Living in a poor farming family in 1940s South Africa, Persomi's world is extraordinarily small. She hasn't even been to the local village. But as her world opens up to the tragedies of World War II and racial strife, Persomi finally discovers who she truly is and where she belongs.Persomi's...
Living in a poor farming family in 1940s South Africa, Persomi's world is extraordinarily small. She hasn't even been to the local village. But as her world opens up to the tragedies of World War II and racial strife, Persomi finally discovers who she truly is and where she belongs.
Persomi's dreams are much bigger than the world of poverty and deprivation that surround her in the Bushveld of the 1940s and 1950s in South Africa.
Persomi is young, white and poor, born the middle child of illiterate sharecroppers on the prosperous Fourie farm. Persomi's world is extraordinarily small. She has never been to the local village and spends her days absorbed in the rhythms of the natural world around her. Her older brother, Gerbrand, is her lifeline and her connection to the outside world. When he leaves the farm to seek work in Johannesburg, Persomi's isolated world is blown wide open. But as her very small world falls apart, bigger dreams become open to her-dreams of an education, a profession, and of love. As Persomi navigates the changing world around her-the tragedies of WWII and the devastating racial strife of her homeland-she finally discovers who she truly is and where she belongs.
A compelling coming of age story with an unlikely and utterly memorable heroine, Persomi's English language publication solidifies Irma Joubert's important place in the canon of inspirational historical fiction.
Living in a poor farming family in 1940s South Africa, Persomi's world is extraordinarily small. She hasn't even been to the local village. But as her world opens up to the tragedies of World War II and racial strife, Persomi finally discovers who she truly is and where she belongs.Persomi's...
Living in a poor farming family in 1940s South Africa, Persomi's world is extraordinarily small. She hasn't even been to the local village. But as her world opens up to the tragedies of World War II and racial strife, Persomi finally discovers who she truly is and where she belongs.
Persomi's dreams are much bigger than the world of poverty and deprivation that surround her in the Bushveld of the 1940s and 1950s in South Africa.
Persomi is young, white and poor, born the middle child of illiterate sharecroppers on the prosperous Fourie farm. Persomi's world is extraordinarily small. She has never been to the local village and spends her days absorbed in the rhythms of the natural world around her. Her older brother, Gerbrand, is her lifeline and her connection to the outside world. When he leaves the farm to seek work in Johannesburg, Persomi's isolated world is blown wide open. But as her very small world falls apart, bigger dreams become open to her-dreams of an education, a profession, and of love. As Persomi navigates the changing world around her-the tragedies of WWII and the devastating racial strife of her homeland-she finally discovers who she truly is and where she belongs.
A compelling coming of age story with an unlikely and utterly memorable heroine, Persomi's English language publication solidifies Irma Joubert's important place in the canon of inspirational historical fiction.
I loved this book. Irma Joubert is such a wonderful writer and I could not put it down. The book is set in South Africa and is your classic rags to riches love story about a young, talented girl who overcomes a background of extreme poverty to become a successful lawyer. The book is probably not quite as great as Irma Joubert's Girl from the Train, which was such a hit, and the first half is definitely better than the second part of the book, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. This book is suitable for any adult or teenager and is great escapism and light, easy clean content reading for weekends, after work or on holidays.
A
Anonymous
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
9 years ago
Complex reading
I didn't really enjoy reading this book as there were too many characters and the storyline was rather slow and difficult to follow. It might make a good read for readers who are interested in South African history.
