The Rights of Desire

by André Brink

Ruben Olivier leads an isolated existence in a Cape Town suburb. His wife has died, one of his sons has settled in Australia, and the other wants to emigrate to Canada. The only constants in Ruben's life are the old family home, the ghost of a seventeenth-century slave girl who haunts it, and Magrieta, the elderly housekeeper who comes in to look after him. When Ruben's neighbor and best friend is brutally murdered by marauding gangs, the subtle yet pervasive threat of violence hovering over life in Cape Town becomes frighteningly real.

All agree that taking in a boarder might be a good idea, and Ruben is pleasantly surprised when young Tessa Butler walks in out of the rain one Saturday night. She restores passion and intrigue to his life, but he has little time to enjoy the infatuation, for soon Ruben finds himself in a web of deceptions, manipulations, disappearances, and lies.

This extraordinary novel is at once a rich story of enigmatic characters and a boldly disquieting meditation on the attempt to build a future of hope and promise from the legacy of the past.

Genres: Fiction, Africa, African Literature, South Africa, Novels

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

André Philippus Brink was a South African novelist. He wrote in Afrikaans and English and was until his retirement a Professor of English Literature at the University of Cape Town.

In the 1960s, he and Breyten Breytenbach were key figures in the Afrikaans literary movement known as Die Sestigers ("The Sixty-ers"). These writers sought to use Afrikaans as a language to speak against the apartheid government, and also to bring into Afrikaans literature the influence of contemporary English and French trends. His novel Kennis van die aand (1973) was the first Afrikaans book to be banned by the South African government.

Brink's early novels were often concerned with the apartheid policy. His final works engaged new issues raised by life in postapartheid South Africa.

Reviews

[Vilis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Līdz galam viss varbūt nesaslēdzas, bet atsevišķie pavedieni - par spokiem, kas mūs pasargā pašus no sevis, un, jā, arī (vīrišķās) iekāres radīto pārliecību ar tiesībām uz otru cilvēku - bija forši un tiešām kruti izrakstīti.

[Saski · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general I like Andre Brink and this book was no exception. But I have to say that it was due far more for the background look into South African society pre- (but mostly post-) the election of Nelson Mandela than for the main story line. I am finding I can get really tired of she loves me, she loves me not, in all it's manifestations. Am I too old, too young, too fat, too scholarly, too, too too. I'm just not interested.

So the main story arc -- meh. The sub-arcs, especially of the housekeeper's various situations and solutions, the ghost and her life of three hundred years ago, the double helix of Ruben's belief of how his marriage was vs. the reality, all these were worth reading. I only wish I could say the same for the main plot.

[Georgina N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Λίγο τα στοιχεία τύπου Lolita σε μεγαλύτερες βέβαια ηλικίες και τα εξωπραγματικά γεγονότα ήταν αρκετά για να καταστήσουν την εμπειρία μου μέτρια .

Πρώτη φορά διαβάζω Andre Brink οπότε δεν ήξερα τι να περιμένω .Δεν είχα κάποια απαίτηση ή προσδοκία.Αντικρύζοντας αυτό το βιβλίο στο παζάρι βιβλίου στην Πλατεία Κοτζιά το Φλεβάρη έπεσε το μάτι μου στον τίτλο .''Το δικαίωμα του ποθου''.Αμέσως υπέθεσα ότι πρόκειται για βιβλίο ψυχολογίας οπότε έσπευσα να διαβάσω το οπισθόφυλλο. Μου άρεσε μπορώ να πω .

Ο συνταξιουχος βιβλιοθηκάριος Ρουμπεν ζει στη Νότια Αφρική μακριά από τα παιδιά του καθώς εκείνα βρίσκονται στο απόγειο της καριέρας τους και ετοιμάζονται να επεκτείνουν τις δραστηριότητές τους στο εξωτερικό .Το σπίτι του στοιχειωμένο. Μόνη του συντροφιά το φάντασμα μιας νεαρής σκλαβας και η οικονόμος του.Ψάχνοντας για ενοικιαστή για τον επιπλέον χώρο του σπιτιού του μπαίνει στη ζωή του η Τέσα.Όμορφη ,νέα ,αυθόρμητη και παρορμητική τον γοητεύει και του ξυπνά συναισθήματα και αναμνήσεις από παλιά.

Η πλοκή ενδιαφέρουσα με αρκετές βέβαια ελλείψεις και παράδοξα. Η γραφή φλύαρη σε αρκετά σημεία αλλά
απότομη και κοφτή σε σημεία που χρήζουν ανάπτυξης και εξήγησης.

3 αστέρια και όχι λιγότερο :Για τις περιγραφές συναισθημάτων και για τα δημογραφικά και ιστορικά στοιχεία
3 αστέρια και όχι περισσότερο :Πλοκή ,αναμενόμενο τέλος και γραφή.

[Ilze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was he writing about Ingrid? Or did he con a reviewer into saying that it was about her for the sake of selling the book? Somehow the woman he created in "Die Ambassadeur" seems more like her ...

[Hashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second Brink. Not as good as A Dry White Season, but it's definitely left me wanting to read more of his work.

[Picturesquegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first by Brink.

I'm into reading books which are by authors/about places from all around the globe, since that is by far almost my only option to "visit" other countries, continents, cultures. This book is my recent purchase, among books about India, Japan and Africa.

Now, what I really, really loved (and therefore cannot give any less than 4 stars) was everything - except when the text featured Tessa. I cannot bear her. I cannot bear her lies. I cannot bear such people in real life and in fiction too, as it turned out. She should carry with her a little notebook to write down her lies to remember them later and to stick to one option. She was like a charecter from some different novel - infantile, cruel... oh, so much other nasty stuff. And what she was doing to poor, naive Ruben - a PULP of his otherwise fine brain. I don't understand his unconditional love for her, it was only propelled by his insatiable desire and he himself could not make the distinction.
Another thing - in real life, all the cats WOULD definetly NOT favour Tessa, pretty little liar and scumbag as she is. Cats know when a person is bad.

OK, enough of this. I loved Magrieta and Antje stories, Ruben life on the farm and later life with Riana, his refferences to books, the country in the haze of that times. Brink handles the language and sentences in my favourite, intricate as lace, way. Certainly not my last by him. But I hope in other books he would restrain from such #@$%$ characters as Tessa.

[Lizette Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

If it was an option I would rather give it 3,5 stars. This was my first Brink novel, I ashamedly admit, but will definitely not be my last. And can he write and weave a story. The hopelessness of the lead characters just got to me in the end, but Antje van Bengale was by far my favourite of the lot. For me the intense description of the female body was too leaden and yes too descriptive that left it not mysterious enough for a man to wonder about...only an object to desire. But I devoured the book and fought it was cleverly contrived and weaved ...even beautiful in some places. But I must agree with another reviewer that the despairing description of post apartheid South Africa was indeed very bleak even for a Johannesburg native.

[Eozenaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this novel to be a coincidental parallel to coetzee's 'disgrace', with that said, 'disgrace' was executed far more beautifully and, not to mention, painfully, than 'the rights to desire', ALTHOUGH, with this comparison put aside, I felt Brink's piece had its own idosynacies which made it an engaging and impacting read. On a side note, the portrayal of South Africa post apatheid walks a fine line between realistically bleak and exhaustively despairing.

[Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coincidentally written at the same time as Coetzee's Disgrace, and with a virtually identical (at least in story) premise - a disgraced academic in South Africa (I think? Or just retired) and a gang rape. In fact the title comes from a line in Disgrace.

This one was good, but really not as good.

[Margherita Dolcevita · Rating 2 out of 5]

E' scritto bene e alcune delle cose raccontate sono molto interessanti (mi è piaciuto molto il continuo rimando al Sudafrica e alle sue tradizioni), ma non posso negare che spesso e volentieri mi abbia un po' annoiato, e soprattutto la vicenda dei due protagonisti non mi ha mai coinvolto più di tanto.

[Rebecca Stonehill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Brink's lyrical writing. However, the plot just didn't do it for me and I came away from this book feeling fairly ambivalent, though I was mildly moved by the ending. I would look out for Brink again on the strength of his prose, but just check that there is a more compelling storyline before proceeding next time.

[Maëva · Rating 4 out of 5]

"How can she understand -how can I make myself understand- that a desert holds the promise of flowers, that the dark of a moonless night is a condition of the light, that only in solitude can we discover the need of others, that even after a storm like the one outside the little birds can begin to sing?"

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am the biggest Brink Fan on the planet. He is my favourite author so I am biased with all of his work. Don't expect a balanced review from me. As with all Brinks work the backdrop is apartheid South Africa and the stuggles of white and black alike.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought this was a book about an older man's obsession/love for a younger woman - and it was interesting. But it turned out to be so much more than that. Don't get me wrong - the obsessing was overlong but I really loved Rueben's transformation.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

he's a good writer and this was well done but the theme seemed a little worn, and maybe the writing too.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up some local fiction when in South Africa. It was a great way to learn some history, and was written in such a natural yet heart wrenching way....

[Ann Tonks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Powerful writing, but uncomfortable.

[Anine Nolte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nie my tipe boek nie. Ek het baie gesukkel om dit klaar te lees. Niks opwindends gebeur nie. Ek het selfs in die middel opgehou en drie ander boeke gelees voor ek hierdie een klaargemaak het.

[Tshepho Mojapelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't Judge A Book By Its Title

Dark Mystery: The Skeleton In The Closet of the Cape

The book is about a haunted house by a 17th century slave ghost - Antje of Bengal - whose body was found baried in the basement. One can think of Cape Town as a haunted house by its shamful past of the slave trade. SA needs what Toni Morrison called a "rememory" of the Cape slave trade. As the Constitution says "We the people of South Africa recognize the injustices of our past." On that note - I dont' think we have done justice to the history of slavery at the Cape. These bones will rise again! The stories need to be told!

[SP · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the touching story of a love between a slightly older man and a young energetic woman. The intensity of the emotions of love, desire and the anxiety of loss is wonderfully captured and makes the book a page turner.

[Sara Werenskiold · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good read, but goes in circles. Tessa is too annoying. Ruben is cute.

[Megan Kelosiwang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed aspects of this novel but felt the themes were repeats of other Brink stories. Uncomfortable old-man leering and vulnerable young women.

[Lukas Van Veen · Rating 4 out of 5]

... there were enough differences between us to keep the unexpected always hovering in the background, ....

[Jacoleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my cup off tea. Not impressed not what I expected. Would have even read it, if it was not a book for the book club.
Worst book of the year. Pathetic 2 nain characters Ruben and Tessa.

[Sosina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up. After a strong opening I found this faded a bit, especially the dialog, which was a touch stilted. The Tessa character always seemed a bit unreal and was a second weakness. The story of life in South Africa around 2000 is incredibly sad but interesting, and the relationship between Ruben, our narrator, and his house-keeper Magrieta solid and quite warm. The central theme is Ruben (in his mid-60's with a dodgy ticker) taking in an attractive lodger and the disruption to his life that falling in love with her precipitates. Tessa leads Ruben to reevaluate his life and look honestly at his less than rosy but largely suppressed past, something he has studiously avoided, plus of course, to lust after her 30 year old youthfulness. Brink was mid-sixties when this was published, just sayin'. The supernatural element was very much magical realism and didn't bug me as it sometimes does, and plays an important role in the tale.
This is my third Brink novel and I'll read more, but go to his top reviewed titles next- I selected this one as I was curious about the title.

[Lupurk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una storia d'amore in sospeso, tra un vedovo sessantaseienne e la nuova coinquilina trentenne, nel Sud Africa post Mandela, tra delinquenza, fantasmi e desideri mai realizzati.
Una bella narrazione, interessante e coinvolgente, anche se non all'altezza di "La polvere dei sogni".

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bel romanzo, splendida ambientazione

[Katja · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't believe there's a right to desire, so i should / could have known that this title is not for me.