The Elusive Moth

by Lettie Viljoen, Ingrid Winterbach, Iris Gouws (Translator)

Karolina Ferreira, an entomologist, goes to a small Free State town to do research on the survival strategies of a rare moth species. During the day, Willie September, a natural healer, introduces Karolina to the mysteries of the drought-stricken veld. At night she is introduced and exposed to the town’s political intrigue and power games, while playing snooker, drinking whisky in the ladies bar, and dancing the tango.

This novel was published originally in Afrikaans under the title, Karolina Ferreira and is reworked and revised here by the author.

Genres: Fiction, South Africa, Africa, Literary Fiction, Contemporary

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

The pseudonym of Ingrid Winterbach.

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good novel, originally written in Afrikaans. In it, the main character is a female entomologist who goes to a small town in South Africa to study a rare moth which is only found in the area. Hence the title of the book.

When she isn't out on the veld studying insects, she spends a lot of her time in the local hotel. There, she drinks in the ladies bar, dances, and plays snooker. She enters into a sexual relationship with one of the men, and interacts with other people living in the town. Two characters die. One of the male characters seems to be able to predict the future to some extent.

So not a lot happens, actually. This certainly is not a novel filled with non-stop action. Far from it. However I still found the novel to be compelling somehow, and enjoyed reading it. The only negative is that there is some repetition. For example, one character is described as being "as sleek as an otter" at least half a dozen times. Which is five times too many.

And this is the 200th book I have read this year!

[Wessel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lettie was zo druk bezig met symboliek in haar boek, dat ze is vergeten om een plot te schrijven

[Oriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am doing some updating for allllll the books I was too lazy / busy to review in 2014. In case that matters to anyone.

This was a spare and soft book about an entomologist in Africa. I grabbed it because I love Three Percent, but I can admit that my knowledge of Africa is limited (to put it kindly). Under the seemingly placid surface of the plot (single lady studying bugs in the Veldt, living at a hotel, meeting people and having sex with some of them), there was a lot of taut racial and political drama nodded at, but I felt like I never quite understood who was who and why they hated each other and which double-cross or takedown I should have seen coming.

Truthfully, three months on, I remember the book only in snippets: new friends having a picnic in the wild; the oppressive heat; a slow seduction; the snooker room in the hotel where all the intrigues and drunken bickering took place; a man killed on the side of the road; a great conflagration. Which sound dramatic in a list like that, but the book moved sloooooowly through them all.

[Joseph Schreiber · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my review please see:
https://roughghosts.wordpress.com/201...

[mippers · Rating 4 out of 5]

languor, torpid
-
3.5
-
i really loved the writing style and erotic-tinge-via-lethargy-and-humidity-throughout but
the payoff at the end was a bit weak
// i rlly know so little about south africa & should learn more //
was hoping for more entomology

[Moushine Zahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novel I read from South African author Ingrid Winterbach. I read a French editition titled "Au cafédu Rendez-vous". The author contrasted the beautiful landscape surrounding a small village filled with unsuspected flora and fauna, which survives extreme weather against the residents of the village and their ugly history and story. The people residing in this small town with a History are at each other's throat due to numerous reasons and their lives end in tragic deaths. The leading character Karolina Ferreira came from the big city to her former native town and is a witness to all this and has her own issues to deal with.

It is easy to read and undestand this book and story, but a bit difficult to summarize it. Each reader will have a different perspective of the story because there are several layers to it.

[Ferris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was elusive in and of itself. Set in South Africa, in transition post-apartheid, an entomologist and a homeopath meet up to gather different knowledge, the survival strategy of an elusive moth species and homeopathic remedy ingredients. Meanwhile, the plot is like a fever dream of violence, sensuality, mysticism, art & science. Man v. Nature. Dream v. Reality. Love v. Hate. Is my opinion of the book eluding you? Well, welcome to the club! I think I thought it a profound story overflowing with symbolism & metaphor. In a couple of months, when I have mulled this book over and over, I will get back to you.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winterbach’s narrative is like a series of images which encapsulate the essence of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s decisive moment. Each scene is depicted with tension, balance and spontaneity, capturing a moment in time. The essence of this moment is revealed, yet its full meaning remains elusive.

I was not surprised to learn that the author is a visual artist. Her work is hyper-visual and full of symbolism. Her descriptions of art are captivating, especially as they mirror the surrounding events. There is so much to this novel, I will be dissecting it for weeks to come. Well done!

[Aaron McQuiston · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Elusive Moth," written in Afrikaans by Ingrid Winterbach, is a small, dusty story about an entomologist, Karolina, whom goes out during the day to do research and by night drinking, dancing, playing snooker, and inadvertently watching the politics of the town. She does this with more observation than action so most of this novel seems a little distant from the action. I enjoyed it, but I was not blown away by the characters or the writing. I feel like it is a good solid book, but not my favorite.

[Heather Ashington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that stays with you. It's a translation from Afrikaans, which seems to result in a particular style that I quite enjoyed. Deserves the awards it's been given.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iets heel anders as wat ek voorheen gelees het. Verseker boek-prys gehalte, maar ongelukkig het die storie heeltemal te stom geeïndig.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange, and lyrical. It reminds me of Herman Charles Bosman, but with more imagery. Could not put it down.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

In hierdie roman vertoef die hoofkarakter, genoemd Karolina Ferreira, 'n tydjie in 'n klein plattelandse dorpie. Sy is 'n amper beskrywingslose karakter - droog en met duistere Freudiaanse verwysings word haar sku wêreld en lewe onthul.

Soos ek díé roman verstaan, handel dit oor die dood - die persoonlike dood word aangespreek maar terselfdetyd is daar 'n wyer suggerasie van samelewingsdood. 'n Roman geskryf nét voor die geboorte van die nuwe bewind in Suid Afrika, kan nie die politiese aspekte ontsnap van telkens nie.

Winterbach (óf Viljoen, haar skuilnaam word nie meer benut nie) probeer om die individu en hul sienings vereenselwig met die wyer konteks - ambisieus, na my siening. Dus vind mens 'n wye verskydenheid karakters wie elk 'n bepaalde rol bevorder in 'n poging om 'n mikrokosmos te skep, wat spesifiek Suid Afrika uitbeeld. Gert Els byvoorbeeld is 'n man wat neem wat hy wil, selfs as die 'wat' grootendeels 'n 'wie' is.

Dit is vreemd dat die swart karakters in die roman so 'n klein rol speel: hul funksie is dikwels gesimboliseer deur gesprekke oor die dood. Byvoorbeeld, 'n uitbeelding van 'n Boedhistiese afgod word omring deur 'n swartheid, wat bedoel was om die vrese van vernietiging wat die dood opbring, 'n letterlike beeld van te maak. Soos meeste mense koester ek vrese oor die ná-dood, of eintlik die gebrek daaraan; terselfdetyd is daar 'n opvatting onder Afrikaners dat ons kultuur, geskiedenis, en taal, soos 'n sieke, aanhoudend aandag benodig. Winterbach, in my siening, gebruik Karolina in só 'n mate dat haar stryd: teen die dood, teen liefde, teen familie, en teen die gebrek aan betekenis van die post-moderne landskap, die Afrikaners as een individu aanspreek as mense met universiële ervarings maar ook unieke bewegings en lewensprobleme.

Sy gee ons nooit 'n oplossing nie, meer van 'n meeting van ons 'zeitgeist' voor 1994. Winterbach se prosa is wonderbaarlik en is amper altyd in pöesieprosavorm, wat sekere lesers kan irriteer - maar ek glo hierdie is een van die stille skatte wat mens in elke letterkunde kan vind.

[Yvette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit is nie jou tipiese roman nie.In die boek besef mens dat verskillende situasies in 'n mens se lewe 'n impak op jou lewe het.Mens se verlede vorm dikwels deel van jou verlede en al probeer mens gebeurtenisse, mense agterlaat kom hulle dikwels na vore in jou drome gedagtes. Karma is belangrik hoe jy ander mense hanteer kom terug na jou.Elke mens is anders en aan een persoon is vele fasette.Mens sal nooit iemand 100% ken en verstaan.

[Chad Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I am the publisher of the book and thus spent approximately two years reading and editing and working on it. So take my review with a grain of salt, or the understanding that I am deeply invested in this text and know it quite well. Also, I would really appreciate it if you would purchase this book, since it would benefit Open Letter directly.

[Tessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did not stand out against other South African literature I've read. Additionally, I spent a lot of my time reading the book wondering where things were going to go. There was a lot of repetitive action and not a lot of plot development. This was translated from Afrikaans and it might be my first book in that category so I stuck with it.

[Krys · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this isn't my normal type of read the book wasn't horrible by any means. Just not my cup of tea. In most parts it held my attention while in others it was kind of slow. I won this in a GoodReads First Reads giveaway.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how a literary style can be the very definition of torpid but still somehow brilliant, but this is it. Probably because it is infused with an underlying sensuality. The combination is a perfect fit to the setting and plot.

[Marike · Rating 5 out of 5]

"So sou ek wou skryf as ek kon," sê sy, "met so min wat oënskynlik gebeur, maar met so 'n geladenheid." (Ingrid Winterbach: Die boek van toeval en toeverlaat p.258)

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow.