CATEGORIES

ADVERTISEMENT
Find Weird Books at AbeBooks.com
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
  • Login
A Book Geek
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
    • About
  • Book Club
  • Holidays
  • Quotes & Sayings
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • About
  • Book Club
  • Holidays
  • Quotes & Sayings
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
A Book Geek
No Result
View All Result
Home Books & Titles Award Winners

‘Cry the Beloved Country’ – Review

Esther Lombardi by Esther Lombardi
05/07/2023
in Award Winners, Book Reviews
385 20
0
African Dawn - Cry the Beloved Country

African Dawn - Cry the Beloved Country

Cry the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton, was further catapulted to bestseller status, when it was named a pick in Oprah’s Book Club. But, there’s much more to this African novel…

Paton first penned the novel in a burst of inspiration and emotion, starting in a hotel room, and culminating in a sparse three months. At the time of that initial outburst, he was conducting a survey of correctional facilities, but the immediate success of Cry the Beloved Country inspired him to become a full-time writer.

RelatedPosts

A Mind of Her Own: A Journey of Resilience and Independence

The Whitechapel Widow: A Thrilling Journey Through Victorian London’s Shadows

We Shall Be Monsters: A Deep Dive into Alyssa Wees’ Enchanting Fantasy

“I have left the public service,” Paton explained. “But not with any intention of living in idleness or ease. I want to interpret South Africa honestly and without fear. I cannot think of a more important or exciting task.”

Inherit the Fear (and Hope)

Paton writes, “Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too much moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much.”

With that tear-stained title, the book cries out to us all, demanding justice. Tradition is lost. the land is dying, and everything that is falling apart (even our most hopeless and impossible dreams).

The book is also a search for a way to explain the dichotomies of the real world — how a murderer could also be “a child afraid of the dark.” Hope is far away. But, in the end the dawn is just making its way over the horizon. The light is creeping up, chasing away the gloom. “For it is the dawn that has come,” Paton says, “as it has come for a thousand centuries, never failing.” Out of the bondage of fear, hope will always come back again. It cannot fail for long…

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Share146Tweet91
Esther Lombardi

Esther Lombardi

Esther A. Lombardi is a freelance writer and journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for an array of publications, online and offline. She also has a master's degree in English Literature with a background in Web Technology and Journalism. 

Related Posts

A Mind of Her Own: A Journey of Resilience and Independence
Mind of Her Own, A

A Mind of Her Own: A Journey of Resilience and Independence

04/29/2025
back view of a woman holding a candelabrum
Whitechapel Widow, The

The Whitechapel Widow: A Thrilling Journey Through Victorian London’s Shadows

03/27/2025
woman reading book near a kerosene lamp
Book Reviews

We Shall Be Monsters: A Deep Dive into Alyssa Wees’ Enchanting Fantasy

03/26/2025
Sunrise on the Reaping
Bestsellers

Exploring Sunrise on The Reaping

03/23/2025
food hands fruits blueberries
Berry Pickers, The

Exploring the Depths of The Berry Pickers: A Review of Amanda Peters’ Heartfelt Novel

03/22/2025
man sitting under a tree reading a book during night time
Book Reviews

Unveiling the Tapestry of Time: A Critical Analysis of Eric Puchner’s Dream State

03/14/2025

Book News

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson: Examining the Influences and Impact of Her Revolutionary Poetry

05/16/2024
greek mythology

The Impact of Greek Mythology on Modern Culture

11/16/2024
Memorial Day

Never Forgotten: 7 Memorial Day Quotes

05/26/2024
Night

Elie Wiesel’s ‘Night’ – Lines of Remembrance

02/24/2024
Practicing Gratitude Quotes

Practicing Gratitude Quotes

39
The Secret Garden of Writing

‘The Secret Garden’ of Writing

29
Little House - Laura Ingalls Wilder

‘Little House’ – Writing the Story of Our Lives

23
Fall Musings

Fall Findings & Autumn Musings #LifeLessons #Quotes

18
father and son watching video

The Impact of James Patterson’s Dad Book

05/13/2025
a man in spiderman costume doing fist bump on a young boy

Who Wants to Be a Hero? The Nature of Heroism in Literature and Life

05/13/2025
Exploring Scout Finch: Her Coming-of-Age Journey in Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird

Exploring Scout Finch: Her Coming-of-Age Journey in Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird

05/09/2025
renaissance art in vatican city historic fresco

The Philosophy and Writings of Pope Leo XIV

05/09/2025
ADVERTISEMENT
AbeBooks.com. Thousands of booksellers - millions of books.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
A Book Geek

What’s Happening?

May 2025
S M T W T F S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Apr    


Recent News

father and son watching video

The Impact of James Patterson’s Dad Book

05/13/2025
a man in spiderman costume doing fist bump on a young boy

Who Wants to Be a Hero? The Nature of Heroism in Literature and Life

05/13/2025
Exploring Scout Finch: Her Coming-of-Age Journey in Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird

Exploring Scout Finch: Her Coming-of-Age Journey in Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird

05/09/2025


Books A Million Logo

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

AbeBooks. Thousands of booksellers - millions of books.


© 2024 A Book Geek. All rights reserved. The content on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without explicit written permission from A Book Geek. By using this site, you agree with our terms of use. Powered by the passion for literature.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

You cannot copy content of this page

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson: Examining the Influences and Impact of Her Revolutionary Poetry

05/16/2024
greek mythology

The Impact of Greek Mythology on Modern Culture

11/16/2024
Memorial Day

Never Forgotten: 7 Memorial Day Quotes

05/26/2024
Night

Elie Wiesel’s ‘Night’ – Lines of Remembrance

02/24/2024
Practicing Gratitude Quotes

Practicing Gratitude Quotes

39
The Secret Garden of Writing

‘The Secret Garden’ of Writing

29
Little House - Laura Ingalls Wilder

‘Little House’ – Writing the Story of Our Lives

23
Fall Musings

Fall Findings & Autumn Musings #LifeLessons #Quotes

18
father and son watching video

The Impact of James Patterson’s Dad Book

05/13/2025
a man in spiderman costume doing fist bump on a young boy

Who Wants to Be a Hero? The Nature of Heroism in Literature and Life

05/13/2025
Exploring Scout Finch: Her Coming-of-Age Journey in Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird

Exploring Scout Finch: Her Coming-of-Age Journey in Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird

05/09/2025
renaissance art in vatican city historic fresco

The Philosophy and Writings of Pope Leo XIV

05/09/2025
Rare & Collectible Books at AbeBooks.com
ADVERTISEMENT
No Result
View All Result
  • #24312 (no title)
  • A Book Geek
  • About
    • Education
    • Summary
    • Experience – Esther Lombardi
  • Activity
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Book Club
  • Christmas
  • Contact Us
  • Featured
  • Home
  • New Year
  • Privacy Policy
  • Quotes & Sayings

© 2024 A Book Geek. All rights reserved. The content on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without explicit written permission from A Book Geek. By using this site, you agree with our terms of use. Powered by the passion for literature.

Discover more from A Book Geek

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Go to mobile version
%d
    Verified by MonsterInsights