Vergenoeg

by Marita van der Vyver

Wanneer twee zussen hun stervende moeder in haar laatste dagen thuis verzorgen, worden de drie vrouwen geconfronteerd met zichzelf, elkaar, het verleden en heden.

Genres: Fiction

277 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Marita van der Vyver is the author of a dozen novels, a collection of short stories, two collections of humorous essays, picture books for children, many short stories and essays in anthologies, and regular columns in newspapers and magazines. Her books have been published in English, Dutch and German, and her first novel, published in English as Entertaining Angels, became a bestseller and was translated into twelve languages. She lives in France with her family.

Marita van der Vyver is die skrywer van ’n tiental romans, ’n bundel kortverhale, twee versamelings van humoristiese essays, prenteboeke vir kleuters, talle kortverhale en essays in versamelbundels, en gereelde rubrieke in koerante en tydskrifte. Haar boeke word deurgaans in Engels, Hollands en Duits vertaal na die sukses van haar eerste roman vir volwassenes, Griet skryf ’n sprokie, ’n literêre sensasie wat in sowat ’n dosyn tale gepubliseer is. Twee van haar romans, Die ongelooflike avonture van Hanna Hoekom en Dis koue kos, skat, is verfilm. Sy woon in Frankryk saam met haar familie.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adele, a women diagnosed with cancer and no hope of recovery, decides to spend the last of her remaining days at her home in a small town in Vergenoeg in the Cape with her two estranged middle aged daughters taking care of her.

Adele loves her daughters equally, but differently, and living apart for many years, San and Bella who are opposite in every way, struggles to get along.

San, the eldest daughter, takes up all the responsiblities of the care of their mother, washing her, feeding her, changing her nappies, making sure all her physical needs are met, striving to earn and work for her mother's love and value, yet San steers away from having any open and deep relationship with her mom but at the same time yearns for it so desperately. She appears to be the strong one having everything under control, but as Adele's health starts detoriating and San has to face the reality of her mother dying, she slowly starts losing control of her long supressed issues and emotions and resorts to alcohol to cope.

Bella, the younger free spirited daugher, leaves all the responsibilities for her sister, but has a deeper relationship with their mother, she tends to her mom's emotional needs, sitting with her, talking to her, sleeping next to her and reading out to her from her favorite books.

This is a character driven book, a intimate and poignant story between the dynamic between mother and daughters, each trying to cope with the reality of death.

I loved this book and it's a 5 star rating from me.

[Heidi de Goede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Die boek het my so na my ma laat verlang. Moedig geveg tot die einde.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. It is a very real look at how two sisters cope with the dying and death of their mother, and of their relationship with each other. It is neither morbid nor soppy, but sensitive and perceptive.

[Mareli Thalwitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

'n Boek vir enige vrou wat al ooit werklik 'n ma was - of 'n dogter. "Jou Ma se huis is jou Ma se huis. Anders as enige ander huis op aarde"

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

i found this story of two sisters spending their mother's last few days together incredibly moving and very beautiful.
The relationships between the women in this book, including the mother, her two daughters and her grand daughter, and,to some extent, her domestic helper, were front and centre throughout. Men came and went in support roles but the women were what this book is about.
And as with any long term relationship, things were complicated and messy, and filled with love as much as expectations and disappointments.

A really gorgeous book

[Tamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautifully written book! I am inclined to say that Marita can der Vyver may be my favorite South African author. She writes in a manner that tags at your heart strings. This is the story of very different sisters who have to come sya goodbye to their dying mother... Sad... Beautiful... Ps. Maybe don't read sad bits on a plane w a mask on. Lol. Crying in a mask not cool.

[Heidi Vereecken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moeders en dochters en loslaten … realistisch aangrijpend!

[Kato Brems · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mooi en menselijk familieverhaal over twee dochters en hun stervende moeder. Leest heel vlot. Aanrader.

[Cornel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely storie about two sisters who differ like the sun and the moon. While grieving the loss of their Mother, t 90+