Rating: 
Summary: A Clarification
Review: I read this for an African Literature class, and I was deeply affected by it. It challenges so many aspects of race relations in South Africa, but not in a way that is so obvious the reader feels insulted. Gordimer confronts the "liberal" white view and the black servant view all in one story, and at the end leaves the reader on the cusp of a life-changing choice. It is complicated and confusing, but that is the intention, and the complexity and confusion only add to the richness of the words and the story. Don't let the punctuation and non-linearity drive you away--this novel deserves great exploration.
Rating: 
Summary: Profound look at racial relationships
Review: I read this for an African Literature class, and I was deeply affected by it. It challenges so many aspects of race relations in South Africa, but not in a way that is so obvious the reader feels insulted. Gordimer confronts the "liberal" white view and the black servant view all in one story, and at the end leaves the reader on the cusp of a life-changing choice. It is complicated and confusing, but that is the intention, and the complexity and confusion only add to the richness of the words and the story. Don't let the punctuation and non-linearity drive you away--this novel deserves great exploration.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating, but flawed
Review: I really had to make an effort to figure out her sentence syntax and structure. It's unconventional to say the least (and sometimes just plain ungrammatical). But the story itself is fascinating and kept me riveted. I kept thinking what it would be like to be plucked from my comfortable, secure middle class life and dropped into the African bush. In that way, the success of the book for me, particularly in light of its unsatisfactory ending, had more to do with getting me to think about the situation rather than the book itself. I'm not sure if that makes sense to you, but it's the only way I can describe it. Bottom line is that I kept reading (if it had been really bad, I would have discarded it on page 5) and the impressions it made will stay with me a long time. And I may even give Gortimer's other books a try. But I still couldn't give it an unqualified recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: Ugh.
Review: I think irridium said it most articulately, but I just wanted to add to the hate for this book. I have never experienced such a strong visceral negative reaction to any work of literature. Save yourself some time and read Nabokov's Ada instead.
Rating:
Summary: Ugh.
Review: I think irridium said it most articulately, but I just wanted to add to the hate for this book. I have never experienced such a strong visceral negative reaction to any work of literature. Save yourself some time and read Nabokov's Ada instead.
Rating:
Summary: This book kept me interested from cover to cover.
Review: I wasn't sure what this book was about when I decided to read it, but I must say that it is one of the best books I've read. July's People was a chilling story about the aparteid in South Africa. It tells a compelling story, that follows a white family through those violent times. I gave this book five stars because it is so well writen, understandable, and so exact in details. The vivid descriptions of the atmosphere during this period in history is comendable. I would reccomend it to everyone who loves good literature.
Rating: 
Summary: What was Gordimer Thinking???
Review: In July's people, Nadine Gordimer's use of words are almost confused as the message whe is trying to put across. The novel jumps from section in incoherent section. A horrible representation of how it was like in South Africa. Be like the characters and stay away from this book.
Rating:
Summary: Too Many Dashes
Review: It's too bad so few people understand Gordimer's use of the dash. Not only did she put them in there for quatotions, but they added to the theme of the novel. Isn't the story about a woman, Maureen, who is confused duing her treansition from the city to the country? The entire book is about confusion and misunderstanding. By using this new form of punctuation we are not normally familiar with, she makes the setting of the book even more confusing, thus strengthening the story.
Rating:
Summary: Horribly written, not believable or entertaining
Review: July's People is a worthless novel disguised by a jumble or incomprhensible words. If you're one of the few that can decipher this book then you'll surely come to the same conclusion I have.
Rating:
Summary: village of man
Review: July's people live in a village outside of town. July works for South African whites in town. But the whites treat July well and so when a revolution comes that threatens all whites July takes the whites he works for to the only safe place he knows, his village and so they too become July's people. A really interesting premise full of insight into the value of smaller things like friendship and decency in the face of overwhelming and wholly unexpected events.
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