Rating: 
Summary: One of the most poetic books I've ever read
Review: This book is filled with poetry and symbolism. The writing style of Alan Paton is truly amazing and each line is rich in metaphor and understanding. Obviously inspired by the country he is writing about you can feel the love he has for Africa in each and every line of this text.As for the story it's a very interesting look at the coming of age in a society that probably doesn't want to come of age yet. It probes deep questions about what right societies have to interfere with each other and what steps can and can't be taken after interference has already occurred. One of the most powerful messages for me was that you can't go back. The natives in the book can not return to the culture that they once had, instead they must look for a way to combine their old culture with the new culture that has been forced upon them. The book seems to give hope that this is possible and makes us realize that culture is stronger than the conditions it lives in and can stand strong against even the heaviest adversity.
Rating:
Summary: Paton's creative and writing genius comes to a fore in Cry..
Review: When first published in 1948 in apartheid South Africa, Cry, the Beloved Country raised more than eyebrows as a powerful book about the power of unity and an author's unflinching hope of a future where segregation no longer exists. The book summoned feelings of pride, optimism, and anticipation of a long-desired goal. But Paton's lyrical, poetic prose is not your typical run-of-the-mill anger evoking story about discrimination. The story is a humanizing experience that evokes feelings of sympathy and understanding, not hatred for a system so blatantly wrong. In Cry, the Beloved Country, readers feel an uncanny connection to three things: the land, an old black rural priest searching in a corrupt city for his son, and an old white rural man confronting the loss of his son. All three aspects of the book are connected by a common thread. And a great thing about the book is that Paton doesn't feel the need to build up to the emotional climax by setting the readers against a well defined antagonist, or even an antagonist at all; on a micro-scale, the story is a moving tribute to man's inherent dignity; on a macro-scale, the themes and plethora of symbols are applied to man's all-too mortal nature. This book is also a can't-miss for any fans of poetry who want to read a good work of prose. As the New Republic puts it, Cry, the Beloved Country is "the greatest novel to emerge out of the tragedy of South Africa, and one of the best novels of our time." I would be inclined to agree.
Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: Patton struck gold with this heartfelt description of oppression and hope, "Cry, The Beloved Country." Inspired by the writing style presented in "The Grapes of Wrath," "Cry" follows a South African priest that leaves his beloved country home to go to Johannesburg to search for his missing son. Along the way, he meets people from all walks of life, and Patton does a masterful job in displaying their mixed emotions: fear, hope etc... The ending would bring any soft-hearted "Joe" to tears. Wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: Discover the beauty of the land (South Africa)
Review: Beautiful imagery, language and chronology. I loved the journey that this book took me on. I read this book very s-l-o-w-l-y to capture every detail to really try and understand. The writing style allows the reader to go through the emotions of the main character (Umfumdisi) on his desperate search to find his son. You will experience the beauty of South Africa, just as you will know the grim of its land. I appreciated the introduction to native words and their meanings, to native traditions and their customs. This was more than a good read, it was an experience. (From the words of Cry, the beloved country - "Go well and stay well").
Rating: 
Summary: Laborious, tedious, and poorly written!
Review: I've put this book down so many times I can't count them....poorly written about a HUGELY important subject and country....a waste of time.
Rating:
Summary: Pure Poetry
Review: I saw the movie made from this book first and I thought nothing could top the beauty of the film. I was wrong, as usual the book is always better than the movie. Alan Paton writes with extrodinary beauty making each sentence into a poetic phrase worth a second glance. He has written a story about racism, prejudice and forgiveness, ideas not often mentioned or acted together. Paton draws his reader into the beauty and magnificence of South Africa without the benefit of pictures, but your mind fills with splendor anyway. The lesson Paton provides is beautiful, to accept others, to betray society's prejudices and to die with a clean and pure heart.
Rating:
Summary: Africa A Legacy
Review: I own this book on audio and it by far one of the best I have ever read. I must read it again as I don't know if Absaloms Child repeated his acts of murder or if it was written in flashbacks, but I was totally rivited to the story every minute.
The story definitely left an impression on me though it was fiction I felt as if it had actually taken place.
Rating:
Summary: Very few books like this
Review: There are so few books out there that manage to blow you away with the story, yet maintain a high standard of writing, combining great storytelling with actual "literature." McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD or Styron's SOPHIE'S CHOICE comes to mind, and those two, along with CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY are the only three I can think of off the top of my head. By far, CRY is my favorite of these three, and the most moving. Not to take anything away from the others, but CRY has a depth and feeling like no other novel I know of. I'm not usually one for an Oprah pick, having avoided the list since I felt she had some lapses in judgment, but CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY is a sure fire hit and not to be missed. Note: There have been several movies made of this, and the 1995 one is probably the best. Also recommended: "Raising Fences" and "Bark of the Dogwood"
Rating: 
Summary: beautifully simple
Review: Browsing through other reviews, I noticed that many criticized Paton's style as "difficult to read" and not well-written. I disagree. The simplicity of the language mirrors the simplicity of its main character. Furthermore, it provided a contrast to the complex emotions, politics etc. and thus served to emphasize their complexity. Like other reviewers, it took me a while to finish the book -- I put it down for a few weeks because it seemed to depressing to finish at the time. When I picked it back up, it took me less than 2 hours to finish, and I'm glad I did.
Rating:
Summary: South Africa at its heart
Review: This book takes you into the heart of South Africa. You see the different perspectives of all those living through some of the same situations. You see the main characters vision of South Africa through the church. You see how poverty can change ones outlook on life in general. Poverty will make one make decisions that they wouldn't normally make. You see how a tragedy can bring neighbors together during a tough time. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to see South Africa through the eyes of South Africa.
| 
