Damon Galgut

(7.5) There is a lethargy in the writing of this book that sets the tone for this apathetic group of Drs and the very rundown hospital. Laurence's idealism is admirable but he meets resistance from the existing staff.
Well-written and I suspect realistic portrayal of a forgotten, neglected village hospital and the impact this has on the staff, who are also realistic about the unliklihood of change.

Superb book! Beautifully crafted story telling - just enough detail, but never too much, and wonderful characterisation lets the reader slip into this different part of the world. The old writer's rule - show, don't tell applies here. The characters grow to believable beings, but never because the author told you so - there are just dabs of detail here and there, and the person in the book becomes three dimensional and real.
I loved it.

This novel is about a dysfunctional South African family around the time of apartheid and the decades following. A deathbed promise is broken and the fallout tears the family and its members apart. The writing style felt odd to me, very coldly observed. The characters also seemed cold and hollowed out, but intentionally so. This was a book club read so I am looking forward to discussing it, but I can't say I liked it all that much. It won the Booker Prize, but I'm not seeing it personally.