Really, this is a beautiful book, albeit a bit old. It delves into various aspects such as Africa, South Africa, racism, apartheid, hate, and forgiveness. It tells the story of two old men who are able to forget and forgive all the hardships that life, through the actions of their offsprings, has thrown at them. All for the so-called "better good". One can only hope that it was truly so in the past and that it remains so now.

The book also has some profound insights about money. It states that money is not something to go crazy about or to celebrate extravagantly. Instead, money is for basic necessities like food, clothes, and comfort. It's for taking a trip to the movies. It's for making the lives of children happy. It's for providing security, fulfilling dreams, nurturing hopes, and achieving purposes. It's for buying the fruits of the earth and the land where one was born.

Furthermore, the book makes a powerful statement about Johannesburg. It declares that there is no need for a second Johannesburg on earth. One is more than enough.

Finally, the book poses a thought-provoking question about the dawn of our emancipation. When will it come? When will we be free from the fear of bondage and the bondage of fear? That, alas, remains a secret.

Other than for violating one of my pet peeves in writing, which is the use of coincidence, this book is nearly perfect for what it conveys. In fact, James Michener wrote nearly 900 pages on South Africa in his The Covenant.

At the end of that journey, you are filled with history but have very little feeling as to what it is like to be a native South African. Cry, Beloved Country is the polar opposite of The Covenant. The book is filled with heart, and at times, I felt the soul of Paton’s main character.

I would like to say that Cry, Beloved Country is set at a critical point in South African history. However, it’s more of a snapshot in the continuing European and Afrikaners oppression of the native population.

While the mid-1940s did offer the British colony choices as it moved forward towards its own independence, the choices that were made by those in power were no different that the choices made at every other point in their prior history.

Cry, Beloved Country, however, does provide insights into the human nature of native South Africans. It shows them to be overwhelmed by the aggressiveness of the transformative process of invasion and as a result, resigned to their oppression.

Yes, they have repeatedly fought back but their lifestyle and culture left them completely unprepared to resist the cruelty and complexity of the invaders. Their periodic struggles resulted in repeated catastrophes.

The plot of Cry, Beloved Country is simply that, one more native catastrophe born from a tragic inability to deal with the invaders. And to know what this tragedy is like, what it actually feels like, one must feel the souls of those who suffered.

This book truly makes you empathize with the native South Africans and understand the depth of their pain and struggle. It is a powerful and moving work that leaves a lasting impression.

3.5 stars.

It is really interesting to read more about the apartheid and all the nasty things that happened in South Africa. This book provides a detailed and vivid account of that dark period in the country's history.

Also, I love Alan Paton's style of writing. His prose is simple yet powerful, able to convey complex emotions and ideas with ease. Although the story can be a little boring at times, especially in the middle, overall it is a good novel.

It makes you think about the importance of equality, justice, and human rights. It also shows how one person's actions can have a profound impact on the lives of many others. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in South African history or in reading a thought-provoking novel.

This was an incredibly deeply moving book that will undoubtedly stay with me for a very long time.

It firmly falls into the elite category on my bookshelf, designated as one of those that I will read again and again.

I truly loved Paton's writing style. The use of short, concise sentences and the dialogue written without quotation marks, along with the powerful social themes in the book, made it very reminiscent of another one of my all-time favorites, The Grapes of Wrath.

The book delves into the themes of equality and social justice in pre-apartheid South Africa from both sides of the race equation.

I found myself completely understanding and empathizing with characters on both ends of the spectrum.

The Zulu pastor, Stephen Kumalo, is a truly heartbreaking character, and his relationship with Jarvis, the father of the man his son killed, was one of the most touching aspects of the novel.

I highly recommend this book to any readers who have an interest in literary fiction.

My only regret is that I waited such a long time to read it.

It is a literary gem that offers profound insights into a complex and troubled era.

Readers will be captivated by the story and the characters, and will come away with a greater understanding and appreciation of the power of literature to explore and illuminate important social issues.

When fear reigns over a nation's government, who can take pleasure from their beloved homeland?

Alan Betoon.

In such a situation, the people are often left in a state of uncertainty and anxiety. Their rights and freedoms may be restricted, and they may feel powerless to change the circumstances.

Alan Betoon might be a person who witnesses or experiences this kind of oppression. He may wonder if there is any hope for a better future.

Perhaps he dreams of a time when the government will be based on justice and equality, and when the people can live without fear.

Until then, he continues to struggle and search for a way to make a difference.

This is the 22nd book I’ve read in 2024, and it is by far my favorite of the year. In fact, I would venture to say it is one of the best books I have read in the past few years.

Stephen Kumalo, the pastor in a dying tribal village in South Africa, receives a letter. This prompts him to set off for the big, unknown Johannesburg. His mission is to find his sister, brother, and son, all of whom moved there over time but have not been heard from since.

Once in Johannesburg, a tragedy occurs that changes his life forever. It also intertwines his life with that of a powerful white man.

Paton masterfully, poetically, and observantly relates this profound and poignant story. He explores the human heart, spirit, and condition with a beauty and power that I have not encountered in a book in a long time. The story is not only a vivid portrayal of the social and racial issues in South Africa at that time but also a deeply moving exploration of the human experience. It makes the reader reflect on the meaning of life, love, and forgiveness.

“Ağla Sevgili Yurdum” is one of the classics of modern African literature. The South African writer Alan Paton actually tells the story of the whole of Africa with a particular focus on his country. In his novel, instead of the sharpness of colonial literature, he emphasizes the acuteness of racial discrimination.

“God Save Africa” is a national anthem in South Africa, and the black people there express with this song that they want to be “saved from the fear of justice, saved from the fear of people”. Even, he has instilled the thoughts he summarized such as “when the whites turn to love one day, they will find us turned to hatred”.

Although it smells a bit of Christian propaganda, I noted positively the smoothness of the story, the successful portrayal of the characters in the story, and the realism of the story. The story of the black priest Kumalo, who leaves his rural and poor settlement with the hope of salvation and flees to Johannesburg to search for his son who has committed a crime and his sister who has become a prostitute, is touching.

I really liked it and I recommend it.

Sara's review is truly outstanding. It is nothing short of perfect.

When you read her review, you can immediately sense the depth of her understanding and the passion she has for the subject matter.

The way she presents her thoughts and opinions is both clear and engaging, making it a pleasure to follow along.

She provides detailed analysis and insights that add significant value to the overall understanding of the book or whatever it is she is reviewing.

Not only that, but her writing style is also very polished and professional.

It is evident that she has put a great deal of effort into crafting this review, and it shows.

Overall, Sara's review is a shining example of what a great review should be.

If you are looking for a review that will give you a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the topic, then Sara's review is definitely worth checking out.

You can find it at the following link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This is the story of South Africa, a tale that intertwines the lives of two fathers and two sons. There comes a moment when the fathers meet face-to-face, a moment that encapsulates the very essence of humanity and the arduous struggle for understanding and compassion among men. That instant left me completely shattered.

I cherish the fact that this story is not presented in the spirit of good versus evil, but rather in the spirit of man pitted against his baser instincts. I wholeheartedly loved Stephen Kumalo and Mr. Jarvis, and I could feel the depth of their heartaches. Some books are simply meant to be written; they well up from within an author and spill onto the pages because their message is one that demands to be heard, and this is precisely such a book.

The history of South Africa is a tragic one, and like all colonializations, it is incredibly complex. A way of life was decimated, and there was no genuine effort to provide a viable replacement for the native population.

"It suited the white man to break the tribe," he continued gravely. "But it has not suited him to build something in the place of what is broken."

In the midst of this chaos and turmoil, Paton uncovers the profound wisdoms that make humans reflections of God. Msimangu says, "But there is only one thing that has power completely, and that is love. Because when a man loves, he seeks no power, and therefore he has power." The more I pondered this statement, the more profound and meaningful it seemed to me.

Much of what afflicted the people of South Africa at the time of this book's publication has been addressed, yet its message remains so potent, so crucial, and so universal that it can easily be applied to much of what we continue to witness in the world today. And, on a more personal level, there are the emotions of the men involved that are so authentically in tune with the feelings each of us has or may have.

"This was almost the last thing that his son had done. When this was done he had been alive. Then at this moment, at this very word that hung in the air, he had got up and gone down the stairs to his death. If one could have cried then, don't go down! If one could have cried, stop, there is danger! But there was no one to cry. No one knew then what so many knew now."

Are these not the thoughts that race through our minds at the moment of loss? Why didn't I do this or that? Why wasn't I more vigilant? Why didn't I speak up, hold on tightly, and stop fate by altering the time frame by just one precious second?

I understand that this novel is now included in many high school curricula, and I wholeheartedly applaud this decision. Everyone should read it.

I vividly remember reading the Reader's Digest Condensed Books version of this particular work when I was around 12 or 13 years old. At that time, it provided me with a certain level of enjoyment and understanding. However, around 2008, I decided to pick up the unabridged version. To my great surprise, it felt as if I was reading two completely different books.

The condensed version, while it offered a summary of the main plot and characters, lacked the depth and nuance that the unabridged version had. In the unabridged version, the author's writing style and detailed descriptions came to life, allowing me to truly immerse myself in the story. The characters became more complex and relatable, and the plot twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.

It was a fascinating experience to see how much more there was to the story than what I had initially thought. Reading the unabridged version made me realize the importance of experiencing a book in its full form. It opened my eyes to the beauty and power of literature and made me a more avid reader.

This is probably my top read so far this year.

The writing style employed in this book is truly remarkable. It is so simple, yet it exudes a beauty that is almost poetic. The author has a unique way of using words to paint vivid pictures in the reader's mind.

The story itself is a rollercoaster of emotions. It made me feel sad at times, as I witnessed the hardships and struggles of the characters. It also made me angry, when I saw the injustices they had to endure. However, there were also moments that filled me with hope and gladness, as the characters overcame their obstacles and found happiness.

Overall, this is a rich and beautiful book that I would highly recommend to anyone. It is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

A father and son, a priest and his people, the materially rich and the spiritually rich—this remarkable book vividly reflects the human condition through a series of thought-provoking comparisons. Set in South Africa during a time of escalating racial tensions, the story masterfully maintains its balance with contrasting moments. It weaves a tale of loss, grief, and corruption, yet infuses it with profound hope, perspective, and love.

The little rituals of life are brought to the center stage as the author gently reminds us to cherish the things that truly matter most.

This is undoubtedly one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of picking up. The captivating rhythm of the writing, the weighty themes that it explores, and the sheer beauty of the emotions that make up this story are each individually sufficient to make the book stand out. When combined, they create a literary masterpiece that is an absolute must-read.

It is a book that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page, leaving you with a newfound appreciation for the complex tapestry of human life.