Cry, the Beloved Country (Oprah's Book Club)

Rating:
Summary: fantastic
Review: This book is a must read for anyone interested in the social consequences of racisim.

Rating:
Summary: I haven't read this yet. But something seems to be wrong.
Review: I read in the first few pages that this story was written first in Norway, then in America. I don't understand how an outsider can judge what is going on from the outside without being on the inside.

An addition:

If one does not realize this truth, you will never understand history or world events. A person that is on the outside can never make a correct judgement on what he sees or what he reads. He can say "Oh that's sad" or "Oh that's terrible". But he is never in the position to judge who is right and who is wrong.

This is an example, "A football takes a cheap shot at another player on the opposing team's player, that player on the other team takes a shot back. The referee catches the second player, and gives a fine." This happens all the time in football.

This is the same as making judgements on other nations, other communities, and other races. Make a right judgement.

-Calvin Newman

Rating:
Summary: A road from Ixopo into the hills...
Review: Reverend Stephen Kumalo is a minister in Natal whose sister, Gertrude, and his son, Absalom, have gone to the South African metropolis of Johannesburg to search for a better living. Receiving a letter saying that Gertrude is ill, he travels there to discover that her sickness is a spiritual one: she has become a prostitute. After meeting up with the pastor, Msimangu, he finds that Gertrude is willing to come back to the village with him, taking her son along. Sadly, he finds that Absalom and his brother's son have been accused of killing a man, a white layman of the church and a great activist for native freedom, in a break-in. The father of the accused, Jarvis, meets Kumalo and comes to reconcile. A priest hires a white lawyer for Absalom. He confesses, however, and is sentenced to be hanged, while Kumalo's nephew is declared innocent. All hope seems lost. Defeated, Kumalo decides to return to his village of Ndotsheni. He takes along his son's wife, wed to Absalom in prison, and nephew. Gertrude, however, is nowhere in sight. Returning to Ndotsheni, Kumalo finds a month-long drought is starving the people. Jarvis's grandson is the one who sets up a system, sends an agricultural demonstrator to teach the people farming, and builds a dam to bring water to the village. Jarvis helps reconstruct the church and restore the village, bringing peace and reconciling Kumalo with life.

"Cry, the Beloved Country" is a story of the quest for justice, the search for freedom in an impoverished and oppressive land. Love and forgiveness are themes prevalent to ending the human struggle. One must overcome whatever trials and injustices have been dealt to move on and live. It is in making peace that these two men join to support each other in grief and save a community.

It is beautifully written, in descriptive language, even with Zulu words and the pronunciations in their native tongue. One certainly feels a connection with the trials of Kumalo and his people, because they are about the basic human rights that are struggled for univerally. There is a well-established bond and a deep love for South Africa in Paton's writing that show just how strongly he feels about the reality of the injustice suffered there. It is a work that will outlast us all and continually remind people to strive for freedom. This is a book not simply to read, but truly to be experienced.

Rating:
Summary: Touches the heart
Review: A beautifully written exploration of racial divisions that transports the reader into 1946 South Africa through Paton's vivid descriptions of place and people. Originally written around 1948, it's themes of race, family, injustice, and political division ring as true today throughout our world as they did then. Though this story is set in South Africa, there are people in every country who can find relevance in the issues raised in Cry, The Beloved Country because bigotry continues to find a home in the hearts of many. There are still many in our world who are being treated unjustly due to their skin color, their political beliefs, their religion or lack thereof, or nationality. Reading this books touches the heart and makes one long for a world where our differences no longer divide us but become a way for us to enrich one another's lives.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing
Review: What an amazing book. I read this book in 2 days, not because I had the time, but because I couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend it anyone and everyone. Not only is it a well written book, but a great social commentary on African politics during that time. 5 stars is not enough.