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Dalene Matthee Bosboeke #4
Dreamforest
Dreamforest (Toorbos) is forest novel. It tells the story between the intimate relationship of an initiated "forest woman" and the heart of the forest, and how it becomes an obstacle in her experience of the man she loves.
Karoliena Kapp is an only child of an unsympathetic mother who has had three men. Her father has been killed by a streak of lightning while she was still young, causing her to accept the forest as her primordial mother. Karoliena is beautiful. Soon, she was spotted by a man, Johannes, child of a woodcutter, who freed himself from the stranglehold of poverty in the forest. Before she even turns twenty, Karoliena is married to Johannes. Now she has to take on the role of spouse in the village after being coached to take her place in the hierarchy.
The world of the forest and the world of the village are juxtaposed with each other - each representing a different order of existence. The forest makes a mystical experience possible - this is the kind of ecstasy Karoliena is looking for - while life in the village is dedicated to the self-directed search for money. She is in love with Johannes who is far older than she is and is almost spellbound by the prospects he offers her. However, Karoliena uses the very first opportunity to run away from Johannes - straight back to the forest. Because the very first day after their wedding ceremony she knew something was terribly wrong. She made the wrong choice: she fled from the forest. She exchanged her precious freedom for a cage. Now she's scared. So, she returns to the forest while the Cape sisken keeps on calling: "who are you, who are you".
Karoliena Kapp is an only child of an unsympathetic mother who has had three men. Her father has been killed by a streak of lightning while she was still young, causing her to accept the forest as her primordial mother. Karoliena is beautiful. Soon, she was spotted by a man, Johannes, child of a woodcutter, who freed himself from the stranglehold of poverty in the forest. Before she even turns twenty, Karoliena is married to Johannes. Now she has to take on the role of spouse in the village after being coached to take her place in the hierarchy.
The world of the forest and the world of the village are juxtaposed with each other - each representing a different order of existence. The forest makes a mystical experience possible - this is the kind of ecstasy Karoliena is looking for - while life in the village is dedicated to the self-directed search for money. She is in love with Johannes who is far older than she is and is almost spellbound by the prospects he offers her. However, Karoliena uses the very first opportunity to run away from Johannes - straight back to the forest. Because the very first day after their wedding ceremony she knew something was terribly wrong. She made the wrong choice: she fled from the forest. She exchanged her precious freedom for a cage. Now she's scared. So, she returns to the forest while the Cape sisken keeps on calling: "who are you, who are you".
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
43 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
About the author
Dalene Matthee
27 books123 followersDalene Matthee (nee Scott) matriculated in 1957 and went on to study music at a conservatorium in Oudtshoorn as well as at the Holy Cross Covent in Graaff-Reinet.
Before gaining fame and wide acclaim for her first "forest novel", she also wrote stories for magazines as well as two popular novels - ’n Huis vir Nadia (A House for Nadia) (1982) and Petronella van Aarde, burgemeester (Petronella van Aarde, Mayor) (1983).
Kringe in ’n bos (Circles in a forest) (1984), a novel about the extermination of the elephants and the exploitation of the woodcutters of the Knysna forest, was an international success. Two other highly successful "forest novels" followed: Fiela se Kind (Fiela's Child) in 1985 and Moerbeibos (The Mulberry Forest) in 1987. Fiela's Child and Circles in a forest were filmed. She also won numerous literary prizes for her works.
After a short sickbed caused by heart failure, she died in Mossel Bay, South Africa. She was survived by her three daughters; her husband, Larius, died in 2003.
Before gaining fame and wide acclaim for her first "forest novel", she also wrote stories for magazines as well as two popular novels - ’n Huis vir Nadia (A House for Nadia) (1982) and Petronella van Aarde, burgemeester (Petronella van Aarde, Mayor) (1983).
Kringe in ’n bos (Circles in a forest) (1984), a novel about the extermination of the elephants and the exploitation of the woodcutters of the Knysna forest, was an international success. Two other highly successful "forest novels" followed: Fiela se Kind (Fiela's Child) in 1985 and Moerbeibos (The Mulberry Forest) in 1987. Fiela's Child and Circles in a forest were filmed. She also won numerous literary prizes for her works.
After a short sickbed caused by heart failure, she died in Mossel Bay, South Africa. She was survived by her three daughters; her husband, Larius, died in 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 11, 2014
I loved this book. Initially I felt like I was reading Circles of the forest (which was our set work at school so more than 20 years later) again, which I think is testament to Mathee's style of writing. The book is however different the the Circles series in that the elephants are present but not the feature of the story line. I felt that the book could relate to most audiences who wonder what the future holds. I loved the way that story line brought together Karoliena's 'forest' and 'educated town' perceptions together. In this way the story reminded me a little of Bryce Courtney's 'Power of one' series in the way that certain characters in the book talk about world affairs while others take what they have seen and heard and action them quietly. Lots of insight in the book. Great read
July 16, 2018
Beautiful. Magical.
July 29, 2012
Karoliena Kapp grew up in the forest and the woodcutter community. The church in the village sees promise in her and provides her with a good education. Then comes an opportunity to marry a successful businessman from the village. Even before the wedding she has reservations; the day after the wedding she realizes that it was a mistake as they were trying to make her into something she was not. So she leaves him and returns to the forest only to find that she isn't fully accepted there either. As the future of the forest is threatened, can she find herself?
I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as the other three Knysna Forest books. Although the forest felt like an old friend - something was different. As I was reading, it seemed like a lot of events but it was hard to see a flow to the story line. Having finished it, I can see how it all fit together but it didn't gel for me like the others.
I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as the other three Knysna Forest books. Although the forest felt like an old friend - something was different. As I was reading, it seemed like a lot of events but it was hard to see a flow to the story line. Having finished it, I can see how it all fit together but it didn't gel for me like the others.
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August 8, 2019A touchy story which is still very relevant today. I would dearly love to read the prose in Afrikaans. But the translation is well done.
June 13, 2016
great read after our knysna forest walk!
October 7, 2013
Dis 'n ongelooflik pragtige verhaal wat mens diep in 'n towerwereld van die Knysna bos laat wegraak. Moet beslis lees!
January 8, 2015
Toorbos is another master piece by Dalene Matthee. It is not something everyone will like however I enjoyed reading it and will recommend it to anyone.
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June 2, 2015Sjoe ek is beindruk deur die skryfstyl van hierdie boek. Ek voel soos Karoliena en leef my heeltamal in die karakter in.
September 4, 2015
Nogsteeds my gunsteling boek. Storie bly interessant regdeur, met 'n baie realistiese en grypende einde. Definitief die moeite werd!!
November 8, 2019
'n Wondermooi verhaal. Ek kon met die karakter van Karoliena assosieer, haar soeke na wat sy self nie weet nie. Ek geniet altyd die stukkies lewens waarhede wat Dalene in haar boeke deel. Daar is 'n stille wysheid aan haar skryfstyl.
Ek sal graag ook die verhaal uit Johannes se oogpunt uit wou lees. Die liefde wat hy vir haar (Karoliena) koester, sy ervaring van die 'wild bushpeople' en die 'poor white' stigma wat hy beleef uit sy bevoorregte posisie op die dorp. Wat het hy gedoen terwyl Karoliena weg was en wat het hy gedink en voel elke keer wanneer hy haar weer sien? Dan ook sy ervaring van die oorlog en wat hy daar beleef het. Dit was ook lekker om so tussendeur 'n klein krummeltjie te kry oor Saul Barnard en sy vrou, Kate...dit het my laat glimlag. Hy was ook steeds daar.
Ek sal graag ook die verhaal uit Johannes se oogpunt uit wou lees. Die liefde wat hy vir haar (Karoliena) koester, sy ervaring van die 'wild bushpeople' en die 'poor white' stigma wat hy beleef uit sy bevoorregte posisie op die dorp. Wat het hy gedoen terwyl Karoliena weg was en wat het hy gedink en voel elke keer wanneer hy haar weer sien? Dan ook sy ervaring van die oorlog en wat hy daar beleef het. Dit was ook lekker om so tussendeur 'n klein krummeltjie te kry oor Saul Barnard en sy vrou, Kate...dit het my laat glimlag. Hy was ook steeds daar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 18, 2023Set in roughly the same area around Nysna as Fiela's Child but 50 years later, it ends during WW2. Our heroine is misunderstood in her attempts to do good.
If you like trains and elephants here you are.
Did you know that the author was a descendant of Sir Walter Scott?
If you like trains and elephants here you are.
Did you know that the author was a descendant of Sir Walter Scott?
April 29, 2019
i think this book is one of a kind.I really enjoyed this book and is woompsical
January 10, 2021
Brilliant!!
Ek verlang na Knysna!!
Ek verlang na Knysna!!
August 21, 2021
Wat sê mens nou oor ‘n Dalene Matthee, die koningin van metafore. Die bos, die kerk. Aleen loop.
July 10, 2022
A romantic slow burner like most of her books. She has a way of describing the Knysna area that just makes you smell the trees and hear the birds right outside your window.
December 22, 2022
Aangrypend mooi!
June 29, 2025
3,5 ⭐
Speciale stijl, soms wat moeilijk te volgen.
Speciale stijl, soms wat moeilijk te volgen.
October 26, 2025
Good to read Dalene Matthee again. So compelling and hearbreaking. Perhaps not my favourite of her books, but still, excellent.
December 14, 2020
Dit grens vir my byna aan heiligskennis om ’n woord te rep nadat Dalene Matthee haar woorde klaar geweef het. Ek het jare gelede hierdie vierde bosroman gelees en onlangs die rolprent gaan kyk. Direk daarna het ek die nuwe filmuitgawe gelees, en was opnuut verstom oor die diepe insig waarmee die skrywer die bosmense, die armoede, die tyd vlak voor die Tweede wêreldoorlog, vir ons toeganklik maak.
Frases soos “Armoede hang soos ’n slegte reuk in die lug” (bl 25) en “Agtertoe lyk altyd beter, dis vorentoe waar die pad lyk of hy wil opraak,” (bl 158) bly my by, selfs noudat ek die boek toegemaak het.
Die storie van Karoliena Kapp en Johannes Stander is bittersoet. Albei is kinders van die bos, maar sy voel haarself verplig om ’n verskil te maak aldaar, ten koste van ’n gemaklike lewe wat hy haar aanbied op die dorp. Johannes, daarteenoor, sou eers vrede maak met die bos en homself, nadat hy veel verloor het.
Dalene Matthee het haar plek onder ons voorste Afrikaanse skrywers deeglik verdien. Met min woorde kan sy haar karakters en plek so volledig skets dat mens dit byna aan jou lyf kan voel.
Frases soos “Armoede hang soos ’n slegte reuk in die lug” (bl 25) en “Agtertoe lyk altyd beter, dis vorentoe waar die pad lyk of hy wil opraak,” (bl 158) bly my by, selfs noudat ek die boek toegemaak het.
Die storie van Karoliena Kapp en Johannes Stander is bittersoet. Albei is kinders van die bos, maar sy voel haarself verplig om ’n verskil te maak aldaar, ten koste van ’n gemaklike lewe wat hy haar aanbied op die dorp. Johannes, daarteenoor, sou eers vrede maak met die bos en homself, nadat hy veel verloor het.
Dalene Matthee het haar plek onder ons voorste Afrikaanse skrywers deeglik verdien. Met min woorde kan sy haar karakters en plek so volledig skets dat mens dit byna aan jou lyf kan voel.
November 16, 2020
Ek het Toorbos herlees voor ek die fliek gaan kyk het. Dit was nog altyd my gunstelingboek van Matthee en dis opnuut vir my bevestig. Hoewel dit vir my 'n onbevredigende ervaring was, het die film tog vir my die universele temas in Toorbos mooi uitgelig: manlike oorheersing, die magteloosheid van vroue in armoede, armoede as universele verskynsel, hoe moeilik dit is om uit 'n siklus van armoede te breek, hoe moeilik dit vir iemand buite daardie kring is om te verstaan. Natuurlik ook die ewige gierigheid van die mense en die verwoesting van die natuur.
'n Magiese boek wat altyd in my hart sal bly.
'n Magiese boek wat altyd in my hart sal bly.
May 2, 2020
Na 17 jaar weer. 5++++++++++++
Wonderboek. Huilboek. Toorboek.
Wonderboek. Huilboek. Toorboek.
January 24, 2023
Ek het nie genoeg woorde in my woordeskat om eers te probeer beskryf wat hierdie boek vir my beteken bie.
August 30, 2022
Magical!! 'n Moet lees.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews