Breathing Space

by Marita van der Vyver

Set between 1985 and 1995, ten friends play out the dramas of their lives against the sweeping political and cultural backdrop of South Africa. As personal tensions rise and conflicts are brought into the open, so the political and personal can no longer be uravelled.

Genres: Fiction, South Africa

Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Marita van der Vyver is the author of a dozen novels, a collection of short stories, two collections of humorous essays, picture books for children, many short stories and essays in anthologies, and regular columns in newspapers and magazines. Her books have been published in English, Dutch and German, and her first novel, published in English as Entertaining Angels, became a bestseller and was translated into twelve languages. She lives in France with her family.

Marita van der Vyver is die skrywer van ’n tiental romans, ’n bundel kortverhale, twee versamelings van humoristiese essays, prenteboeke vir kleuters, talle kortverhale en essays in versamelbundels, en gereelde rubrieke in koerante en tydskrifte. Haar boeke word deurgaans in Engels, Hollands en Duits vertaal na die sukses van haar eerste roman vir volwassenes, Griet skryf ’n sprokie, ’n literêre sensasie wat in sowat ’n dosyn tale gepubliseer is. Twee van haar romans, Die ongelooflike avonture van Hanna Hoekom en Dis koue kos, skat, is verfilm. Sy woon in Frankryk saam met haar familie.

Reviews

[Rita Kruger · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been ages since I read Marita's novels, but I'm so glad I picked this one.

This novel is about a group of friends trying to negotiate life in a changing South African political environment. We meet them on ten occasions when they go away for a weekend spaced over ten years. But it is not only the politics that are changing. We also see the changes in them across the years, physical, emotional and spiritual.

I loved this novel! The characters became my friends, and when tragedy touched them I shed a tear. I wanted to fight their battles with them, and comfort them in times of hardship.

Highly recommended. A page turner.

[Mariaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me about two chapters to get into the book. I loved how the characters changed through the chapters and also in the same era as I grew up. Sometimes very dark but very realistic. A very honest read.

[Nevanthri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. However, I found the French words and French food to be out of place. It did not seem likely that a bunch of Afrikaners​, especially men, would be making Bouillabaisse. I read about the author and she lives in France which explains all the French references. Other than that, I found the book very enjoyable. The characters had a lot of depth and personality.

[Heidi de Goede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sal graag wil weet wat die lotjie nou in 2023 oor 'n naweek gaan bespreek.
(Ek gaan hom nou weer lees VOOR ek Laaste Kans lees.)

[Janet Gericke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated by this book in a way I haven't been captivated for a while. Kept me up late reading. A page turner, a book that introduced me to new friends, wander what is happening in their lives today! Loved it.

[Mareli Thalwitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nog 'n Marita van der Vyver boek wat ek al vir die derde maal + lees. As jy die grootste gedeelte van jou bestaan in jou verbeelding deurbring, kan die werklikheid erg vervelig begin lyk.

[Rendier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reading - takes you back to those years....

[Onika]

Fantasties.

[Heidi Malan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lank gelede die boek gelees, my laat dink aan mense met "fomo" en eet helemaal te veel uit mekaar se borde uit...was een van my minder aangename leesstof

[Debbie Lilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in South Africa over ten years about the relationship between 7 friends and how their lives are affected by the changing time in South Africa between 1990 and 2000

[Nelda Hazelhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Nicolette Coetzee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Met tye raak dit vervelig. Dit is baie herhalend.

[Hjwoodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved meeting the earlier versions of the people in 'Still Breathing' - this book made me laugh, made me cry and makes me reach for the follow-up again! Love her writing, love us opinionated South Africans. We're all just like her characters in so many ways.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hierdie boek is net fantasties. Beslis iets wat ek weer sal lees. Ek het dit regtig verskriklik geniet. I am now a Marita fan for life!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nou toe nou. My eerste Afrikaanse boek sedert hoërskool. Nie werklik my tipe boek nie, maar heel interessant en maklik om te lees. En goed om die moedertaal op te skerp.

[Marna Kaparna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lekkerste lees in 'n lang tyd.