2005 book 56

zakes mda's the madonna of excelsior
mda, a well-known and award-winning south african author, takes a really interesting approach in this novel--it manages to discuss the chaotic political scene in south african in the 1970s and 80s by focusing on one family, whose matriarch, niki, was part of an interracial sex scandal (sexual relations b/w blacks and whites was actually against the law in south africa during apartheid, which probably you all know, but just in case you didn't, i thought i'd mention it). oh, and every chapter starts with a description of a painting by a local priest/artist guy, so the town's experiences are also filtered through his particular lens. i realize i'm making this sound very dry and political, but it's an excellent novel--the characters of niki's children, especially her mixed-race daughter, are very compelling, as are the many small-town intrigues that pop up during the story.

hmm--i really feel like i haven't read too much this month, at least compared to other months this year, but i'm 19 books ahead of where i was last year at this time, which is pretty impressive . . . unless this is somehow a barometer of how much of a life i have, in which case it's a little bit sad. :)