Thought-provoking and both heartwarming & a bit sad
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This story is told through the eyes of 11-year old Lily, past childhood but not quite into adulthood, and the consequent rather naïve observations of what is going on around her works extremely well as a story-telling device. Set in a fictitious neighborhood but based on District Six in Cape Town, the background is that of forced removals. However, the context is much wider than that – on the first level of any working-class area anywhere, especially one where “the men” have a tendency towards drunkenness and/or disappearing (and we never find out for sure who Lily’s father is, though this is hinted at), and on a second level one in which the inhabitants often feel helpless to do anything but accept their lot in life (and where those who try to do something are regarded as strange, “not quite one of us”). Lily’s observations of “the Government” as an unfeeling monolith that rides roughshod over the people is reflective of any situation that simply overwhelms its people. Lily occasionally gets glimpses of the “rich world” (here separated by race as well as class), putting her own situation in more context. Only on the third, though most emotional, level is this book a reflection of South Africa itself. Somewhere between a coming-of-age story and the social observations, I found this book deeply rewarding and it was hard to put it down. This was especially welcome after I had been disappointed with “Frieda and Min” by the same author. This book won a number of prizes, and is highly recommended.
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A highly moving acount of a young girls life.
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A moving story concerning Lily and her family and their determination to keep their values aswell as their home.
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United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada