Country of My Skull : Guilt, Sorrow, and the Limits of Forgiveness in the New South Africa

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Summary: Portrait of change
Review: This book is a portrait painted with words. It depicts people during the clash of their ideologies and has such a dark theme; bringing to living color the violent aspect of a country caught in the fervor during change. It says look what people can do if they think there is a justification for it. There was no simple division of sides. All different races and agendas clashed, often against their own, as South Africa shuddered under the torrent of revolutionary storms. From Antjie Krog's book, sorrow is likely to be embedded directly into the reader's soul. The human toll for South Africa was high, and now history is left to judge the result. I've never been to South Africa, but a dear friend of mine lives there. I find both the book and the country fascinating.

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Summary: The Author's Story Interwoven with that of South Africa
Review: This book is about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa. Krog does not just tell the story of the Commission, but she tells her story of her reaction to the Commission. In this way, the book becomes her story just as it is many other people's stories. I found the Introduction written by Charlayne Hunter-Gault to be informative and interesting. I read this book because I wanted to see different perspectives on South Africa. I did not always agree with Krog's worldviews, but in spite of this, I found the book informative.

Rating:
Summary: The Author's Story Interwoven with that of South Africa
Review: This book is about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa. Krog does not just tell the story of the Commission, but she tells her story of her reaction to the Commission. In this way, the book becomes her story just as it is many other people's stories. I found the Introduction written by Charlayne Hunter-Gault to be informative and interesting. I read this book because I wanted to see different perspectives on South Africa. I did not always agree with Krog's worldviews, but in spite of this, I found the book informative.

Rating:
Summary: catharsis for afrikaners
Review: This book struck me, as an Afrikaner, as a catharsis in itself. It enacts what it describes. It is its own peculiar truth commission for each reader. Foreign readers will not share this special experience, but will be absolutely enthralled by the poetic rendition of what appears to be a struggle to get to grips, in literary terms, with an immense personal experience. There are some very disturbing parts. My criticism is that the self-conscious literary symbolism at times appears to be strained, and to be at odds with the dialogue, or with the dramatic moment. What is essentially brooding cogitation is often presented rather implausibly as natural dialogue. It should be remembered that Krog is a poet. One should read the book as one would a dramatic monologue displaying someone trying to cope with a confused flood of guilt, elation, sadness and hope. And racial shame. The book represents an experience well worth the inevitable depression that will accompany its reading. It is also an extremely successful presentation, in digestible and dramatic format, of a phenomenon that remains crucial to the post-apartheid South African reality. It is, in other words, good history and good journalism as well as good poetry.