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Autobiografie #3
Spertyd [Deadline]
Hierdie boek is die voltooiing van Elsa Joubert se outobiografiese drieluik wat ingelei is deur 'n Wonderlike geweld (2005) en Reisiger (2009). Dit fokus hoofsaaklik op die skrywer se latere jare, in die aftreeoord in Kaapstad waar sy nou al geruime tyd woon, maar haar belewenis van die hede en onlangse verlede word onlosmaaklik vervleg met herinneringe aan veel verder terug, alles geteken met die kenmerkende woordvaardigheid van een van Afrikaans se mees gevierde skrywers.
Please This audiobook is in Afrikaans.
Please This audiobook is in Afrikaans.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
Audible Audio
First published November 1, 2017
43 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Elsa Joubert
25 books20 followersElsa (Elsa) Antoinette Murray Joubert was the author of several (travel) books that concern themselves with life in Africa, the relationships between people and the conflicts between cultures.
Joubert grew up in Paarl and matriculated from the all-girls school La Rochelle in Paarl in 1939. She then studied at the University of Stellenbosch from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1942 and an SED (Secondary Education Diploma) in 1943. She continued her studies at the University of Cape Town which she left with a Master's degree in Dutch-Afrikaans literature at in 1945.
After graduating, she taught at an all-girls high school in Cradock, then worked as the editor of the women’s pages of Huisgenoot, a well-known Afrikaans family magazine, from 1946 to 1948. She then started writing full-time and travelled extensively in Africa, from the springs of the Nile in Uganda, through the Sudan, to Cairo, as well as to Mozambique, Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar, and Angola. She also visited Indonesia.
In 1950 Elsa Joubert married Klaas Steytler, a journalist and later publisher and author, who died in 1998. She has three children, two daughters and one son, and lives in Oranjezicht, Cape Town.
Her novel Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena , has been translated into 13 languages and also staged as a drama.
Joubert grew up in Paarl and matriculated from the all-girls school La Rochelle in Paarl in 1939. She then studied at the University of Stellenbosch from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1942 and an SED (Secondary Education Diploma) in 1943. She continued her studies at the University of Cape Town which she left with a Master's degree in Dutch-Afrikaans literature at in 1945.
After graduating, she taught at an all-girls high school in Cradock, then worked as the editor of the women’s pages of Huisgenoot, a well-known Afrikaans family magazine, from 1946 to 1948. She then started writing full-time and travelled extensively in Africa, from the springs of the Nile in Uganda, through the Sudan, to Cairo, as well as to Mozambique, Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar, and Angola. She also visited Indonesia.
In 1950 Elsa Joubert married Klaas Steytler, a journalist and later publisher and author, who died in 1998. She has three children, two daughters and one son, and lives in Oranjezicht, Cape Town.
Her novel Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena , has been translated into 13 languages and also staged as a drama.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 15, 2019
Dis geensins my gewoonte om sò vroeg in ‘n boek reeds iets daaroor te wou sê nie (ek was nog skaars 50 bladsye in) en nog meer raar om toe al te geweet het ek gaan dit 5 sterre gee, maar hierdie boek is die uitsondering werd.
Dis die afsluiting van die skryfster se outobiografiese werk en nog nooit is die verouderingsproses vir my met soveel deernis geskryf nie. Ek voel haar vrese, haar hartseer, haar hoop en haar liefde. Ek glimlag saam oor situasies wat aan haar binnepret verskaf.
Ek is ongelooflik jammer dat ek nie die boek gelees het terwyl my ma en ouma nog geleef het nie; ek sou baie dinge soveel beter verstaan en anders hanteer het.
November 16, 2020
Oudword is nie 'n grap nie.
December 15, 2019
This book has wonderful musings/meditations on very old age - "living with diminishments on all fronts". And her fascination/marvelling at the human body is most delightfully described by the comment "What pipe or surface can equal.....93 years of human parts on the job and still going". A human body being an intricate, perfectly planned organism.
Chapter 4 has a excellent telling of nonagenarians dining together.
She also gives an hilarious commentary of the 'symphonic/orchestral performance 'of a visit to the dentist.
To have such a sharp, perceptive mind at 95 is very special.
Chapter 4 has a excellent telling of nonagenarians dining together.
She also gives an hilarious commentary of the 'symphonic/orchestral performance 'of a visit to the dentist.
To have such a sharp, perceptive mind at 95 is very special.
February 11, 2019
Joubert took up the challenge her son gave her: write about the old-age phase you're entering now ~ just as you've written about the African countries which you explored in your lifetime. And she did just that in her book 'Spertyd'.
However, it's difficult to write about yourself and your own experience in an objective, informative, honest way and to stay entertaining and fascinating. It's easier to do so about the topics that are outside yourself.
In 'Spertyd', Joubert battles with a belated 'growth spurt' on several levels: she has to face up to the lessened circumstances typically associated with the shrinking world of the aged, and to the depressing closeness of illness and death which surround her.
However, she also finds herself challenged by her own privileged youth and adult life where being served was par for the course; participating in cultural activities was normal; and living a refined life was expected. These normalities have to be sacrificed as the body resigns even if the mind still holds firmly onto the life style she was used to.
These changed circumstances force Joubert to see life from a dependent's perspective. And she agonizingly comes to the realization how insensitive she personally had been throughout her life to the world of those in lesser roles than hers. Given that she belonged to the genre of oppositional writers in South Africa, who highlighted the plight of the underprivileged (and was widely recognised for her masterpieces), this insight came as an enormous shock to her.
Joubert shares on various levels how old age deconstructs her lifetime work of being who she thought she was, finding an insecure, depressed person who battles to come to terms with her privileged living circumstances, her failing body, her over-active mind, her ailing friends, her identity as a person and as an Afrikaner, and finally as a spiritual being.
Her agony to deal with these issues translates into a dark book, punctuated with small conscious decisions to see workable solutions to insoluble dilemmas. She has to work hard at finding her new sanity, at coming to term with her unplanned 'growth spurt'. And she takes the reader with her on her maelstrom journey in a manner which only a seasoned and celebrated writer can do.
Apart from the shortlived pleasure her immediate family brings her, her other oasis seems to be her hesitant return to her childhood upbringing, to her belief in God. It is sad to see how a religiously 'liberated' lifetime, finds itself speaking reluctantly of solace in the presence of 'Krag' (Power). She admits that in the presence of 'Power' she finds the peace she yearns for: it is the only place where her panic attacks, depression and illness know respite. Yet it is uplifting to see how bravely Joubert confronts her geriatric issues and constructs a workable self to eventually come to terms with the last 'continent' (or should I say 'in-continent'!?) which she will ever visit.
'Spertyd' is a must read for anybody over 80. And for anybody involved with the elderly. She contradicts the myth of a blessed old age.
However, it's difficult to write about yourself and your own experience in an objective, informative, honest way and to stay entertaining and fascinating. It's easier to do so about the topics that are outside yourself.
In 'Spertyd', Joubert battles with a belated 'growth spurt' on several levels: she has to face up to the lessened circumstances typically associated with the shrinking world of the aged, and to the depressing closeness of illness and death which surround her.
However, she also finds herself challenged by her own privileged youth and adult life where being served was par for the course; participating in cultural activities was normal; and living a refined life was expected. These normalities have to be sacrificed as the body resigns even if the mind still holds firmly onto the life style she was used to.
These changed circumstances force Joubert to see life from a dependent's perspective. And she agonizingly comes to the realization how insensitive she personally had been throughout her life to the world of those in lesser roles than hers. Given that she belonged to the genre of oppositional writers in South Africa, who highlighted the plight of the underprivileged (and was widely recognised for her masterpieces), this insight came as an enormous shock to her.
Joubert shares on various levels how old age deconstructs her lifetime work of being who she thought she was, finding an insecure, depressed person who battles to come to terms with her privileged living circumstances, her failing body, her over-active mind, her ailing friends, her identity as a person and as an Afrikaner, and finally as a spiritual being.
Her agony to deal with these issues translates into a dark book, punctuated with small conscious decisions to see workable solutions to insoluble dilemmas. She has to work hard at finding her new sanity, at coming to term with her unplanned 'growth spurt'. And she takes the reader with her on her maelstrom journey in a manner which only a seasoned and celebrated writer can do.
Apart from the shortlived pleasure her immediate family brings her, her other oasis seems to be her hesitant return to her childhood upbringing, to her belief in God. It is sad to see how a religiously 'liberated' lifetime, finds itself speaking reluctantly of solace in the presence of 'Krag' (Power). She admits that in the presence of 'Power' she finds the peace she yearns for: it is the only place where her panic attacks, depression and illness know respite. Yet it is uplifting to see how bravely Joubert confronts her geriatric issues and constructs a workable self to eventually come to terms with the last 'continent' (or should I say 'in-continent'!?) which she will ever visit.
'Spertyd' is a must read for anybody over 80. And for anybody involved with the elderly. She contradicts the myth of a blessed old age.
November 25, 2020
Hierdie boek het my so herinner aan my eie ma se oudword proses.
Wonderlik geskryf!
Wonderlik geskryf!
October 3, 2024
Spertyd het my diep geraak. Ek het al die meeste van Elsa Joubert se boeke gelees en geniet. Die eerlikheid, deernis en mensekennis van hierdie boek het my opgeval. Ek hoop ek is ook op haar leeftyd so wys soos sy!
May 21, 2023
Beeldskoon. Een van die heel mooiste boeke wat ek nog gelees het. En baie uniek om 'n memoir te lees van hoe dit is om 95 te wees. Joubert se sinne is geslyp. 'n Besonders dog hoopvolle herinnering aan my eie verganklikheid.
December 10, 2017
'n Baie, baie besondere boek, al neem mens nie eens die hoë ouderdom waarin dit geskryf is, in ag nie. Nie altyd maklik om te lees nie, want oudword is inderdaad nie vir sissies nie. Elsa Joubert is beslis geen sissie nie. Sy takel die ouderdom met al sy kwale en skete, klein en groot rampe, uitdagings en ellendes kaalvuis, sonder sentiment, maar altyd met deernis. Deernis vir haarself en die ander oues rondom haar, vir die hande wat hulle versorg, vir haar geliefde Kaap rondom haar. Haar taalgebruik is steeds 'n loflied aan Afrikaans, haar intellek en die diepte van haar denke verstommend.
As jy 'n Joubert-bewonderaar is, lees dit! As jy tot die ouer garde (?) behoort, lees dit. En as jy nog nooit 'n Joubert gelees het nie en nog nat agter die ore is, lees dit- en word verras, geskok, ontroer en verryk.
As jy 'n Joubert-bewonderaar is, lees dit! As jy tot die ouer garde (?) behoort, lees dit. En as jy nog nooit 'n Joubert gelees het nie en nog nat agter die ore is, lees dit- en word verras, geskok, ontroer en verryk.
April 4, 2018
Aangrypende leesstof vir enigiemand wat 'n bejaarde in die kring het of self besig is om nader aan die winter van hul lewe te beweeg. Die denkwyse van die briljante skrywer (96) op dié stadium van haar lewe, word so uitstekend weergegee, mét die tipiese warrelgedagtes van die diep-bejaarde persoon (haar uitgewer het die teks blykbaar op haar aandrang nie verander nie, wat dit net soveel meer outentiek maak). Haar beskrywing van hoe mens mettertyd afstand begin doen van gewone aksies, soos om te gaan stap, teater toe te gaan of per vliegtuig te reis, én die gelate aanvaarding van 'n krimpende wêreldjie, gryp mens aan. Ek wens my moeder (94) wat verlede jaar oorlede is, kon dié boek lees - ek is bly ek het.
September 3, 2019
I read this in English but I see 'Cul De Sac' is still unlisted. The only reason I haven't given it five stars is because it has that slight old people's whine in it - very slight, but I am very sensitive to that light, complainy tone about the way things are today. Or whatever. I know, it's me, not her. However, her last chapter or two redeemed any previous flaws in the book. I loved her thoughts about death and the afterlife, and the significance of love, forgiveness and the quote: "her children [and grandchildren] stand around her like cedars". Very nice.
July 4, 2020
Hierdie is n intieme gevoelvolle boek wat presies vertel hoe mense op hoër ouderdom voel. Die op en af gevoel, die magteloosheid en tog die lekker van die lewe wat reeds gelewe is. Die boek het my diep geraak omdat ek self ook besig is om op te skuif in jare. Ek het die boek begin lees gedurende die opsluiting van bo sewentiges in die middel ( moontlik net die begin of einde) van die COVID 19 pandemie. Met skok hoor ek toe dat Esla Joubert oorlede is 14 Junie 2020 weens die COVID 19 besmetting.
September 4, 2023
Baie goed. Een van daai boeke wat ek jare al wou lees en nou eers by uitgekom het. Joubert was een van Afrikaans se grootste skrywers. Veral gehou van die amperse Boeddhistiese voorlaaste hoofstuk. Die boek dek so baie. Filosofies, kultuur histories etc. Net 'n wonderlike boek om te lees. Veral met die oog op ouer word, en juis vir daardie rede, ook iets wat jonger mense gerus maar kan lees.
January 26, 2020
Die boek is ñ Moet-lees vir enige een wat met bejaarde mense werk, wat nog geseënd is om ñ Ouma of Oupa in hul lewe te hê... en vir enige persoon wat gaan oudword, hierdie is ñ geskenk aan ons almal deur ñ fantastiese skrywer.
January 7, 2018
Jammer, teen haar vorige twee bibliografiese boeke (Reisinger en N Wonderlike Geweld) is Spertyd niksgewend gewees.
March 25, 2018
Aangrypende blik op die lewe van 'n bejaarde. Lees dit.
February 9, 2019
Die uitnemende gebruik van die taal is wat hierdie boek red van 2 sterre. Ek het dit onsamehangend en met tye selfs as uiters vervelig beleef.
June 12, 2019
Ek lees gewoonlik nie outobiografiese materiaal nie, maar soos met al haar boeke, het ek die een baie geniet.
August 6, 2019
What a boring boring book, I usually don't give up but this I gave up and did not finish.
January 1, 2020
Het jy al 'n ouetehuis beleef.... Lees dit en vind 'n wêreld vol deernis, ironie en stories vir die geslagte.
December 24, 2019
Elsa Joubert is een van daardie skrywers waarvan 'n nuweling nie sommer enigiets moet lees nie, jy moet eers vra. As iemand my vra wat hulle van Elsa Joubert moet lees, sal relatief min van haar romans op die lys wees, maar baie van haar niefiksie, soos haar reisverhale. Ek het nog nie haar eerste twee boeke met lewensbeskrywing / herinneringe gelees nie, maar hierdie boek, 'n loflied én klaagsang oor die ouderdom, is betowerend en verrykend om te lees.
Elsa Joubert writes enticingly about her life as a nonogenarian - some of her very best prose is not found in her novels, but in her nonfiction.
Elsa Joubert writes enticingly about her life as a nonogenarian - some of her very best prose is not found in her novels, but in her nonfiction.
September 17, 2019
A glimpse into a life and what old age brings - living in a retirement home - illness, the constant presence of death and the search for who am I.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews