Jared's Reviews > Absolution

I really don't like giving bad reviews and wish I could give this 2.5 stars just to be neutral. I'm surprised that so many people have commented on how well he has portrayed South Africa and South Africans, as I found myself cringing regularly at the little things he gets wrong. That said, I think it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for someone to write perfectly about a place and people that are not their own - so, he should be congratulated on doing as well as he did.

Patrick Flanery is undoubtedly a talented writer and this is an impressive first book. But I fear also that he has ruined himself by going as far as he did in academia. At the end I felt resentful, wondering if he wasn't simply using South Africa's past to make some academic comment on the politics of history/memory etc.

I don't know if he did it on purpose, or perhaps just felt too daunted by the prospect, but black people are invisible in this book largely set during the struggle. I felt angry at the way he gave the few black characters that do appear such bland, weak portrayals - even when they're there they're almost invisible.

One particular scene in the book has stuck with me as being painful to read. One of the main characters, Sam, is at a Jo'burg mall having dinner in 2009 (I think) and smiles at a black waitress, the waitress sinks below the counter overwhelmed, then has to retreat to a back room. Sam's wife asks what came over the young girl and Sam says he doesn't think she has ever been smiled at by a white man. This is supposed to be set in Rosebank, one of the more cosmopolitan neighbourhoods in South Africa and in 2009. It is ridiculously unrealistic and embarrassing to read, as a white South African male let alone as a young black woman I'm sure.

Flanery obviously enjoys writing about South Africa and has studied the country for a long time, thus I'm sure we can all appreciate that writing about another country and culture is a massive task to get right, and unfortunately he just doesn't succeed. Sorry if that's too harsh, read the book and make up your own mind. There are definitely parts that make it a worthwhile read.