Goodreads & the Power of Readers' Responses

Readers of "The Afrikaner" have been sharing on Goodreads their comments, reviews, ideas, and emotional reactions. You can join the conversation here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42254799-the-afrikaner?ac=1&from_search=true

Here is a selection of excerpts from readers' responses:

"I could write pages and pages on how brilliantly this book depicts transcultural, racial, romantic and magical elements, all woven into an evocative story. But all I will say is if you have lived in South Africa you will love this book, as it will pull at the magic Mama Africa has left in you and if you haven’t ever visited South Africa you will fall in love" (Mommy Reads and Reviews)"

"The Afrikaner is a perfect example for what I need for my Reading around the world challenge. It wasn't just a story, but also a lesson." (Jeannette Nikolova)

"There are layers on layers in The Afrikaner - steeped in the history and current political reality of South Africa, the struggle for balance in power, the faces of the people. Dagnino’s narrative is superb. Her skill at bringing the colours, the smells, the dust of the desert, the curving passes and lush green landscapes to the reader’s mind is expert. The Afrikaner is an exquisite read. I cannot recommend this literary work of excellence highly enough." (Gia)

"Arianna Dagnino brings the Kalahari desert and the native Bushmen alive in vivid narrative. Readers will be fascinated by the Bushmen's spiritual lifestyle and how it touches Zoe in her quest to fight her demons. ‘The Afrikaner’ is an enchanting, superbly written novel that will keep readers wanting for more. A very worthwhile read." (Stefan Vucak)

"This novel is such a combination of the personal, social, cultural, where even international aspects of life become involved. And then it is such a pleasure to read, to follow Zoe’s emotional journey of self and cultural identity. Highly recommended" (Sue)

"The author has chosen to let us experience [the ...] sudden, post-apartheid changes through the eyes and feelings of an Afrikaner, an intelligent and sensitive young woman whose mother tongue is Afrikaans, who is acutely aware of the history that produced this new tribe (a mix of Dutch-origin farmers—"Boers"— French Huguenots and others), and who, like other Afrikaners, is trying to cope with the new demands of other, far more ancient tribes, including Xhosa, Zulu and San." (Geoffrey Fox)

"This is a superb novel, immense in its range and subject. Brave in its use of the science of palaeontology to be a simile for the more recent political struggle in South Africa, its people and tribes that live in that culture and inhabit the land." (Richard)

"This book was truly beautiful, lyrical, and compelling, and this is a story brimming with character and place. Arianna Dagnino writes in a way that is attractive and hard to dismiss. The Afrikaner is quite a reading experience, and one I would gladly recommend to others." (J.D. De Hart)

"The author’s abundant life experience, great imagination, and profound knowledge help create vivid characters and write a terrific novel, which also proves my belief that an author can create fascinating stories beyond her or his own culture" (Zo? S. Roy)

"This story pulls you in from the first page as Zoe’s boyfriend is killed in a senseless act of violence in South Africa. Zoe is dealing with grief and deeply searching in both her personal and professional life. As a paleoanthropologist she is obsessed with discovering human fossils. At the same time she is uncovering family secrets through the reading of her aunts diary. Somehow the author is able to weave all of this together and also give you a glimpse into to the culture, politics and beauty of Africa. Her writing is descriptive and introspective. I found myself underlining and re-reading beautiful sentences throughout the book." (Tonja)

"I loved the setting as well as the sheer brilliance of the main character. Most of all I loved the description of the people and the land." (Lalaa)

"Wise in the ways of paleoanthropology, viticulture, history, and the complex choreography of Boer, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Bushmen, and others, Arianna Dagnino’s novel fulfills its protagonist’s vision of art: ‘Imagination in motion.’" (Steven)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42254799-the-afrikaner?ac=1&from_search=true