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Milla is the only child of a farming family and set to inherit and work her own farm, she is poised to marry Jak as the book opens. The novel explores the growing tension in their relationship through Milla's diaries and the effect of Milla bringing a four year old girl from a troubled family, who has suffered prolonged abuse, into their childless marriage.
The books chapters alternate between the beginning of their life on the farm and the present, when the the girl Agaat, now a mature woman is ...more
The books chapters alternate between the beginning of their life on the farm and the present, when the the girl Agaat, now a mature woman is ...more
The edition I read (Tafelberg, Cape Town, 2006) suffered from weird accent marks (bétter, héár) so at first I was reluctant to continue reading, but the book grew on me towards the end.
The main narrator, Milla, was an interesting (if not the most admirable) character and her relationship with her adopted daughter/housekeeper Agaat was well described. I found the husband character inconsistent, at times he's evil and controlling, and at times almost a bumbling sitcom husband. It left me wondering ...more
The main narrator, Milla, was an interesting (if not the most admirable) character and her relationship with her adopted daughter/housekeeper Agaat was well described. I found the husband character inconsistent, at times he's evil and controlling, and at times almost a bumbling sitcom husband. It left me wondering ...more
This was an odd - and lengthy - novel. The writing was good; the topics covered were interesting and thought-provoking. For me, the characters were the problem - they were all mean-spirited and cruel in very significant ways. I just really didn't enjoy this one very much.
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Apr 29, 2010
Marieke
rated it
it was amazing
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Sep 05, 2011
Coralee
marked it as to-read
Oct 11, 2011
Julia
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Nov 14, 2011
Jenny (Reading Envy)
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Nov 21, 2011
Rita
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Sarah
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Gaijinmama
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Dec 31, 2011
Kimberly
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Jan 01, 2012
Pragya
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Jan 15, 2012
Stephanie
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Feb 23, 2012
Friederike Knabe
marked it as own-to-read
Aug 08, 2013
Susan
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Mar 18, 2015
Rusalka
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Mar 03, 2020
Rachel
marked it as to-read
