Book Review: Child Of The River by Irma Joubert

Publishers Description

Child Of The River is riveting!

A compelling coming of age story with an unlikely and utterly memorable heroine, Child of the River is a timeless tale of heartbreak and triumph set in South Africa at the dawn of apartheid.

Persomi is young, white, and poor, born the middle child of illiterate sharecroppers on the prosperous Fourie farm in the South African Bushveld. Persomi’s world is extraordinarily small. She has never been to the local village and spends her days absorbed in the rhythms of the natural world around her, escaping the brutality and squalor of her family home through the newspapers and books passed down to her from the main house and through her walks in the nearby mountains.

Persomi’s close relationship with her older brother Gerbrand and her fragile friendship with Boelie Fourie—heir to the Fourie farm and fortune—are her lifeline and her only connection to the outside world. When Gerbrand leaves the farm to fight on the side of the Anglos in WWII and Boelie joins an underground network of Boer nationalists, Persomi’s isolated world is blown wide open. But as her very small world falls apart, bigger dreams become open to her—dreams of an education, a profession, a native country that values justice and equality, and of love. As Persomi navigates the changing world around her—the tragedies of war and the devastating racial strife of her homeland—she finally discovers who she truly is, where she belongs, and why her life—and every life—matters.

The English language publication of Child of the River solidifies Irma Joubert as a unique and powerful voice in historical fiction.

International bestselling author IRMA JOUBERT was a history teacher for 35 years before she began writing fiction. Her stories are known for their deep insight into personal relationships and rich historical detail. She is the author of eight novels and a regular fixture on bestseller lists in The Netherlands and in her native South Africa. She is the winner of the 2010 ATKV Prize for Romance Novels.

My Personal Review

Child Of The River by Irma Joubert and published by Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc) is a wonderful story of perseverance and hope. The author, Irma Joubert has published eight novels to date, one of which I have read (The Girl From The Train) and thoroughly enjoyed. The author's writing is extremely detailed and historically accurate as she uses events from the past to create a canvas for intriguing storylines and endearing characters.

Child Of The River is laid out in an easy to follow format complete with a very helpful glossary of African terms in the beginning and ending with discussion questions at the conclusion of the book. The main character, Persomi's narration is flawless as the reader travels with her throughout three decades of her life. She is raised in a very rundown South African home located in the bushveld. Persomi is surrounded by poverty, dysfunctional family relationships, and conflict. Despite these uncontrollable circumstances, and in fact probably because of them, she manages to become an intelligent, empathetic woman with a strong conviction of the sanctity of life. Her personality draws the reader into her heart of emotions and intelligent logic. Found within the pages of this work are beautiful descriptions of the natural beauty of Persomi's homeland. 

I was not only entertained by this novel, but as with any good historical fiction book, I learned from it. I had no prior knowledge of the post World War II time period as it related to the political climate in South Africa. My eyes were certainly opened to a country in civil unrest and cultural division that was brought about by the segregation of non-European and nonwhite people. Several of the legislative acts that were used to advance this social system, that is referred to as the Apartheid, are seamlessly woven into the action of the story. 

Child Of The River is a riveting book that stirs a compassion and understanding for the delicate balance of the human heart and demands attention to the uniqueness of each life. It draws attention to a time, not so very long ago, when racial tension led to decisions that had devastating consequences. This book has much to offer in terms of educating the reader about the past, present and future. It is definitely a book that I would highly recommend to all readers, but especially those with a special interest in history and sociology. 

Thank you to Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc.) for this review copy of Child Of The River by Irma Joubert. I was not required to write a favorable review, but to simply give an honest opinion of the book.  

 

Book Review: Indigo by Krista Wagner

You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139: 1-2 (NIV)

This book addresses some very important
themes and leaves the reader with a sense
of hope.

Publisher's Description

When emotionally driven Indigo falls for flirtatious Brian, her senior year quickly spirals out of control. Faced with the afflictions of her cruel peers, Indigo is quickly becoming numb to the world, and if she doesn’t start to care about herself soon, she will be dead.

My Personal Review

Indigo by Krista Wagner and published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 10, 2016) is a page turning novel that covers a lot of heavy subjects in a small amount of space. 

This newly published book by Krista Wagner is very consistent with the author's previous works, in that the subject matter is always informational and one of depth and conviction. If it's entertainment you're looking for, you will find it too, as Indigo is a fiction read and is full of surprises. The important lesson to learn about the necessity of making good decisions in life is loud and clear. There is also a prominent message about suffering consequences when we make bad choices. The significance of our relationships with God, family and friends will linger long after the reader has put this work down.

Indigo manages to quickly connect the reader with the main character, Indigo Star Rush. This vibrant deep thinking young lady is in the midst of her senior year at her local high school. As the story progresses, the reader hears the voice of Indigo as she experiences some difficult times with relationships and the roller coaster of emotions that quickly follow. 

Indigo is classified in the Young Adult genre. It reads like a diary and could most certainly help struggling upper teens (16+ due to heavy themes) approach subjects such as bullying, premarital sex, lust, unhealthy family relationships, suicide and insecurity. This novel could potentially open dialogue between a parent and child in situations where conversation has been limited. 

You will definitely be left with a sense of hope for the future upon completion of this book. Psalm 139 came to mind after reading Indigo, as the Lord really does know our every thought. We are never alone in our struggles, because Christ is with us. Another clear point taken from this work, is the powerful reminder that it is our responsibility to treat others with kindness and respect. We never know what careless words or hurtful actions my compound another's suffering.