*THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER*LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTIONSHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE'A rhapsodic hymn to Black women' New York Times Book Review'Epic yet intimate' Cosmopolitan'Ferocious and compassionate' Irish TimesFAMILY CAN HOLD YOU TOGETHER. AND TEAR YOU APART.Joan was only a child the last time she visited Memphis. She doesn't remember the bustle of Beale Street or the smell of honeysuckle as she climbs the porch steps to her aunt's house. But when the front door opens, she does remember her cousin Derek. As Joan learns more about her family's past she discovers she's not the only North woman to have experienced great hurt. But she also sees their resilience and courage, how these extraordinary women fry green tomatoes and braid hair and sing all the while.Joan can't change the past, but she can change her future. It's time to find her own song to sing.**** READERS LOVE MEMPHIS ****'I couldn't put it down. You will fall in love with these women''One of the best books I've ever read''Utterly spellbinding''This book has my entire heart''It felt so real - I cried at their pain and smiled at their joy''Intricately plotted, wildly satisfying''Epic, in every sense of the word. It completely blew me away'
CONTRIBUTORS: Tara M StringfellowEAN: 9781529339246COUNTRY: United KingdomPAGES: WEIGHT: 340 gHEIGHT: 232 cm
PUBLISHED BY: John Murray PressDATE PUBLISHED: 2022-04-07CITY: GENRE: FICTION / Family Life / General, FICTION / African American & Black / Women, FICTION / African American & Black / HistoricalWIDTH: 152 cmSPINE:
Book Themes:
Memphis, c 1954 to c 1968 (era of the American Civil Rights Movement), Relating to African American / Black American people, Modern and contemporary fiction: general and literary, Family life fiction
If ever there was a novel that reflects how the past can shape us, and how we can change our own story, it is this stunning debut . . . this beautifully written, inspiring story is full of hope and memorable characters, I fell in love with this book and its characters . . . I can't wait to read more from this author, Written with the grace of a poet, Memphis is as hopeful as it is heartbreaking. I fell in love with this family, from Joan's fierce heart to her grandmother Hazel's determined resilience. Tara Stringfellow will be an author to watch for years to come . . . A stellar debut, In luminous, lyrical prose, Tara Stringfellow sings the song of the North women - and the North men - with wisdom, humor, and deep humanity. Memphis is an American epic, a tribute to life in all of its sorrow and joyful resilience, An evocative, compelling tale . . . Tara M Stringfellow assembles an endearing and unforgettable cast of characters who find strength in vulnerability, safety in art, and liberation in telling the truth. This is a shining, splendid testimony in the vein of Gloria Naylor, Delores Phillips, Ayana Mathis, and Honorée Jeffers
Poet, former attorney, Northwestern University MFA graduate, and semifinalist for the Fulbright Fellowship, Tara M Stringfellow has written for Collective Unrest, Minerva Rising, Jet Fuel Review, Women Arts Quarterly Journal and Apogee Journal, among other publications. After having lived in Okinawa, Ghana, Chicago, Cuba, Spain, Italy, and Washington, D.C., she moved back home to Memphis, where she sits on her porch swing with her hound, Huckleberry, every evening, listening to records and chatting with neighbours.
Format:
*THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER*LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTIONSHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE'A rhapsodic hymn to Black women' New York Times Book Review'Epic yet intimate' Cosmopolitan'Ferocious and compassionate' Irish TimesFAMILY CAN HOLD YOU TOGETHER. AND TEAR YOU APART.Joan was only a child the last time she visited Memphis. She doesn't remember the bustle of Beale Street or the smell of honeysuckle as she climbs the porch steps to her aunt's house. But when the front door opens, she does remember her cousin Derek. As Joan learns more about her family's past she discovers she's not the only North woman to have experienced great hurt. But she also sees their resilience and courage, how these extraordinary women fry green tomatoes and braid hair and sing all the while.Joan can't change the past, but she can change her future. It's time to find her own song to sing.**** READERS LOVE MEMPHIS ****'I couldn't put it down. You will fall in love with these women''One of the best books I've ever read''Utterly spellbinding''This book has my entire heart''It felt so real - I cried at their pain and smiled at their joy''Intricately plotted, wildly satisfying''Epic, in every sense of the word. It completely blew me away'
CONTRIBUTORS: Tara M StringfellowEAN: 9781529339246COUNTRY: United KingdomPAGES: WEIGHT: 340 gHEIGHT: 232 cm
PUBLISHED BY: John Murray PressDATE PUBLISHED: 2022-04-07CITY: GENRE: FICTION / Family Life / General, FICTION / African American & Black / Women, FICTION / African American & Black / HistoricalWIDTH: 152 cmSPINE:
Book Themes:
Memphis, c 1954 to c 1968 (era of the American Civil Rights Movement), Relating to African American / Black American people, Modern and contemporary fiction: general and literary, Family life fiction
Poet, former attorney, Northwestern University MFA graduate, and semifinalist for the Fulbright Fellowship, Tara M Stringfellow has written for Collective Unrest, Minerva Rising, Jet Fuel Review, Women Arts Quarterly Journal and Apogee Journal, among other publications. After having lived in Okinawa, Ghana, Chicago, Cuba, Spain, Italy, and Washington, D.C., she moved back home to Memphis, where she sits on her porch swing with her hound, Huckleberry, every evening, listening to records and chatting with neighbours.
Lani en Elliot balanseer nie en die vonke spat uit die staanspoor
Elliot tree totaal buite karakter op toe hy langs die hoofpad stop om ’n ryloper op te laai. Hy neem haar boonop na sy ouerhuis toe en vind aanhoudend redes om haar binne sy sfeer te hou. Mens sou dit liefde met die eerste opslag wou noem, maar gewilde skrywer, Madelie Human, noem dit Kortpadliefde.
Moenie verwag dat alles glad gaan verloop nie. “Hy en Lani is beslis nie die twee kante van ’n wiskundige vergelyking nie. Hulle balanseer nie. Kyk maar net hoe die vonke tussen hulle van die eerste oomblik af gespat het.” (p.50)
Moet verder nie verwag dat dit die standaard romanse is nie. Daar is baie diepgaande kwessies wat oopgeskryf word, soos ouer-kind verhoudings, beroepsbedrewendheid, soeke na sosiale aansien, selfs ’n cougar wat skaamteloos die mooi verhouding tussen Lani en Elliot verontagsaam. Dwelmsmokkelary, verdagmaking en vooroordeel is dinge wat negatief inwerk op die ontwikkelende verhouding, maar gelukkig gee die skrywer dit in kleinerige porsies deur aan die leser.
Kortpadliefde is die nuutste in ’n lang lys van suksesvolle Romanzas deur Madelie Human, wat uitgegee is deur Lapa.
As ’n gesoute leser van romanses, mag jy dalk dink dat jy ’n goeie idee het oor romantiese liefde. Lees jy egter René van Zyl se nuutste Romanza, Sigeunerliefde, gaan jy ’n nuwe definisie raaklees wat die skrywer gaan leen het uit die opera, Carmen. “Liefde is ’n sigeuner se kind wat hom nie aan wette steur nie en nie gedwing kan word om lief te hê nie.” (p.182)
Karmen se verhaal het my skoon nostalgies gehad. Ek het self die voorreg gehad om Spanje te besoek en goeie herinneringe het kom aanklop: Flamenco-dansers, Gaudi, die Sagrada Familia-basilika, metrotreinritte deur Barcelona, sangria by ‘n kafee, stap met La Rambla langs. Jy hoef egter nie te vrees dat dit gaan lees soos ’n reisbrosjure nie. Die agtergrond is presies dit, die verhoog waarop ’n hartroerende verhaal afspeel van ’n jong vrou wat geteister word deur verwyte, gemis van haar ouers en veroordeling deur haar ouma.
Die straatmusikant wat haar hart kom steel, leer haar ook dat sy nie mag het oor lewe en dood nie. Sy moet die skuldlas laat vaar wat haar dryf om soos ’n sigeuner rond te swerf en nêrens rus te vind nie.
Die skrywer gee subtiele wenke oor sekere elemente van die storie, net genoeg om nie die oomblik te bederf wanneer die kloutjie en die oortjie mekaar vind nie. Hierdie is ’n heel oorspronklike storielyn wat ek geweldig baie geniet het, selfs ’n traan afgevee het.
This is one of the best books I've ever read.
At first, it seems like a simple story about farm animals who rebel against their owner in search of a better life. However, as the story progresses it becomes clear that Orwell is making a much deeper point about politics, corruption and power.
What I found most interesting was how the pigs slowly become just as bad as the humans they replaced. Napoleon’s rise to power feels frustrating to watch, especially because the other animals trust him so easily. Characters like Boxer are particularly memorable because they show how loyalty and hard work can be taken advantage of by those in authority.
Although Animal Farm is based on historical events, its message still feels relevant today. The book highlights how propaganda, misinformation, and blind trust in leaders can allow people to gain and abuse power. Orwell presents these ideas in a way that is easy to understand without making the story feel like a history lesson.
Overall, I really enjoyed Animal Farm. Its simple writing style makes it accessible, but the themes are complex and thought-provoking. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys books that make you think about society and human nature or just people that really enjoy political satire.
Met die pragtige Helene de Kock Inspirasie-omnibus in my hand, het ek vrymoedigheid geneem om by die skrywer aan te klop met ’n paar vrae, wat sy goedgunstiglik beantwoord het.
Ek wou in die eerste plek weet of sy sulke romans wat vir herpublikasie oorweeg word, moet redigeer. Haar antwoord was baie duidelik en goed gemotiveer: sy skaaf nooit aan heruitgawes nie omdat dit goed is dat lesers ’n boek binne sy tydvak lees. “Al beweeg die karakters teen die tydsgees in”, het sy gesê.
Verder wou ek weet of sy, as skrywer, insae het in die keuse van boeke vir ‘n omnibus, waarop sy positief geantwoord het dat sy wel insae het en dit moet goedkeur.
Die produk van hierdie proses is die kombinasie van Kruispad vir Kara, oorspronklik uitgegee in 2018, en Engel op die drumpel, uitgegee in 1999. Daar is nogal heelwat raakpunte tussen hierdie twee romans in die geestelike fiksie genre. Die hoofkarakters in albei is studente aan Tukkies en albei is pratige meisies wat die aandag trek van mansstudente wat sosiale en akademiese aansien geniet. Jannes Conradie en Hein Leroux deel egter ’n swakte: hulle is nie ouens wat erns maak met verhoudings nie.
Liriese taalgebruik en goeie kennis van die Woord asook die gawe om dit toepaslik in die storielyn te verweef, maak van Helene de Kock se boeke iets besonders, sonder om prekerig oor te kom. Haar karakters ly verlies, hulle voer ’n geloofstryd, het baie wroeging, en hulle moet indringend selfondersoek doen alvorens daar uiteindelik oorwinning kom. Vir die romantiese siele is daar ook die belofte van liefde wat oorwin.
Die Inspirasie-omnibus is uitgegee deur Lux Verbi, die geestelike druknaam van Jonathan Ball Uitgewers. Jy sal dit oral in goeie boekwinkels kan opspoor.
