This was disappointing after Claire Keegan's previous little gems. Unlike the earlier works I found this very thin on plot and character. Impossible to say anything about it without giving the whole plot away. Worth reading but nothing special this time.
I loved this historical fiction which is structured with a dual timeline. The first is the largely true historical part which documents the life of Mary Leakey, who joined her husband Louis on archaeological digs in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania in the 1930's and contributed more to his discoveries that was generally acknowledged. The parallel fictional story is set in the 1980's when a young 17 year old girl, recovering from the death of her mum, joins her archaeologist dad in Tanzania where Mary Leakey is still working. The 2 women form a close friendship around their concern for an old cheetah who they are trying to rescue. The descriptions of the African bush are lovely and the way the 2 stories work together makes for an entertaining and heart warming read.
Everyone who has lived in Jo'burg seems to retain a sentimental attachment to it in some way. Ivan V is one of the 'stayers' although he has moved from the now quite volatile Eastern suburbs, to the safer, more affluent North. His observations and memories of the city always make for entertaining and educational reading. He helps us remember what an exciting and extraordinary place it is in spite of its rapid decline and ongoing problems. My only criticism is that I don't know the geography and would have loved a reference map showing the places he is writing about, and even maybe some photo's.
I wish they had obeyed GGM's wishes and not published this unfinished work. It is a collection of 5 stories about a woman who visits her mother's grave on an Island every August and finds a lover for the night. If hadn't known that the author was GGM it might have been more enjoyable as his writing is still fun, colourful and thought provoking. But I felt as disappointed as I do watching Mick Jagger on stage at 80. Such a thin performance compared to his earlier works.
Loved this book - the writing is exquisite. Like the 'The Travelling Cat Chronicles' it is a Japanese book about cats. Just enough magical realism to keep the reader guessing really excites me. And the idea of there being a particular cat to help anyone's emotional journey, made me smile from the first page to the last.