Skyline

by Patricia Schonstein Pinnock

A run-down block of flats in central Cape Town becomes a young girl's gallery of self-discovery in this moving story of the emotional carnage caused by civil wars in Africa. Drug dealers from Nigeria, Zimbabwean wire-workers, immigrants from Rwanda and Sudan, a Mozambican refugee - all escaping the ruins of war in the peace of the new South Africa - bear down on her fragile world, then scoop her into theirs. "Skyline" is an unflinching look at one girl's coming of age in the colourful and violent streets of a city waking up to the rest of Africa.

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published November 30, 2000

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend from Cape Town lent me this book. Written in short chapters, in the voice of a teenage girl, it captures a world. "Skyline" is the run-down tenement apartment building where she lives with her mute little sister. Their mother has all but abdicated her role, but the neighbors, each a remnant of the wars and other horrors pouring illegally into South Africa from the north, become the sisters "family." Every chapter mysteriously concludes with a description of a painting, so vivid, down to its frame, that it can easily be imagined. The reason for their inclusion does not become apparent until the novel's very last page and is as stunning as it is tragic. A beautifully conceived story, with rich, alive, characters from very far, and very close. A gem.

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was really not a lot of fun for me. I found the visual descriptions of paintings at the end of every short chapter quite annoying for a couple reasons, most of which are likely my fault and not necessary the author's. I couldn't figure out why they were there. This is made evident at the end of the story, but still doesn't quite seem to work. My biggest frustration is that they didn't include the pictures in anyway and it felt like the visual was such an important component of the book.

[Ryan James · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know the underbelly of Cape Town, experiencing culture at a micro level, this book will tour you there and drain your emotions while doing it.

Great for any human to read.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

the prose in this was beautiful but man am i sad after reading this.

[Lupe Mujica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho, una muy buena forma de conocer más Sudáfrica y el tema de la guerra al rededor del mundo. Y todo a través de una comunidad e historias tan distintas que enriquecen el libro. También me encantó que cada capítulo terminara con la descripción de una pintura (a veces una populaer reimaginada, a veces original).

[Chiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found the history of the people living in that block of flats boring.

[JohnP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apartments and homes in a small area of Cape Town, South Africa spill their occupants' stories and the reader views the variety of life that comes to South Africa from so many neighboring countries.

A young girl tries to make sense of these stories, all the while navigating life in Cape Town with an emotionally distraught sister. Told as if the stories were disjoint vignettes, each chapter ends with a description of a painting - seemingly depicting the exact story we were just privy to. It all comes together at the end, in an amazing conclusion that will leave you pondering the message.

This book really blew me away! It reminded me a bit of John Dos Passos' USA Trilogy, as the stories begin to weave themselves together. What initially looked like a disjoint set of stories becomes a mosaic!

So well done!

[Alisa Cupcakeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

El libro que más me ha hecho llorar en lo que va del año. Es tan bonito y tan crudo a la vez. Lo describiría como un libro "coming of age" con un transfondo muy atroz con el tema de las distintas guerras en Africas en una època que yo llamaría contemporanea (esto es en Africa después del Apartheid). Me encariñé mucho con muchas de las personas de la comunidad de Skyline y fue una excelente lectura aunque muy dura en algunos momentos.

[Goretti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book many young learners can relate to. The young narrator's experiences within a broken home (in the city of cape town) interweave with the plight of illegal immigrants and refugees. Poetically told by Ms Pinnock who has visited our school on 3 occasions over the years. A worthwhile quick read!

[Consuelo Roland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deceptively thin novel that is on my 'special' bookshelf. The powerful and moving story concerns itself with the minutae of what it means to be a refugee in a block of flats in an often violent, strange city, Cape Town, as told by a vulnerable young girl looking for love and companionship. Schonstein writes about the great themes of beauty and courage and resilience in the face of war, emotional trauma and almost unbearable odds, with enormous controlled tenderness and sensitivity.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book is beautifully written! I felt I was there living with these people in Skyline! I suppose it helps that I know where Skyline is/ was – it’s now called something else. At the end of each chapter is a description of a painting and I wondered what it was supposed to mean. This all comes together right at the end of the book. I loved this book. Highly recommended!

[Roxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Chloé du Plessis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written. I picked this read up at the District 6 museum.. and was moved to understand further

[Saf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot? Hello, plot? Wherefore art thou?

[Isa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Zandile · Rating 5 out of 5]

a girl lives in these run down flats in cape town with her sister Mossie and her mother. her father abandoned them and went to live somewhere else, the girl blames her mother for everything including her father's departure. one day the girl visits her father expecting him to come back but he refuses.in skyline they are like family and they help one another out. most of the people that come from skyline are immigrants running away from war and Bernard is the most traumatised one. he and the girl are very close and he tells her daily his war stories and how he lost his family. they are a few more characters in the book but you have to read it to love it.

[Veronica Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encanta. El libro en sí, la poesía con que la protagonista habla, la poesía transversal a todos los personajes desde la autora, el collage de gente que se complementa con pinturas (obras de arte). Es un libro que me hace reír, sufrir, reflexionar, y sobre todo, viajar a Sudáfrica a encontrar a inmigrantes que escapan de guerras civiles.
Es precioso. No puedo explicarlo mucho por este medio. Lo recomiendo en persona mejor.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very heart-warming novel for all ages. The writing style is very special but you get used to it, and soon you won't even notice it. The stories of the people in Skyline are both terrible and very interesting. Refreshing with an environment that's outside of the privileged western bubble. The more you read the better it gets, give it a chance!

[Stefaan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst English book I have read. The characters lack depth, the major themes remain shockingly unexplored, there is a complete and utter lack of any plotline and as a result the book is entirely underwhelming and meaningless.

[Theron · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a bit sad, and very local. I bought it at a bookstore on the same street as the titular apartment building. There's a very cool plot device in which each chapter ends with a description of a painting that relates to that chapter - a device which is unexplained until the last chapter.