Klawervier

by Annelie Botes

Berg der Verlorenen Roman (German Edition) by Annelie Botes. Translated by Andrea Zapf. 2004 paperback published by Bastei Lubbe. Original Afrikaans-language Klawervier. Text in German.

Genres: Fiction

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Annelie Botes was a South African writer in the Afrikaans language.

Reviews

[Heidi de Goede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heerlike lees gewees.

[Hélène Wessels · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘n Pragtige boek. Die regte hoeveelheid van swaarkry—van beide grootmens- en tienerliefde wat gedurig verander of verdwyn—en net hoe die lewe ‘n mens partykeer rond kan gooi, wys vir die leser hoe die wêreld en die mense wat dit bevat keuses kan maak oor hoe om ‘n mens te behandel; en hoe daai keuses jou uiteindelik voortstu om jou uitkyk en keuses in jóú lewe te bepaal. Dit bevat ook ‘n baie belangrike les wat deur pragtige metafore en ‘n gemaklike skryfstyl wat soos vloeiende water gelees en oorgedra word: dat die lewe absoluut niks vir jou skuld nie, en jy maar jou geluk moet vat, en gou, want jy weet nooit wanneer daar nog geluk sal wees nie. Of dalk bepaal jy sélf wat jou geluk vir jou is en wanneer (een man se skatte is tog weer ‘n ander se rommel).

Jy sal glad nie jou tyd mors as jy Klawervier lees nie.

[Andy – And The Plot Thickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Kammanassie mountains in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, farmer Daniel Verryne knows he's dying. On the farm that he wanted to leave to his son, Schoonraad, he hopes for reconciliation. Years ago, one incident drove them apart, and they've never forgiven one another.

Now, Daniel has asked Schoonraad to lead a forestry expert to a large, untapped virgin woodland, hoping that selling the wood to carpenters will save the ailing farm. Both father and son are equally obstinate and headstrong. Oscillating between past and present, the reader is slowly led through both men's lives until the reason for their fallout becomes clear.

This intergenerational family saga (in English, the book is called 'Mountain of Lost Dreams') is like a punch to the gut. Both main characters, Daniel and Schoonraad, have suffered traumas due to the way they were raised and by circumstances beyond their control. This is a story about a love for the land, not just farming land, but the fynbos and wild animals surrounding it. It's also a story about love, forgiveness, and hope, and the power of nature.

The book has a touch of magic realism to it. Many of the farmworkers believe in practices handed down from their ancestors, the original keepers of the land: the KhoiSan. And as he's dying, Daniel experiences things he'd scoffed at years ago, his wisdom and realisations coming almost too late.

I've never read this author before, but I'll definitely seek out more of her work. This is a book that has left me ruminating and probably will continue to do so for a long time.

[c-grwd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das Buch ist etwas kompliziert geschrieben, da es dauernd zu Zeitsprüngen kommt und so viele Namen vorkommen, dass sie nicht immer schnell zuzuordnen sind.
Ansonsten ist das Buch sehr schön geschrieben und weckt eine Sehnsucht nach der Natur und Frieden.

[Hilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

[Hesme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een van die lekkerste leesboeke wat ek nog gelees het. Ek kon my inleef in die plaaslewe, die blomme en grond ruik, die hartseer en bly voel.