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Claire's Reviews > Agaat
Agaat
by
by
Claire's review
bookshelves: around-the-world, fiction, south-african-literature, translated, summer-of-women-2015
Jun 18, 2015
bookshelves: around-the-world, fiction, south-african-literature, translated, summer-of-women-2015
Milla is the only child of a farming family and set to inherit and work her own farm, she is poised to marry Jak as the book opens. The novel explores the growing tension in their relationship through Milla's diaries and the effect of Milla bringing a four year old girl from a troubled family, who has suffered prolonged abuse, into their childless marriage.
The books chapters alternate between the beginning of their life on the farm and the present, when the the girl Agaat, now a mature woman is caring for Milla as her body shuts down, paralysed, infirm, communicating only through her eyes with that character she supposedly "tamed" who she is now completely dependent on for everything.
Narrated through diary excerpts, an omniscient narrator and with a prologue and epilogue that gives voice to the estranged son; it is a haunting, disturbing read and insight into a way of living, cultural attitudes and the longevity of revenge.
Full review here at .
The books chapters alternate between the beginning of their life on the farm and the present, when the the girl Agaat, now a mature woman is caring for Milla as her body shuts down, paralysed, infirm, communicating only through her eyes with that character she supposedly "tamed" who she is now completely dependent on for everything.
Narrated through diary excerpts, an omniscient narrator and with a prologue and epilogue that gives voice to the estranged son; it is a haunting, disturbing read and insight into a way of living, cultural attitudes and the longevity of revenge.
Full review here at .
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Reading Progress
June 18, 2015
– Shelved
June 18, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 18, 2015
– Shelved as:
around-the-world
June 18, 2015
– Shelved as:
fiction
June 18, 2015
– Shelved as:
south-african-literature
July 26, 2015
– Shelved as:
translated
July 26, 2015
– Shelved as:
summer-of-women-2015
August 18, 2015
–
Started Reading
August 18, 2015
–
56.35%
"A tough life for a woman with farming in her blood, born a woman not a man, the kind that should be a great asset, part of a great team, if the partner is well chosen. And Agaat who sees all, who learns everything but never answers back, knowing it'll all keep. A rough read at times, excrusicating to see how they tolerate it all, the son does well to escape."
page
355
August 20, 2015
–
Finished Reading
