. Hum is a book about the process of creating as well as the effects of prejudices, but it also shows how we can change these perceptions and behaviors. The only reason the book loses a star, is because the ending felt a bit rushed and unrealistic. I highly recommend Hum for an authentic look at 1970's SA.
The Story: Set in South Africa during Apartheid, the lives of two people collide and an unlikely bond is formed. Robin Conrad is a nine-year-old white girl living with her parents in Johannesburg. Beauty Mbali is a Xhosa woman in a rural village in the Bantu homeland of the Transkei who has been widowed and left to raise her three children. Divided by race, the two meet as a result of circumstances stemmed from the Soweto Uprising鈥攁 protest by black students ignites racial conflict in which Robin's parents are casualties, and Beauty's daughter goes missing.
July 18, 2017
What a wonderful surprise this book was! The title and cover attracted me to the book and that combined with some great reviews from 欧宝娱乐 friends made me anxious to read it. I was granted an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley.
I was a mother with young children at the time of apartheid and though I of course knew what going on in South Africa I didn鈥檛 at that time dig deeper and/or read much about it, there just wasn鈥檛 time. The book takes place in the mid-1970鈥檚.
This book is about a 9 year old white girl from South Africa who has to deal with the death of her parents. But that is just the beginning of the struggles for Robin. She is taken in by a loving and caring aunt, Edith, who is a flight attendant and she tries to quit her job and just take care of Robin but that just made her unhappy and depressed. She goes back to work but hires an older black woman named Beauty to watch Robin when she is away. Beauty is in the city trying to find her daughter who was caught up in the rioting during the first days of apartheid and is now missing.
Both points of view were equally interesting and extremely well written. I felt that I could understand some of what Beauty might feel being a mom myself, but of course nothing would equal the things that she experiences and the truths that she discovers. Robin鈥檚 point of view is at times very sad and at other times she is enveloped in the kindness of so many peripheral characters who step up to 鈥渕other鈥� Robin. There are many wonderful characters including the Goldman鈥檚, a couple who have helped to smuggle Jews out of troubled areas and a homosexual couple who loved to host parties but had a soft spot in their hearts for Robin. There is even a social worker, Wilhelmina, who is assigned to make sure that Robin is being cared for properly, this character showed so much growth during the story.
This is also a coming of age book for Robin and she has to 鈥渦nlearn鈥� many of the things she had been taught by her parents and friends. The Afrikaners, including her parents, were united in their hatred of Jews, blacks and homosexuals. Through her relationships that revolve around Edith and her apartment she meets Jews and homosexuals and Beauty, her live in caretaker, who is black. Both Robin and Beauty find a love growing between each other that seems surprising to both of them.
I am making this book sound much simpler than it is. It is rich in beautiful prose and well developed characters. It is atmospheric in the description of the riots, destruction and loss of life during Apartheid. It is multi-layered and just a wonderful experience to read!
This is a great book and I will look forward to what this brilliant author has to write next.
I was a mother with young children at the time of apartheid and though I of course knew what going on in South Africa I didn鈥檛 at that time dig deeper and/or read much about it, there just wasn鈥檛 time. The book takes place in the mid-1970鈥檚.
This book is about a 9 year old white girl from South Africa who has to deal with the death of her parents. But that is just the beginning of the struggles for Robin. She is taken in by a loving and caring aunt, Edith, who is a flight attendant and she tries to quit her job and just take care of Robin but that just made her unhappy and depressed. She goes back to work but hires an older black woman named Beauty to watch Robin when she is away. Beauty is in the city trying to find her daughter who was caught up in the rioting during the first days of apartheid and is now missing.
Both points of view were equally interesting and extremely well written. I felt that I could understand some of what Beauty might feel being a mom myself, but of course nothing would equal the things that she experiences and the truths that she discovers. Robin鈥檚 point of view is at times very sad and at other times she is enveloped in the kindness of so many peripheral characters who step up to 鈥渕other鈥� Robin. There are many wonderful characters including the Goldman鈥檚, a couple who have helped to smuggle Jews out of troubled areas and a homosexual couple who loved to host parties but had a soft spot in their hearts for Robin. There is even a social worker, Wilhelmina, who is assigned to make sure that Robin is being cared for properly, this character showed so much growth during the story.
This is also a coming of age book for Robin and she has to 鈥渦nlearn鈥� many of the things she had been taught by her parents and friends. The Afrikaners, including her parents, were united in their hatred of Jews, blacks and homosexuals. Through her relationships that revolve around Edith and her apartment she meets Jews and homosexuals and Beauty, her live in caretaker, who is black. Both Robin and Beauty find a love growing between each other that seems surprising to both of them.
I am making this book sound much simpler than it is. It is rich in beautiful prose and well developed characters. It is atmospheric in the description of the riots, destruction and loss of life during Apartheid. It is multi-layered and just a wonderful experience to read!
This is a great book and I will look forward to what this brilliant author has to write next.
July 2, 2022
Update: July 2022. I finished this book 2 months ago and I still find myself thinking about it. Today I was asked what my favorite book lately and this was the first one that popped in my head. I went back and read some other people鈥檚 reviews and was reminded of how great this book was to me.
1970鈥檚 South Africa- a scary and oppressive place to be as a person with the 鈥渨rong鈥� color skin or even a person with the 鈥渞ight color鈥� skin but the the 鈥渨rong鈥� morals and ethics, or loving the 鈥渨rong鈥� people. The laws of apartheid were so ugly and evil- I have always known this, but reading this helped me to understand even more details about it.
The 1976 Soweto uprising is how the story of 10 year old Robin and 50 year old Beauty starts. They are very different people from very different circumstances and you will get to know them through the chapters that are written from each of their points of view. They will come together with the help of a very special lady called 鈥淭he White Angel鈥� and they will slowly become each other鈥檚 family as the story is told.
If you鈥檙e looking for a book that you will enjoy for the story, and the characters, and the writing- this is it.
If you鈥檙e looking for a book to open your heart and mind - this is it.
1970鈥檚 South Africa- a scary and oppressive place to be as a person with the 鈥渨rong鈥� color skin or even a person with the 鈥渞ight color鈥� skin but the the 鈥渨rong鈥� morals and ethics, or loving the 鈥渨rong鈥� people. The laws of apartheid were so ugly and evil- I have always known this, but reading this helped me to understand even more details about it.
The 1976 Soweto uprising is how the story of 10 year old Robin and 50 year old Beauty starts. They are very different people from very different circumstances and you will get to know them through the chapters that are written from each of their points of view. They will come together with the help of a very special lady called 鈥淭he White Angel鈥� and they will slowly become each other鈥檚 family as the story is told.
If you鈥檙e looking for a book that you will enjoy for the story, and the characters, and the writing- this is it.
If you鈥檙e looking for a book to open your heart and mind - this is it.
July 18, 2019
I've read this book more than a dozen times. Probably closer to three dozen times. And I have to say... I think it's not without its charm ;-)
This review from Boswell Book Company is one of my favourites:
"It is better than (The Help or The Secret Life of Bees) because it has a lot of sensitivity reading and is aware of what the moment is," Goldin says. "This is not a white savior narrative, this is about two people, and if anyone makes mistakes, it is the little girl."
(The five star review is meant to be a joke 馃槈)
This review from Boswell Book Company is one of my favourites:
"It is better than (The Help or The Secret Life of Bees) because it has a lot of sensitivity reading and is aware of what the moment is," Goldin says. "This is not a white savior narrative, this is about two people, and if anyone makes mistakes, it is the little girl."
(The five star review is meant to be a joke 馃槈)
March 23, 2023
笑褟 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟 锌褉芯 斜邪褌褜泻褨胁 褌邪 写褨褌械泄, 斜褨谢懈褏 褌邪 褔芯褉薪懈褏, 褌褉邪胁屑芯胁邪薪懈褏 褌邪 褌懈褏, 褏褌芯 褌邪泻 锌褉邪谐薪械 谢褞斜懈褌懈 泄 芯褌褉懈屑褍胁邪褌懈 谢褞斜芯胁. 袙芯薪邪 锌械褉械薪芯褋懈褌褜 薪邪褋 褍 袩袗袪 1970-褏 褨 褟褋泻褉邪胁芯 蟹芯斜褉邪卸褍褦 卸懈褌褌褟 褉褨蟹薪懈褏 屑械褕泻邪薪褑褨胁 褑褨褦褩 泻褉邪褩薪懈. 小锌械褉褕褍 褑械 褌邪泻邪 斜芯谢褞褔邪, 谐薪褨褌褞褔邪 泻薪懈卸泻邪, 邪谢械 锌芯褌褨屑 胁褋械 卸 褨 褋胁褨褌谢邪 褌械卸, 屑械谢芯写褉邪屑邪褌懈褔薪邪 褨 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褌褉芯褕泻懈 褋屑褨褕薪邪. 孝褍褌 泻谢邪褋薪芯 芯锌懈褋邪薪械 褋锌褨谢泻褍胁邪薪薪褟 写褨褌械泄 薪邪 屑械卸褨 蟹 锌褨写谢褨褌泻芯胁懈屑 胁褨泻芯屑. 袪芯屑邪薪 写芯斜褉械 锌褉芯锌懈褋邪薪懈泄 褨 胁褨写 薪褜芯谐芯 胁邪卸泻芯 胁褨写褨褉胁邪褌懈褋褟. 笑械 屑褨谐 斜懈 斜褍褌懈 谐邪褉薪懈泄 褎褨谢褜屑 褔懈 褋械褉褨邪谢.
June 26, 2017
3 1/2 stars
Just before starting this book I thought that the publishers really should have released this book on 16 June, which is Youth Day in South Africa, commemorating the Soweto Uprising. However now that I am done I realise that the book didn鈥檛 really focus on this event, but mostly used it as a point of reference for the story.
There are two narrators, Beauty, a Xhosa school teacher who comes to Johannesburg looking for her daughter who participated in the Soweto protests. She later finds out that not only did Nomsa participate in this fateful march but she was one of the leaders.
Casting one of the narrators as a child adds the feeling of innocence in a country where white people were anything but innocent. Robin is a 9-year-old white girl living with her sister Cat and parents in a mining community in Boksburg. When her parents get brutally killed on the night of 16 June her whole life unravels.
I found Beauty鈥檚 narrative wonderful, engaging and poignant. Describing the difficult choices a mother must make in a country that does not allow her to keep her family together.
Robin鈥檚 story also had some touching moments but her part of the narration was mostly used to create humour.
For some reason, I expected this to be a more serious book, perhaps because of the time period chosen. The Soweto uprising and Umkonto we Sizwe was a turbulent time in SA for all races.
I live in Johannesburg and the antics that Robin got up to towards the end of the story is not only very improbable but borders on the ridiculous. Because of this the story lost a star from me. BUT if you go into this story wanting to learn a little about this period in SA with the understanding that this is meant to be a feel-good tale then I think you will enjoy it.
This author has undeniable talent and I will most definitely read her next book.
Expected publish date 11 July 2017
March 30, 2018
A TRUE GEM! Highly recommend!
A beautifully written novel about apartheid 鈥� tragedy. racism + injustice. survival.
I love that magically somehow the author鈥檚 writing is entertaining and beautiful while speaking on this subject.
Set in 1970鈥檚 apartheid-era South Africa.. this is the story of Robin Conrad, a 10 year old white child and Beauty Mbali, a black mother whom (after the Soweto student uprising) meet under extreme circumstance + loss. They face heartbreaking challenges while seeking answers during those turbulent times, forming a loving and emotional bond to one another. I enjoyed the excellent secondary characters that help pull this story together. Unputdownable so grab the Kleenex and be ready to sit a spell!
A 5 Star EYE-OPENER for me. Born A Crime would be a fantastic companion to this book.
A beautifully written novel about apartheid 鈥� tragedy. racism + injustice. survival.
I love that magically somehow the author鈥檚 writing is entertaining and beautiful while speaking on this subject.
Set in 1970鈥檚 apartheid-era South Africa.. this is the story of Robin Conrad, a 10 year old white child and Beauty Mbali, a black mother whom (after the Soweto student uprising) meet under extreme circumstance + loss. They face heartbreaking challenges while seeking answers during those turbulent times, forming a loving and emotional bond to one another. I enjoyed the excellent secondary characters that help pull this story together. Unputdownable so grab the Kleenex and be ready to sit a spell!
A 5 Star EYE-OPENER for me. Born A Crime would be a fantastic companion to this book.
September 2, 2019
[3.4] Set in South Africa, the story of a 10 year old white girl and an Xhosa school teacher is excellent at times. I was engrossed in Beauty's search for her daughter and appreciated learning about the Soweto uprising. Robin is a less convincing character - her voice fluctuated from adult to child and I felt detached from her. The ending is nicely wrapped up but too improbable to be comforting.
What I would have loved to read is a novel with the voices of mother and daughter - Beauty and Nomsa. Marais hinted at the contradictions Nomsa was facing in her fight for justice and their two journeys would be a fascinating juxtaposition.
What I would have loved to read is a novel with the voices of mother and daughter - Beauty and Nomsa. Marais hinted at the contradictions Nomsa was facing in her fight for justice and their two journeys would be a fascinating juxtaposition.
January 5, 2017
Every now and again, a book comes along and crawls under your skin, burrows into your heart and hibernates with you for weeks. This was one of those books for me. This stunning debut novel by South African-born author Bianca Marais is set in South Africa, during the devastating Apartheid regime. Expertly narrated through the perspectives of two characters from different worlds, the story unfolds with lightning pace and is brought to life with heart-wrenching emotion. Marais perfectly captures a child鈥檚 na茂ve experience of the effects of Apartheid and juxtaposes this against the wounded yet resilient perspective of an adult affected by the atrocities of the time. As they work on picking up the pieces of their broken lives, Robin and Beauty forge an unusual and touching bond, and as their characters evolve, so does our understanding of the events unfolding against the backdrop of a horrific time in South Africa鈥檚 history. Sadness and tension are expertly offset by humor, which is interwoven throughout this complex tapestry, making it all the more readable and relatable. Unforgettable characters and eloquent prose manage to bring to life South Africa鈥檚 rich landscape and resilient and brave people. If you read one book this year, it has to be Hum If You Don鈥檛 Know the Words.
July 3, 2017
"Night settles swiftly. If you are vigilant, and not prone to distractions, you can almost feel the very moment daylight slips through your fingers and leaves you clutching the inky sap that is the sub-Saharan night. It is a sharp exhalation at the closing of day, a sigh of relief." That is South Africa. Unfortunately, South Africa could also be described during Apartheid as: "There is a river of blood in the street and the children are floating in it. They lie in unnatural shapes, limbs bent at awkward angles. Some of them are face-down, drowning, while others lie on their backs gazing up at the sky; they are human debris swept along in a flood of distraction."
This was a moving story told from the alternating points of view of two South Africans in 1976/7 who were trying to maintain their families. Robin Conrad was a nine year old white girl whose parents were killed in Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa by some black men after a peaceful student demonstration turned into a riot. Robin was taken in by her aunt Edith who was her only relative. Edith was a flight attendant who did not easily give up her child-free life. Beauty Mbali was a black 49 year old teacher who had to leave her two young sons, Luxolo and Khwezi, behind to try to rescue her teenaged daughter, Nomsa, in Johannesburg where she had gone to be educated in Soweto. Nomsa disappeared after the riots and Beauty refused to go home until she found her. Beauty didn't have permission to be in Johannesburg and didn't have the proper identity papers, so she needed to find work taking care of Robin while Edith traveled.
I liked learning a little about life in South Africa during Apartheid. The Afrikaners had not gotten over losing the Boer War to the British, who had imprisoned Afrikaners in concentration camps. The British and Afrikaners may not have liked each other very much, but they were united in their hatred of blacks, Jews and homosexuals. As Robin spent time with Edith and Beauty she learned that blacks, Jews and homosexuals are actually human beings too, which seems to have been a difficult concept for most South Africans.
The chapters from the point of view of Beauty seemed slightly more realistic as she risked her life to relentlessly search for her daughter and at the same time developed a loving relationship with Robin. The Robin chapters were most believable when they dealt with her grief, loneliness, fears and love of Beauty. They were less believable when she turned into a miniature Nancy Drew and carried out her own investigations. Overall however, I really liked these characters, so much so that I want to know what happened to them after the book ended.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a moving story told from the alternating points of view of two South Africans in 1976/7 who were trying to maintain their families. Robin Conrad was a nine year old white girl whose parents were killed in Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa by some black men after a peaceful student demonstration turned into a riot. Robin was taken in by her aunt Edith who was her only relative. Edith was a flight attendant who did not easily give up her child-free life. Beauty Mbali was a black 49 year old teacher who had to leave her two young sons, Luxolo and Khwezi, behind to try to rescue her teenaged daughter, Nomsa, in Johannesburg where she had gone to be educated in Soweto. Nomsa disappeared after the riots and Beauty refused to go home until she found her. Beauty didn't have permission to be in Johannesburg and didn't have the proper identity papers, so she needed to find work taking care of Robin while Edith traveled.
I liked learning a little about life in South Africa during Apartheid. The Afrikaners had not gotten over losing the Boer War to the British, who had imprisoned Afrikaners in concentration camps. The British and Afrikaners may not have liked each other very much, but they were united in their hatred of blacks, Jews and homosexuals. As Robin spent time with Edith and Beauty she learned that blacks, Jews and homosexuals are actually human beings too, which seems to have been a difficult concept for most South Africans.
The chapters from the point of view of Beauty seemed slightly more realistic as she risked her life to relentlessly search for her daughter and at the same time developed a loving relationship with Robin. The Robin chapters were most believable when they dealt with her grief, loneliness, fears and love of Beauty. They were less believable when she turned into a miniature Nancy Drew and carried out her own investigations. Overall however, I really liked these characters, so much so that I want to know what happened to them after the book ended.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
December 6, 2017
Three things I loved about this book:
1. The cover design- absolutely in love with it.
2. The title- I love a good book title and this one really speaks to me and how I try to approach life.
3. Where it was set- in South Africa. I have a fascination with this country so reading a story set there.
As you can see, I really wanted to love this book but it felt short in certain areas for me. The characters Beauty and Robin were very colourful. I loved how the author portrayed them as strong and brave women. However, I felt a lot was lacking in terms of the focus of the plot, too much was happening and too fast. I would have loved to read novel that was about Beauty, how she came to be a teacher and what her sons were like.
At certain points I questioned Robin's voice which fluctuated between a 10 year old's voice and a 25 year old voice. There is also the ending which I felt was entirely too rushed, very unbelievable and at some points eye-rolling. The author really lost me at the last 100 pages.
I must say, this was a good debut and I am looking forward to Marais's sophomore work.
1. The cover design- absolutely in love with it.
2. The title- I love a good book title and this one really speaks to me and how I try to approach life.
3. Where it was set- in South Africa. I have a fascination with this country so reading a story set there.
As you can see, I really wanted to love this book but it felt short in certain areas for me. The characters Beauty and Robin were very colourful. I loved how the author portrayed them as strong and brave women. However, I felt a lot was lacking in terms of the focus of the plot, too much was happening and too fast. I would have loved to read novel that was about Beauty, how she came to be a teacher and what her sons were like.
At certain points I questioned Robin's voice which fluctuated between a 10 year old's voice and a 25 year old voice. There is also the ending which I felt was entirely too rushed, very unbelievable and at some points eye-rolling. The author really lost me at the last 100 pages.
I must say, this was a good debut and I am looking forward to Marais's sophomore work.
July 24, 2023
I finished this novel in a day. A beautiful woven story full of tenderness, suspense and quick-wit that will have you on the edge of tears one moment and dabbing them away from laughter the next. A refreshing bright and thoughtful debut.
January 10, 2020
Un libro que ambientado en Sud谩frica, en pleno r茅gimen del apartheid y las revueltas estudiantiles de finales de los 70 en Johannesburgo, que nos relata la relaci贸n entre las dos protagonistas, narrada en primera persona, a trav茅s de sus voces: una ni帽a blanca de nueve a帽os, que acaba de perder a sus padres y una mujer negra de cincuenta, que busca a su hija.
Dos personas que por las circunstancias de la vida acaban juntas creando unos fuertes lazos afectivos, rompiendo las grandes barreras que hab铆a entre estos dos mundos en aquellos a帽os.
Una b煤squeda, una superaci贸n, un proceso de adaptaci贸n y maduraci贸n. Un canto emotivo a la esperanza, a la tolerancia, a la igualdad.
Me quedo con las frases puestas en la boca de los ni帽os, que reflejan desde su inocencia hasta la madurez en un determinado momento:
"-驴Qu茅 es un fascista?
- No estoy seguro. Creo que es una rata o algo as铆. Mi padre odia las ratas."
"- Hazte tu propio s谩ndwich, guapo. No soy tu concubina, 驴sabes?
- 驴Qu茅 es una concubina?
....
- Es un animalillo que dispara p煤as a la gente. Todo el mundo lo sabe.
- Oh."
"Estaba muda. No sab铆a qu茅 decir en un mundo donde se odiaba y atacaba a la gente por no ser del color adecuado, no hablar el idioma adecuado, no rezar al dios adecuado o no amar a la gente adecuada.. "
Es un libro que al principio solo me parec铆a "entretenido" y me ha ido gustando un poco m谩s conforme avanzaba en su lectura.
Valoraci贸n: 7,5/10
Lectura: Enero 2020
Dos personas que por las circunstancias de la vida acaban juntas creando unos fuertes lazos afectivos, rompiendo las grandes barreras que hab铆a entre estos dos mundos en aquellos a帽os.
Una b煤squeda, una superaci贸n, un proceso de adaptaci贸n y maduraci贸n. Un canto emotivo a la esperanza, a la tolerancia, a la igualdad.
Me quedo con las frases puestas en la boca de los ni帽os, que reflejan desde su inocencia hasta la madurez en un determinado momento:
"-驴Qu茅 es un fascista?
- No estoy seguro. Creo que es una rata o algo as铆. Mi padre odia las ratas."
"- Hazte tu propio s谩ndwich, guapo. No soy tu concubina, 驴sabes?
- 驴Qu茅 es una concubina?
....
- Es un animalillo que dispara p煤as a la gente. Todo el mundo lo sabe.
- Oh."
"Estaba muda. No sab铆a qu茅 decir en un mundo donde se odiaba y atacaba a la gente por no ser del color adecuado, no hablar el idioma adecuado, no rezar al dios adecuado o no amar a la gente adecuada.. "
Es un libro que al principio solo me parec铆a "entretenido" y me ha ido gustando un poco m谩s conforme avanzaba en su lectura.
Valoraci贸n: 7,5/10
Lectura: Enero 2020
August 28, 2020
I鈥檓 humming because I have no words. This book is simply amazing - just pick it up.
February 5, 2017
It's been quite a while since I developed a crush for a book like I did with Marais' debut. Probably not since The Help, or Little Bee, or Secret Life of Bees... Hum If You Don't Know the Words was just the reminder I needed that in the midst of hate and chaos, simple acts of love and kindness at the personal level will turn the tide. How relevant and reassuring given the times we find ourselves in today.
The characters are moving, their arcs of transformation beautifully crafted from beginning to end, each so unique but facing struggles that make them entirely relatable. I could see myself in people that are nothing like me. And now I must visit South Africa, for it too became a character jumping from the pages with its vivid contrasts and cultures.
This is already on my bookclub's list for 2017, and since there are 11 of us, it's very rare that we ever have a unanimous view. But I am sure this will be a hit for all of us -- there are precocious moments of hilarity, heart-wrenching moments of loss and grief, redemptive moments of truth and light, and everything in between.
It's hard to believe this is Marais' first novel, but for certain it won't be her last. I am already waiting for a sequel so I can follow the rest of this compelling story!
The characters are moving, their arcs of transformation beautifully crafted from beginning to end, each so unique but facing struggles that make them entirely relatable. I could see myself in people that are nothing like me. And now I must visit South Africa, for it too became a character jumping from the pages with its vivid contrasts and cultures.
This is already on my bookclub's list for 2017, and since there are 11 of us, it's very rare that we ever have a unanimous view. But I am sure this will be a hit for all of us -- there are precocious moments of hilarity, heart-wrenching moments of loss and grief, redemptive moments of truth and light, and everything in between.
It's hard to believe this is Marais' first novel, but for certain it won't be her last. I am already waiting for a sequel so I can follow the rest of this compelling story!
March 13, 2017
Just finished "HUM IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE WORDS" and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved the title; how many times have I heard that growing up in a church choir and music classes at school? And, for the book where language played a huge role, it had a special meaning.
The introduction to Robin and Beauty in the first 2 chapters captivated this reader. Robin in C 1 reminded me of Scout in To Kill a Mocking Bird, but she quickly became herself. The author does a remarkable job of painting portraits of her characters--I could just see and hear them.
It is a good story, dark but some wonderful humour.
The author has accomplished something remarkable; a fast moving plot that captures so many aspects of SA society and humanity at large, and is entertaining. I can see the film rights being picked up because it would make a good movie with the right director and cast. The author foreshadows "another story for another time" at the end of the book; I hope she is writing a sequel.
The introduction to Robin and Beauty in the first 2 chapters captivated this reader. Robin in C 1 reminded me of Scout in To Kill a Mocking Bird, but she quickly became herself. The author does a remarkable job of painting portraits of her characters--I could just see and hear them.
It is a good story, dark but some wonderful humour.
The author has accomplished something remarkable; a fast moving plot that captures so many aspects of SA society and humanity at large, and is entertaining. I can see the film rights being picked up because it would make a good movie with the right director and cast. The author foreshadows "another story for another time" at the end of the book; I hope she is writing a sequel.
May 24, 2022
Recommended to me by a friend who started to read more during Covid. Having never heard of this author or her books before I had no idea what to expect.
What a grand surprise this was for me! Oh my! I love the writing style 鈥� so easy to read.
1976/77 South Africa 鈥� apartheid is the law of the land.
Nine year old Robin鈥檚 English parents have been murdered and her black maid with whom she had a close bond has taken off in fear. Robin must now live with her single working air hostess aunt who is not equipped to care for a child.
Beauty is an educated black woman, a teacher, whose daughter has left home to go to school but got herself involved in the Soweto Uprising and is now missing. Beauty leaves her village to search for her daughter but has little success.
Fate or something like it have brought these two together making for a very emotional journey as Robin learns that what she has been told about black people all her life is rubbish and Beauty finds that there are white people who can be trusted.
I have to mention my complete excitement finding a reference to 鈥淪ugar Man鈥� Rodriguez. (Pg.157) If you don鈥檛 know who that is you have to look it up!!
Hate of an entire group of people is born of ignorance and it is blasphemy to claim it has anything to do with religion 鈥� when I read crap like this which was spoken by the minister at the funeral of Robin鈥檚 parents: 鈥淣ow, the bible tells us very clearly that we whites are the blessed descendants of Japhet and the blacks are the cursed descendants of Ham. They are the 鈥榣owest of slaves鈥�.鈥� (Pg.132) I can鈥檛 help but wonder what hope is there for the human race???
I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved Robin鈥檚 9-year old voice. And I can鈥檛 wait to read the next book by this author: 鈥淚f you want to make God laugh鈥�.
What a grand surprise this was for me! Oh my! I love the writing style 鈥� so easy to read.
1976/77 South Africa 鈥� apartheid is the law of the land.
Nine year old Robin鈥檚 English parents have been murdered and her black maid with whom she had a close bond has taken off in fear. Robin must now live with her single working air hostess aunt who is not equipped to care for a child.
Beauty is an educated black woman, a teacher, whose daughter has left home to go to school but got herself involved in the Soweto Uprising and is now missing. Beauty leaves her village to search for her daughter but has little success.
Fate or something like it have brought these two together making for a very emotional journey as Robin learns that what she has been told about black people all her life is rubbish and Beauty finds that there are white people who can be trusted.
I have to mention my complete excitement finding a reference to 鈥淪ugar Man鈥� Rodriguez. (Pg.157) If you don鈥檛 know who that is you have to look it up!!
Hate of an entire group of people is born of ignorance and it is blasphemy to claim it has anything to do with religion 鈥� when I read crap like this which was spoken by the minister at the funeral of Robin鈥檚 parents: 鈥淣ow, the bible tells us very clearly that we whites are the blessed descendants of Japhet and the blacks are the cursed descendants of Ham. They are the 鈥榣owest of slaves鈥�.鈥� (Pg.132) I can鈥檛 help but wonder what hope is there for the human race???
I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved Robin鈥檚 9-year old voice. And I can鈥檛 wait to read the next book by this author: 鈥淚f you want to make God laugh鈥�.
June 11, 2018
I had the pleasure of meeting at a book event I attended in Vermont. She was a fill in author as one of the others had to cancel due to illness. She was a wonderful addition & her story & her book where captivating.
The book is told in 2 voices, one being Robin, a nine year old privileged, sheltered white child who lives in Johannesburg with her family....she is precocious & at this young age so is only exposed to the life her family lives & only knows what she hears & sees in her small world.
The other voice is from Beauty, a black teacher who lives in Transkei....she must travel to Soweto to check in on her high school aged daughter who seems to be in some type of trouble.
Things take a turn for the worse for both of these people on the day of the student uprising in Soweto....they come together in a way that they never would otherwise & we see how this child learns so much in a year & we follow Robin & Beauty as they learn from each other & from others around them.
I know very little about apartheid & this historical fiction only gives a small snippet but after hearing Bianca's own words talking about her childhood in South Africa & reading Robin & Beauty's words on these pages, I want to read more....
A wonderful debut book & I look forward to more!
The book is told in 2 voices, one being Robin, a nine year old privileged, sheltered white child who lives in Johannesburg with her family....she is precocious & at this young age so is only exposed to the life her family lives & only knows what she hears & sees in her small world.
The other voice is from Beauty, a black teacher who lives in Transkei....she must travel to Soweto to check in on her high school aged daughter who seems to be in some type of trouble.
Things take a turn for the worse for both of these people on the day of the student uprising in Soweto....they come together in a way that they never would otherwise & we see how this child learns so much in a year & we follow Robin & Beauty as they learn from each other & from others around them.
I know very little about apartheid & this historical fiction only gives a small snippet but after hearing Bianca's own words talking about her childhood in South Africa & reading Robin & Beauty's words on these pages, I want to read more....
A wonderful debut book & I look forward to more!
July 25, 2019
Un libro simplemente maravilloso, emotivo, que nos transporta a un mundo en blanco y negro. Un mundo, Sud谩frica en los a帽os 70, donde los blancos mandan y los negros son poco m谩s que esclavos; donde por ser negro ya eres un criminal, y donde incluso entre los blancos hay clases (no es lo mismo un ingl茅s que un afrik谩ner).
El libro est谩 narrado a dos voces: la de Robin, una ni帽a blanca de 9 a帽os criada en una familia burguesa de ascendencia inglesa, y la de Beauty, una mujer negra de 49 a帽os viuda y madre de tres hijos.
Corre el a帽o 1976 y en el guetto o barrio negro de Soweto, en Johanesburgo, una protesta estudiantil se convierte en una batalla campal entre negros y blancos, estudiantes y polic铆as. Y este hecho que en principio parece ajeno a una ni帽a de 9 a帽os que vive en las afueras y una mujer negra que vive en el campo, es el que cruza sus caminos de una forma que cambia sus vidas.
Es una lectura 谩gil, pero profunda; amena, pero con coraz贸n; emotiva, sin ser un culebr贸n. Muestra parte de la realidad del apartheid sin centrarse en el horror, sino en la esperanza.
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