2023 Book Review #15:The Grass is Singing

 

I've heard of this author and she won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2007 but I had never read this book.  I'm glad I saw it reviewed on Goodreads and that my library had a copy.  It's an important topic. 

STORY SUMMARY

Mary Turner is the wife of Dick Turner.  She went from being a confident, single, independent working woman to a depressed and frustrated one.  Her husband is an unsuccessful farmer in South Africa.  Little by little, over the time span of 6 years, the boredom of those years and the farm work slowly poison their relationship and Mary's despair progresses until the fateful arrival of virile and mysterious black servant named Moses. Mary and Moses are locked in anguish.....master and slave.  They are trapped in a web of  attraction that starts to mount but also a web of revulsion (more on Mary's part). Mary did not have an easy or healthy childhood, watching her parents marriage struggle as well as their racism against the natives of South Africa, her mother's sharp tongue and her father's alcoholism.  She soon evolves into her mother.   How  does she end up murdered? and who murdered her?

MY THOUGHTS

This book deals with some tough topics: the struggle of poor white people in South Africa in a district where others are wealthy; masters vs slaves (although they're called servants); racial strife; physical and emotional abuse/neglect; failed marriage; the whites fascination/obsession over sex; black power fear; white supremacy; femininity; intimacy vs hatred. 

The setting is Southern Rhodesia which today is known as South Africa, under British rule. In England, everything is understood in terms of class.  In South Africa, everything is understood in terms of race. This is a story (basically) of human relationships in the midst of horrible racism. It is set during the 1940s. 

I liked that the book started out with the murder of Mary Turner and then it went back in time to develop her character and life story. 

I found the book fascinating and depressing all at the same time. It's a heavy topic.  And a sad one. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this an 8.