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The Path of Thunder
Abrahams Peter. - The path of thunder. . FOREIGN LANGUAGES PUBLISHING HOUSE. 1954. Moskva. 296 pp. Hardcover
- GenresAfricaAfrican Literature
262 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
13 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Peter Abrahams
17 books57 followersPeter Abrahams was a South African-born Jamaican novelist, journalist and political commentator.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 26, 2009
When I worked at my college library back in the day one of the perks was getting to call dibs on discarded books before the general population. I found several obscure Upton Sinclair titles (which are still waiting to be read) that way, and this one - a title and author I was not even remotely familiar with, but I was never one to turn down free books.
This novel of the late forties is about Lanny, a South African who has returned home after obtaining an education and a degree. The story is split into three parts, the first dealing specifically with his homecoming - meeting his younger sister again, meeting people of the village who are new to him and being introduced to racial tensions from both black and white characters who are intimidated by Lanny's education and his desire to build a school in the village. As far as the villagers are concerned education brings violence and disruption and they feel quite fine without it, thank you very much.
The second part of the novel is called "Love" and is what one would imagine as Lanny falls in love with a woman in the village. Not surprisingly the third portion of the book is called "Hate" and shows exactly what happens when the honeymoon is over, so to speak.
For a free book I really can not complain about this. It's almost 300 pages but such an easy read - I managed to breeze through it in less than six hours, though had I had distractions this morning I likely would have put it down and not picked it up again without a fair amount of pouting. As it was, to sit down and read only this book and not have to do anything, it was interesting at times though mostly preachy. This is what happens when the educated return home and try to educate the village. People don't like a smarty showing them up, especially if that smarty is black and just coming on the fifties in South Africa.
This novel of the late forties is about Lanny, a South African who has returned home after obtaining an education and a degree. The story is split into three parts, the first dealing specifically with his homecoming - meeting his younger sister again, meeting people of the village who are new to him and being introduced to racial tensions from both black and white characters who are intimidated by Lanny's education and his desire to build a school in the village. As far as the villagers are concerned education brings violence and disruption and they feel quite fine without it, thank you very much.
The second part of the novel is called "Love" and is what one would imagine as Lanny falls in love with a woman in the village. Not surprisingly the third portion of the book is called "Hate" and shows exactly what happens when the honeymoon is over, so to speak.
For a free book I really can not complain about this. It's almost 300 pages but such an easy read - I managed to breeze through it in less than six hours, though had I had distractions this morning I likely would have put it down and not picked it up again without a fair amount of pouting. As it was, to sit down and read only this book and not have to do anything, it was interesting at times though mostly preachy. This is what happens when the educated return home and try to educate the village. People don't like a smarty showing them up, especially if that smarty is black and just coming on the fifties in South Africa.
April 13, 2021
Неплохая книга о расизме и апартеиде, но как-то уж слишком в лоб. Вроде как по книге был поставлен балет. Вот для балета уровень мелодрамы в самый раз, а для выдающейся художественной литературы – замного.
November 28, 2021
Ленні Сварц – мулат. Він отримав науковий ступінь в Кейптауні і повертається до рідного Стіллевельда, в якому проживають такі ж «кольорові», як він. У містечку немає своєї школи, якою можуть похизуватися навіть чорні з сусідньої долини, але Ленні збирається це виправити. Його мета – покращити рівень життя кольорових і йому не завадить навіть заздрість місцевих білих фермерів – значно менш освічених, але значно більш привілейованих.
Одна з білих – Сарі Вільєрс – заінтригована тим, як вільно він себе поводить у присутності африканерів, наскільки він не схожий на інших кольорових, починає бачити в ньому тільки людину. І, чого приховувати, між ними спалахують заборонені (зважаючи на місце і час подій) почуття. Ленні доведеться переосмислити свій світогляд, який він вже вважав вільним від упереджень. А тут ще ж і є таємниця старого будинку на пагорбі! Словом, вельми оригінальний роман.
Здається, це вперше мова саме про мулатів, а не чистих чорношкірих африканців. І ледь не вперше відсутній присмак комунізму. Сюжет простий – кохання між людьми з двох різних таборів, і їхньому союзу протистоятимуть. Тільки такий очевидний сюжет африканські письменники чомусь оминали.
Одна з білих – Сарі Вільєрс – заінтригована тим, як вільно він себе поводить у присутності африканерів, наскільки він не схожий на інших кольорових, починає бачити в ньому тільки людину. І, чого приховувати, між ними спалахують заборонені (зважаючи на місце і час подій) почуття. Ленні доведеться переосмислити свій світогляд, який він вже вважав вільним від упереджень. А тут ще ж і є таємниця старого будинку на пагорбі! Словом, вельми оригінальний роман.
Здається, це вперше мова саме про мулатів, а не чистих чорношкірих африканців. І ледь не вперше відсутній присмак комунізму. Сюжет простий – кохання між людьми з двох різних таборів, і їхньому союзу протистоятимуть. Тільки такий очевидний сюжет африканські письменники чомусь оминали.
September 24, 2025
Больше походит на притчу, которую кто-то решил напечатать. Суть становится ясна ещё в первой четверти книги, так что не кишащий высокопарным языком текст легко читается за день.
April 30, 2021
I read this for my Pan African Studies class and honestly it was much more intriguing than I had thought.
I mean, for one I finally understood what a book like this means since I’m literally learning about it for a class lol but it was interesting to see such a different take for apartheid.
Like always, anything that is outside of the US is never taught so this gives me a wider perspective of what life was like in other places. I didn’t even know apartheid was a thing until I got through this.
Message aside, the story overall was enjoyable. Though my main critique was the speed in which the main relationship processed. It also gave a vibe that she was ~different~ because she believed that it was unfair the way that non-white people were being treated.
But it was an overall enjoyable read!
I mean, for one I finally understood what a book like this means since I’m literally learning about it for a class lol but it was interesting to see such a different take for apartheid.
Like always, anything that is outside of the US is never taught so this gives me a wider perspective of what life was like in other places. I didn’t even know apartheid was a thing until I got through this.
Message aside, the story overall was enjoyable. Though my main critique was the speed in which the main relationship processed. It also gave a vibe that she was ~different~ because she believed that it was unfair the way that non-white people were being treated.
But it was an overall enjoyable read!
March 28, 2023
I almost gave it two stars, if the ending had not been in keeping with the times...
Love is selfish actually, those who say it is selfless don't know how it has wrought pain and disappointment in those who were victims in its wake
The community lost an educator because of love
A mother lost a son, because of love
The money invested in him to study so he could come home to emancipate his community? Down the drain because of love
You cannot want to live like the reality of your life and times applies only to others and not to yourself because you think you are somehow different
Nothing about Lanny or Sarie is likable actually, they think and act like they live in a bubble.
Love is selfish actually, those who say it is selfless don't know how it has wrought pain and disappointment in those who were victims in its wake
The community lost an educator because of love
A mother lost a son, because of love
The money invested in him to study so he could come home to emancipate his community? Down the drain because of love
You cannot want to live like the reality of your life and times applies only to others and not to yourself because you think you are somehow different
Nothing about Lanny or Sarie is likable actually, they think and act like they live in a bubble.
January 19, 2022
A luta continua
January 28, 2024
Priminė dėdės Tomo trobelę. Gera knyga. Puiki.
March 14, 2011
Although it dealt with some explosive themes, the treatment was facile and forgettable. Maybe it's hard not to sound heavy-handed when tackling a topic as charged as racial hatred, but titling your chapters Home, Love, and Hate doesn't do much to add subtlety.
July 9, 2022
To this day I remember this story and how it made me cry at the end. Nothing has changed at all. I'm glad that my french teacher recommended it to me. This book is totally worth your time(and tears).
June 10, 2012
I love this book!!
Read
February 8, 2014dffdsfd lox pidr azazaza
Want to read
February 19, 2019where to read???
May 25, 2019
Raamat, mille igat lehekülge keerates tunned, kuidas pinge kruvib ja kruvib, sest sa tead, et plahvatus tuleb, aga ei tea, kuidas, kus ja millal. Südamlik ja väga õrnatundelise sulega joonistatud. Kirjutatud 1946. Raamatut läbiv traagika tundub nii õudne ja viis, kuidas autor seda läbi kõige madalama rassi ehk kahvrineegrist Mako sõnade selgitab, ei jäta kahtlust, kui hästi ta oskab end panna eri ühiskonnakihtide perspektiivi.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews