Suitcase of Memory

by Aeysha Kassiem

Bastian Bredenkamp is dead. But even the dead have secrets. From the grave, Bastian weaves together the extraordinary tale of his life. Bastian, the only heir to the Goedleven farm, suffers from a rare condition that allows him to remember everything that has ever happened to him. When Khadeejathree comes to work for the family, Bastian is introduced to her daughter Rashieda, and a world he’d been sheltered from. But to love Rashieda means telling his secret: he is not who he appears to be.

Genres: Fiction, South Africa

264 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2021

Reviews

[Mbali (flowahh_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise 🥺!
I’m so grateful that @afro_mom_reads suggested a #buddyread and that this was our pick 💛

I remember being a bit hesitant because for some reason I couldn’t understand the synopsis, I had no clue what I was getting myself into — but, then I started and found myself quickly falling in love with the words, the story, the people, putting it down was a task. I swear if we didn’t have reading goals I would have read it in one sitting.

Kassiem’s debut tells the story of Bastian Bredenkamp, the only heir of the Goedleven farm, who has a rather unique gift, he never forgets — he is a figurative suitcase of memories. Everything is dandy, until he is introduced to the housekeeper, Khadeejathree’s daughter and by extension a life that he has been sheltered from.

I’m always nervous when I go into the political/historical fiction space but this offering was so beautiful, and handled the heavy topic that is Apartheid so well. It touches on the group areas act, race classification, the arbitrariness of race especially within the idea of passing, and so much more.

Please, I loved every second of it 🥰

[Avuyile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aeysha wrote the heck out of this book! Definitely different to what I’m used to reading. Each character takes you through a different emotion , a story based in the apartheid era.

[Anschen Conradie · Rating 4 out of 5]

#Asuitcaseofmemory - A’Eysha Kassiem
#Kwela
#NBUitgewers

The novel opens a short while after Bastian Bredenkamp’s death and introduces him as first person narrator. Contrary to the technique of using a so-called unreliable narrator (not necessarily intentionally; rather because of the fallibility and subjectivity of memory) Bastian has a rather unique gift ensuring the reliability of his memory: he is able to clearly remember everything since his birth. He is literally unable to forget anything. Ever.

He then takes the reader back to the Cape Town area of the 1950’s; more specifically to a Thursday in October when Khadeejathree (she was actually called Khadeeja, but she was the third wife, all with the same name, of her husband, and was thus referred to as Khadeeja 3) came to work for the Bredenkamps. She would bring with her wisdom; love and a new revelation of the world. Bastian would always remember her words of comfort when he first experienced loss: ‘To God belongs what He took, and to Him belongs what He gave. So, whatever you’ve lost, don’t worry. You will find it again with Allah.’

But, most of all, she would bring with her Rashieda. And Bastian could share his secret with them: ‘What’s that even like ? Remembering everything ?’….. ‘I guess it’s a bit like living two lives at the same time. The one in your head and the one you’re actually living.’

Bastian shares his life with the reader and advises, in hindsight: ‘When the end comes, remember this: it’s never about how many weeks you have left, but how many words…. Never pray for more time. Pray for better words…. Trust me, the ones who find their peace are almost always those who have nothing left to say.’

In the final chapters a literal suitcase of memories changes Bastian’s life but, throughout the novel, Bastian reveals himself as a figurative suitcase of memories. He says: ‘To know a man, you must know his heart. You must strip down his skin and read the words that make up his mind.’

The novel is enchanting; poetically beautiful; original and captivating. The characters all have unique voices and the majority become endearing to the reader; their losses and tribulations also became mine.

There was only one (technical) error: on page 101 a case is referred to as ‘The State and Dawid van der Merwe versus Timothy Bubbles’ but at that time (prior to 1961) criminal case were not indicated as ‘The State versus; the correct reference would have been ‘Rex/Regina versus…..’ A private person (Van der Merwe) could also not have been a co-party in a criminal case. But this is merely a legal technicality and does not prevent me from awarding 4 stars to this outstanding debut novel.

#Uitdieperdsebek

[Colleen Niekerk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this novel to be written with such beauty woven into the prose, and with a keen, sensitive eye for using the domestic and the subtle to communicate larger and deeper elements, not only of the atrocities of apartheid but also the human heart. The characters are engaging, I loved that each held their own imperfections, it made them relatable and a mirror to real life.

While it is set in South Africa, and the language, setting etc. are unmistakably not only South African but Capetonian, it is written in an accessible way for those from outside the country.
I truly enjoyed hearing Bastian’s own voice and was intrigued by his arc. I kept turning page after page to see what the resolution is for him (the twist that he is already dead as he narrates doesn’t give anything away, you really do want to keep going). I had to spend a few days reflecting on this story after I read it, it’s the kind of novel that invites you to think and not only skim the surface. Highly recommended.

[Faiza Mallick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A digestible debut novel that felt familiar but also offered such a uniquely told story with the backdrop of Apartheid. I love the intricate and beautiful stories of these characters. A book to better understand race division, love, hate and apartheid better, in a way factual hooks really can't get you to. A book for high school syllabuses.

[Erna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book, it will stay with me for a long time.
Apartheid was cruel and unfair.

[Tiah]

Read my feature in the Sunday Times: https://bit.ly/3ESt1X5

~Don't look too hard, because the face of death almost always stares straight back.~

~The elders always said that our whole lives were written on our foreheads. If that's true, it doesn't leave much room for error.~

~Mothers are not always the people we hope for, or the ones we end up with.~

~[I]f you are ever invited to a wedding and a funeral that are to take place at the same time, go to the wedding.
'The dead have their own things.'~

~Even in heaven, being brown means death.~

~Sometimes there are moments worth living twice.~

~But love is a strange and unusual guest. Like a wayward lodger, it sleeps in the heart, wakes to feed on morsels of hope, and then, when fully roused, demands an audience with management.~

~'Time is only a construct of man,' he said, stepping hard on the pedal.
'So is booze,' I said.

~'I didn't realise the devil knew the Bible,' I quipped.
'Ah, my friend, but who else knows it better?'~

~[F]or the third time in my life, I had lost a mother who was never really mine.~

~When the end comes, remember this: It's never about how many weeks you have left, but rather how many words....Never pray for more time. Pray for better words.~

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely outside of my regular genres, Suitcase of Memory took me a while to get into, but once I did I was absolutely hooked! Set in apartheid South Africa, I found the use of certain words jarring...interactions between white and coloured people unsettling, and addressing white men as "Baas" just made me angry.

Despite all of these negative emotions, I became completely invested. The book is beautifully written, the characters are real, flawed, and relatable, and they will stay with me for a long time to come.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a pure read. By pure, I mean, careful but honest with each character, tender in the way every relationship is portrayed, even Pa Bastian and Inge..

Kassiem approaches the rich history of South Africa with a candid lens that is fair but open to the realities and what those realities made of peoples lives. Like most people, everything I know about SA, I know from a history book or Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Suitcase of Memory brought more humanity to the struggles. It creates for those like me, ignorant of thier ignorance, a living and breathing picture of love and life under Apartheid.

Kassiem also does a clever thing with memory, perhaps from her lived experience as a journalist. She asks her reader to pay attention to how memories are cemented, how they go from experiences to fact, how Apartheid tried to control even that…it was such a pleasure to realise.

This was such a good read.

💗

[autumn hijabi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.9

I really wanted to enjoy this and counted the days till launch but…I can’t let my enthusiasm to support local override the standards I and many hold when it comes to Muslim representation. No reviews seem to address this and I think Muslim readers who are optimistic if not desperate for some rep deserve a heads up; I know I'd have appreciated it. If this review seems to fixate on religion: not only is it a core theme but is also integral to the lives of the characters. So it is fair if not necessary to screen this for religious accuracy since it's at the forefront of the lives of the Muslim main characters. On that note, I don't factor in their lifestyle or the validity of local Muslim (cultural) traditions.

Note: This is *not* meant to crit the author, who I know absolutely nothing about. What follows are my impressions of the text itself.

First, what I liked: That it's set on my home turf! It was well written, had an interesting cast, realistic romance, unfolding story, activism, heartache, the warmth of motherly love. We see how people viewed and treated each other during a rather dark time. At the heart of the story is the beautiful potential for harmony despite differences in race and religion. The characters are diverse in more ways than one even in terms of Atheism, Islam, and Christianity, which I loved. The lesson to fight the good fight and seek authenticity shone through.

The downsides: It bugs me that readers unfamiliar with Islam will walk away thinking some of the stuff in here actually reflects Muslim beliefs. Like being forbidden to look in mirrors during prayer times because if you do then "the jinns will get you." This is one of many superstitions that could be overlooked if it seemed a character was just joking or trying to scare the child. But the character in question is actually a sincere sweetheart, so… hmm.

For the questionable parts, I double-checked and reached out to a few knowledgeable people to make sure I wasn’t judgy or ignorant about something that maybe has religious evidence, or even cultural norms to explain it. Unfortunately, too many times for comfort, the Islamic content in this is unrecognizable, if not problematic. Yes, Muslims are not a monolith, we have different schools of thought, cultures, quirks, varying exposure and commitment to pursuing religious knowledge etc. but there are some concepts integral to Islam that everyone agrees on across the board. Things that aren't actually open to interpretation as casually described by a character in the book. If that’s the case, we would be giving validity to extremists with their whack interpretations, right?

One expects that some core concepts will remain intact, like for example what a person says when someone passes away—"Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun" instead of starting with "Inna ilayhi". It's not an appropriate or local habit of shortening this verse from Quran. If the author didn't want to include a full verse out of respect to all readers, surely it could have been cut at a different point in the phrase so that the dialogue in the scene actually makes sense? It was extremely puzzling.

And then there’s the explanation of angels, i.e. a pillar of faith. A weird but amusing statement is that Muslims believe there is an angel in everyone’s throat because "how else will your food get to where it must go?" Nothing suggests the character is joking or seen as innocently ignorant by others. Its conveyed like a factual tidbit which is worrying because this is one of the most ???? claims I've ever come across. It’s also said there's an angel in your heart to help you do good things which as mystically cool as it sounds has no Islamic basis.

There were two parts that I had mixed feelings about.
“To each, God was something unique and exclusive. To me, He would always have a home by whichever names I called Him.” Perhaps understandable since the character was discovering himself. It's almost agreeable as a standalone until realizing this is in the context of Allah & Jesus instead of, say, the 99 names or something.
"I whispered to Allah, not knowing why I had called Him by His Arabic name in His Christian house." I honestly don't know if everyone will be comfortable with this and its implied opposite (that mosques too are houses of Jesus), so will leave that for others to discern. To me, it looks like the Muslim character affirms Jesus is Allah, which looks a lot like the perennial concepts that seem to be popping up in books authored by Muslims or others hoping to appeal to every audience. And I get why—who doesn't want to advocate getting along and establishing common ground? But surely religious Muslim characters can value their similarities with the Abrahamic faiths and bond about being believing people and live a good, respectful life together without shirking, like, basic tawhid…? Pun intended.

I was put off by these honestly unnecessary-to-the-plot sentences. I do admire the heart of the story and wish this was something I could fully celebrate and recommend. Since there is no equivalent, Suitcase of Memory is special in its own right. From an interview I saw, the author seems nice too, so there’s no judgment here beyond wishing some more research or nuance went into this aspect of an otherwise heartfelt story.

Peace out x

[Tarryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. It is beautifully written and grips you wholeheartedly. A modern day To Kill a Mockingbird, poignant and filled with representation in the softest manner. I hope it gets prescribed to SA schools

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I am a madman, a mystic, a murderer."

Bastian Bredenkamp is many things. As he tells his story, he is dead.

Suitcase of Memory is a powerful story about race, religion, love and growing up on both sides of what is deemed right and wrong.

In his life, Bastian found himself at the intersection of two lives. Throughout his story, hope ebbs and flows – unlike his memory which remains clear as day from the first of his life. You see, Bastian can remember everything that has ever happened to him including the arms that first held him.

Suitcase of Memory is a story that demands to be heard, told in a way that will at once break your heart and restore it. It took me a long time to finish this book because I kept reading and rereading lines that grabbed my attention and held it. I think in total I must have actually read the book three times.

It is at once a love story and a beautiful portrayal of adolescence and the turbulence of life. It's about freedom fighters, both quiet and loud. About motherhood and what it means to be a mother.

It speaks of a time of unspeakable cruelty and inhumane behaviour in an incredibly moving and meaningful way.

I heard A'Eysha speaking in an interview about untold stories that need to be told. Many people are carrying these stories, memories that stick and replay time and time again. As South Africans, we all need to hear and understand the impact of segregation. I wouldn't be surprised if this book was read as a set work in schools one day. For my two cents, I loved it. I will read it again and recommend it to everyone I know.

[Roz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the first part of this book. Bastian was an interesting character, especially as a child who was processing racial lines in Apartheid South Africa, and trying to come to terms with his own racial identity - which was not as clear as one would think. Blessed with a super-memory, Bastian knows things his parents are not aware that he knows.

I did feel that the deliberate misdirection in the second half actually robbed me of fully enjoying the outcome.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Racial identity is at the centre of this beautiful story. It’s a delicately crafted story, with threads of religion, culture and politics interlaced in such a powerful way, within the context and laws of apartheid South Africa.

What do you do when you are not who society dictates you should be, or perceives you to be? How strong is your conviction? To what lengths are you prepared to go, when faced with delicate and dangerous choices?
These questions drive the narrative - not only for the protagonist, but also other characters whose lives are intertwined in such an interesting way. Within the context of an apartheid society there are layers of complexity; various communities exist, which have shaped and molded each character who is a product of that unique community - characters are therefore not simply good or bad; all is not black and white.

As the story unfolds, risks are taken and choices are made, which often have devastating results; and these choices reveal what lies deep within the heart of each character, what lies beyond the colour of an individual’s skin.

This is a poignant story which I devoured in two sittings.

[Jermaine Carelse · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone that gravitated to autobiographies I was astounded when reading this book. I believed every word and the author created characters, whom I could associate with. I will recommend everyone reads her book and is waiting in anticipation for her next book to hit the shelves.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a clever story. I first read in 2021 and just reread it in 2024. One of those books you can't put down as you wonder where it's taking you. And the outcome doesn't disappoint but leaves you wanting more.
👏

[Johan Conradie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not read fiction. This book is different. Get one. Read it. It is just really worthwhile ❤️

[Shaistah Nabee · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked the main character a lot, i think he’ll stay with me. but the writing was kinda amateur. i wouldn’t recommend it.

[Haanim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was the first time I read a book where Cape Malay culture was described without making me cringe. A well-told story against a familiar yet disturbing backdrop.

[Melanie George]

Loved this book so much! As I grew up in Cape Town, I could envisage every part of story landscape. Totally gripping and relevant, can't wait for the next book.

[Zeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing and so much more touching if you from Cape Town, South Africa.

[Atlegang]

This book is incredibly well written. I especially enjoyed how educational it was while also story telling. Bastian is a brilliant narrator and I enjoyed how uncomplicated yet detailed his version of events is. Overall good read

[Zunaid Valley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most definitely a must read!!! I have read this book twice and will read it over and over in future!!
A’Eysha's masterful storytelling weaves together complex themes and vivid characters as she catapults the reader on an unforgettable love story and asks many vital questions about religion , racial identity and the viciousness of apartheid. The plot is gripping and well written, in my mind it should be pushed as an essential book in the South African school curriculum. I am eagerly awaiting the follow-up to this award winning debut novel!

[Phelele Tatiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. A completely different story about life under apartheid, an interesting one too.