BrightLights@BookBuddy

A riveting read, Lauri Kubuitsile's historical novel, The Scattering , about love lost, is intense, bitter-sweet and unforgettable. For any Namibian, it will not be an easy read for essentially one reason: the story cuts too close to the bone. For as I am writing this review, the Herero and Nama cultural groups of Namibia, with the support of the Namibian government, are in the process of engaging the German government of Angela Merkel, regarding the 1904 - 1907 genocide.  The Scattering has two female protagonists, Tjipuka and Riette, and their poignant stories develop against the backgrounds of the Herero-Namaqua genocide in German South-West Africa (DSWA), 1904 - 1907, and the Second Anglo-Boer War in the South Africa, 1899 - 1902, respectively. Tjipuka is a member of the Herero tribe of Okahandja and Riette, an Afrikaner woman from the farming community in South Africa. Their lives, dreams and ambitions are irrevocably changed by the onset of war, Tjipuka, and, in Riette...

One of Namibia's popular writers, Johan J. Beyers, author of the eco-fantasy dystopian novel, The Kupferberg Mining Company (2013), shared with us a list of his five most memorable books. 'This wasn't easy to do,' Mr. Beyers wrote in a mail to us, 'because different books impact one's life differently at various stages. In other words, a so-called good book then will perhaps not have the same impact and value now. And, besides, the list you have requested is unfair.' We have to agree with the  last, of course. Asking a reader-writer for a list of only five books to recommend is tremendously unfair given the immense number of books a person may read in her/his lifetime. That said, we are very grateful Mr. Beyers sent us his list. 1. To Build a Fire and Other Stories by Jack London 'I really enjoyed this collection of short stories by American novelist, journalist and social activist, Jack London.' To Build a Fire and Other Stories is the m...