Lying Perfectly Still

by Laura Fish

A gripping story of exploitation and cultural collision...

Following the shocking death of her father, Koliwe leaves her life in Oxford behind when she travels to AIDS-ravaged Eswatini to take a job as an aid worker. But the Southern Africa she encounters is a far cry from the stories her late artist father told.

As she becomes enmeshed with Thandi, a local girl hiding a disturbing past, Koliwe feels increasingly split between her English identity and her rediscovered African roots as Xolile.

When Thandi goes missing, Koliwe's search for the truth leads her deep into the mountains, where the harsh realities of wealth and poverty, tradition and modernity, clash.

Harrowing yet richly evocative, Lying Perfectly Still provides an insider's perspective on the horrors enabled by parts of the international aid community. As it gives voice to the silenced, this compelling novel forces Koliwe to confront both the complexities of her own past and the exploitations occurring under the guise of humanitarianism.

A powerful exploration of cultural identity, family secrets, and hard truths being overlooked, Lying Perfectly Still is both a propulsive page-turner and a searing examination of privilege and survival in the developing world.

Genres: Fiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2024

Reviews

[Livvy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a novel. My heart absolutely shattered for our main character over and over again. The writing style was just brilliant and the story left me absolutely broken.
The book tackled a lot of topics I have very little prior knowledge or understanding of and has been incredibly thought provoking. Definitely look up the trigger warnings before reading and take care of yourself as this was harrowing to read.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discover the locations in the novel here



A powerful and thought-provoking read. For a small book, it really packs a punch. It’s the literary equivalent of David and Goliath to be honest. What really moved me and challenged me as a reader (always a good thing) was the range of subjects and themes I haven’t really come across in many novels. Certainly not in this way and written about with such care and attention. Despite the political background of a country tucked away in Southern Africa, this is essentially a coming of age story.

The book is set during the AIDS epidemic and it’s about how all that plays out in the international community – how the NGO’s, aid-workers etc dealt with it (or not as the case may be). I have ironically just watched the film the Whistleblower with Rachel Weisz and the shock, absolute horror and disbelief this left with me – this book does exactly that. It punches you in the gut.

I only hope in some way that the author knows what a legacy she has left.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tough read. Definitely check TWs before picking up.

This book in a genius move begins with the trendy trope of the vulnerability of trying to find yourself in your early twenties; the loneliness and exposure of being untethered. The novel then stages a catastrophic clash of this with an encounter with the developing world and children who never had the luxury to not know who they were or their purpose when poverty and patriarchy served it to them.

The writing in its sparsity creates the feeling of abject un protection, abandonment and isolation; like being stood on the top of a cliff edge. Extraordinarily harsh and brutal. The writing is precise and devastating - no word is wasted. A difficult read that takes on so many huge issues, many of which I have never encountered through fiction before, like the complexities of international aid efforts. I would absolutely recommend to someone looking for a coming of age story in the context of a fraught political backdrop.

[Annette Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Eswatini (Swaziland) during the AIDS epidemic Lying Perfectly Still blows the lid off NGO's, aid-workers and the International Development sector. At times truly shocking, the clash of cultures and the sheer arrogance and racism of the minority world is exposed. Lots of really important issues are raised.
However, I wasn't entirely convinced by the writing, hence only 3 stars and some of Koliwe's decisions and behaviour didn't feel believable. Necessary for the plot and for points to be made maybe, but didn't ring true for me which spoilt it a bit as a story but didn't reduce the impact of the overall message.

[Rhiannon Tuckett-Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is interesting but the descriptions/tone feel lacking

[Rocky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vital book that deals with challenging themes skilfully. Fish has written a novel that is impossible to turn away from, exploring the AIDS epidemic, contrasting cultures, racism, and belonging.