July’s People Audiobook

" I'll be honest. I didn't finish it. It confused me and didn't grab me. "

" Liked this more than i thought i would... "

" It's "Trading Places" in Apartheid South Africa. Good times! "

" A story of the challenges in overcoming social class barriers in South Africa. This book doesn't necessarily bring out the best qualities in blacks and whites, but it does attempt to capture the unique essence of each. Relationships were ultimately portrayed as too transactional rather than genuine, with few slivers of opportunity presented for future integration and harmony. This book weaves a captivating tale but fails to deliver a moving message of hope. "

" This book took me by surprise. Set in Apartheid South Africa with a white family depending upon it's servant (July) for survival as they flee the burning riots, I didn't expect some of the dynamism that she gives to her characters. The book is much less about this family's struggle to get out of a very tough situation and much more about the changes and new roles the characters take on through the story. I really enjoyed it. "

" Now that some months have passed since I finished this, I keep forgetting what it was about which says to me that it's a good book but not a memorable one even though the topic should be. "

" Nadine Gordimer is an amazing writer but it's hard to read. An interesting perspective on apartheid. A black family protects his boss' family and they see first hand how the living conditions are. Eye opening. "

" A very good read. Gripping story about a white family caught up in the overthrow of white South Africa. "

" Beautifully written and short, July's People is a slow read with little happenings. The crawl fits the location of the novel, a small village away from major uprisings in apartheid South Africa. "

" what i remember most was that gordimer's prose resembled being in a hot malaise, powerfully creating the setting and mood of her africa. if not for the malaise from being stuck in the most humid korean summer ever, i might have appreciated this book more. "

" Came to this one (a bit guiltily) from Theroux's "Dark Star Safari." How did I miss this? The Nobel committee has great taste. "

" Perhaps the dashed and disjointed sparse writing style was a metaphor for the displaced and exchanged worlds of white and black South Africans when enough was enough. Only the children are not confused and remain a timeless, universal bastion of hope for peace on earth. "

" I'll have to admit to being a bit mystified by this book. Perhaps it was the unfamiliar setting compounded by the multiple-characters'-train-of-consciousness style. Perhaps it deserves another reading. "

" Boring as hell, hard to follow b/c of the unique writing style of the author; I'm still not sure how it ended. "

" left-leaning prosperous young family must take refuge in hut owned by their former servant when uprisings upend the status quo. No 'noble savage' here. "

" I'm really not sure about this book. It's wonderfully written by Nadine Gordimer, but maybe I was expecting a bit more from one of South Africa's most recognised writers. Not much seems to happen... maybe I'm just missing something. "

" Wow. What a story, especially in it's day. "

" It is a little challenging to suffer through the author's style at times: " the circumstances are incalculable in the manner in which they come about..." awkward! "

" Explores race and class struggles in South Africa. "

" One of the primary books I wrote my undergrad thesis on. Very interesting book. "

" Perhaps the dashed and disjointed sparse writing style was a metaphor for the displaced and exchanged worlds of white and black South Africans when enough was enough. Only the children are not confused and remain a timeless, universal bastion of hope for peace on earth. "

" It is a little challenging to suffer through the author's style at times: " the circumstances are incalculable in the manner in which they come about..." awkward! "

" This was really difficult to get through, but parts have certainly stayed with me, and I doubt that they will just go away. I'm glad to have read this in school. "

" This is one of my favorite books. Gordimer is one of the most difficult writers I have ever read but this book is well worth it. "

" I'll have to admit to being a bit mystified by this book. Perhaps it was the unfamiliar setting compounded by the multiple-characters'-train-of-consciousness style. Perhaps it deserves another reading. "

" since i can't give this book a 2.5, i just rounded up to 3. this book was very confusing but once on gets used to it, it is actually kind of beautiful in its words "