Book Review: Stones for my Father by Trilby Kent

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Stones for My Father spans the life of Corlie Roux.

Corlie Roux’s farm life in South Africa is not easy: the Transvaal is beautiful, but it is also a harsh place where the heat can be so intense that the very raindrops sizzle. When her beloved father dies, she is left with a mother who is as devoted to her sons as she is cruel to her daughter. Despite this, Corlie finds solace in her friend, Sipho, and in Africa itself and in the stories she conjures for her brothers.

But Corlie’s world is about to vanish: the British are invading and driving Boer families like hers from their farms. Some escape into the bush to fight the enemy. The unlucky ones are rounded up and sent to internment camps.

Will Corlie’s resilience and devotion to her country sustain her through the suffering and squalor she finds in the camp at Kroonstad? That may depend on a soldier from faraway Canada and on inner resources Corlie never dreamed she had….

From the moment I started reading I became engulfed in the life of Corlie and her storytelling abilities. Like Corlie, I was raised by a woman who I just can’t seem to love. If the saying is true, love begets love, then Corlie and I are innocent. But all is not lost. We have siblings and friends who to fill in the gaps.

Trilby Kent does a wonderful job of presenting a story to readers that is relatable and visual. She did an awesome job of giving the readers an inside glimpse to the thoughts of a child growing up in a country destroyed by war and prejudice.

As I read this book I thought back to the book, The Freedom Writers Diary. It really made me think about wars that young people fight everyday…the undeclared wars. Imagine having to live in a war stricken country while fighting a war in your home, where you’re supposed to find safety and refuge.

Before I read this book I didn’t know anything about the Boer War. It saddened me to read and even begin to think about what these children endured during these times. My mind wandered further and made me think about children who are currently enduring similar situations… war is never good…there are no winners.

If you’re looking for a historical fiction novel then you must definitely pick this book up. It is a short read but not a quick one. I often found myself reading back through passages to absorb it all. I intend to read back through this book and interview the author if she’s available. I think we all can learn something from this book and I’m always up for learning.

TRILBY KENT was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in cities on both sides of the Atlantic. After completing degrees at Oxford University and the London School of Economics, she worked for a time in the rare books department at Bonhams before turning to journalism and writing novels for children and adults. Her first book, Medina Hill, is also available from Tundra Books. Trilby Kent lives in London, England.

You can also find Trilby on Twitter.

Five copies of Stones for my Father will by given away on Goodreads. You must be a member of Goodreads to enter, membership is free. Canada and US only. Contest closed May 1, 2011.

Follow the tour to see what other bloggers are saying:

Monday, April 25, 2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011