<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Much adjustment for Mark in coming to America
Review: Having read the author's seminal work "Kaffir Boy", recounting the incredible hardships in the South African ghetto where he was raised, I was eager to learn more about how Mark Mathabane fared once he arrived in his so-called "promised land" and started the adjustment from a repressed third-world existence to one of opportunity and possibility in the US.
Two things struck me about this follow up account of his life which bear mentioning: the author continues with his unflinchingly honest style of revealing everything, good and bad, in his experience; and secondly, the adjustment was difficult, because of the obvious cultural differences (and some similarities) to South Africa, together with the author's intense personality (which could also be seen, arguably, as stubbornness). Mathabane is unquestionably well read, highly intelligent, highly motivated and has strong opinions. Those are not faults, although he does tend to be a little unnecessarily verbose at times (and this, despite him quoting writers who warn against such things); his opining and at times unwillingness to bend or compromise or adapt to others led him to change or discontinue college courses at least four times, and some would say, squander opportunities. That last point is in the end, probably unsustainable, since he has accomplished much, and succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams in reaching a wide and sympathetic audience for his story and work.
It is obvious that Mathabane, after having seen so much suffering and rising above it, does not want to be conventional, which led him to discontinue studies under scholarships at schools that most college students would covet the opportunity to attend. To his credit, he does not try to hide these issues, nor does he hide the, at times, incredulity and head-shaking from those well-meaning and intelligent friends, including Stan Smith and others, who question his decisions and direction.
Mathabane brought to light, at a very needed time, the struggles of South Africa under apartheid. I found him more compelling, more convincing and I felt more empathetic in reading his experiences in South Africa in "Kaffir Boy", than in his recounting of his new life in America in this book, although there are some good passages which shine light on how a form of apartheid, economic and power-oriented as much as racial, still exists in America today. In the end, people of various persuasions appear to have looked to Mathabane to argue their view, be it Christian, humanist, liberal or conservative. I don't think any one group is entirely comfortable with where he sits. It seems at times that he is a little conflicted about where his beliefs lie. It can be frustrating at times, but ultimately this is not a measured and resolute work of fiction, but a true story of this man's life, with all its faults, contradictions and accomplishments wrapped up together.
Rating:
Summary: Let Down by Mathabane
Review: I agree with the previous reviewer that this was a big disappointment. After reading the amazing book Miriam's Song, I was looking forward to Mark's own story. Upon his arrival in America, he enters college under a tennis scholarship. Continually disappointed with his college choices, he changes schools three times within the first year and a half. He is unable to make the tennis teams and is voted off a soccer team by his teammates. Likely because of cultural differences, Mark has many difficulties making friends. He comes across as a self-serving egoist. He's not a sympathetic central figure for a book.Likable tennis star Stan Smith emerges as the behind-the-scenes hero. Mark repeatedly approaches Stan and his wife for more money, first for college and later for grad school. (This does not add to Mark's appeal.) Though Stan and his family live frugally, they continue to provide Mark with money and introductions to their personal friends. Despite my dissatisfaction, I still look forward to reading Mark's Kaffir Boy. However, I will think twice before reading his other books in which I was previously interested (about the interracial relationship with his wife and the book about his grandmother/mother/sister). If you've read other books of Mark's, you need to read this as part of his story. If you haven't read any of his books yet, I wouldn't recommend starting with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Review
Review: Ive never read the book but the first one was good
Rating: 
Summary: arrogant, self promotion
Review: kaffir boy was a good book but this one was just terrible. like one of the previous reviewers said, it's full of self-promotion and pats on the back. mark's ego must have just blown out of proportion after the success of kaffir boy. now, that's he's married a white woman, he's got it all apparently. i certainly feel no sympathy for him after reading this book. i saw the man speak at a college and let me tell you, he is even more arrogant in person than he is on page.
Rating:
Summary: Kaffir Boy
Review: Reviewer: Ana Quiroz from Torrance, CA
May 5, 2004 When I first read the book Kaffir Boy I was surprise in how the people were and how they were being treated, like sometimes they wouldn't have no food and they would eat anything, and that makes me think how food shouldn't go to waste because there are so many people in the world that are hungry. And how even people in the world would even consider prostituting just to get something to eat. I think that Mathabane had a rough childhood and he was being harrassed by his dad that would always hit him and treat him bad and his mom was his only help she would talk to him and tell him how he was.
Its tough being a teenager and not only suffering in school but thinking if you have something to eat at home like Mathabane would do and almost getting raped when you only ate a little something to eat it is sad how people go through all of that and still manage to succeed in life. When I told my friend about this book and what is it about she went and bought a copy, and her mom didn't want her to read that book because its to strong for her as well as other parents in school but I think it helps teenagers how life sometimes is with people even though we don't know it or we try to avoid it. As we see our future its not always how we say its going to be but hopefully it will. Mathatbane lived in a bad time their was slavery, no respect, hunger and most of all they didn't care what woman think, I guess having all of that would make a really bad childhood. And even some kids didn't have an education so they were in the streets with gangs and doing bad things that would get them in trouble and with no future.
I would recommend this book to people because is not like any other books it talks about important issues that really do happen in life and that is important it helps teens to look at life valuable and to be thankful of what you have.
Rating:
Summary: Kaffir Boy
Review: Reviewer: Ana Quiroz from Torrance, CA
May 5, 2004 When I first read the book Kaffir Boy I was surprise in how the people were and how they were being treated, like sometimes they wouldn't have no food and they would eat anything, and that makes me think how food shouldn't go to waste because there are so many people in the world that are hungry. And how even people in the world would even consider prostituting just to get something to eat. I think that Mathabane had a rough childhood and he was being harrassed by his dad that would always hit him and treat him bad and his mom was his only help she would talk to him and tell him how he was.
Its tough being a teenager and not only suffering in school but thinking if you have something to eat at home like Mathabane would do and almost getting raped when you only ate a little something to eat it is sad how people go through all of that and still manage to succeed in life. When I told my friend about this book and what is it about she went and bought a copy, and her mom didn't want her to read that book because its to strong for her as well as other parents in school but I think it helps teenagers how life sometimes is with people even though we don't know it or we try to avoid it. As we see our future its not always how we say its going to be but hopefully it will. Mathatbane lived in a bad time their was slavery, no respect, hunger and most of all they didn't care what woman think, I guess having all of that would make a really bad childhood. And even some kids didn't have an education so they were in the streets with gangs and doing bad things that would get them in trouble and with no future.
I would recommend this book to people because is not like any other books it talks about important issues that really do happen in life and that is important it helps teens to look at life valuable and to be thankful of what you have.
<< 1 >>
|
