Wednesday 2 January 2013

BLOODY EARTH – Louis Masterson


“’...That panther piss will kill any germs you might have. Have you ever thought about spending a little more and buying a bottle with a label on it?’ ‘I don’t drink paper, and besides, I like my poison to be a surprise...’” (p.12)

Louis Masterson’s “Bloody earth” is a very entertaining work. It tells the story of authorities trying to keep order amidst mass colonization in the state of Oklahoma, as well as a woman’s search for identity and some sort of emotional security. What is also fascinating about “Bloody earth” is the way in which the main protagonist, Morgan Kane, feel sympathy towards the original inhabitants of Oklahoma who is on the very verge of losing all they ever had.

The setting of the story in a boom town provides the natural backdrop for an almost perfect entertaining read. “Bloody earth” is loaded with action and tension, but perhaps most of all; it is funny and full of amazing punch lines in wonderful Western fashion.

“‘...the likes of him, I’d rather have him calling me cuss-words than calling me his friend.’”(p.42)

“I’ve heard plenty about you, and none of it good. Which means you may be the exact man I’m looking for, so long as I don’t turn my back on you”(p.52)

Yet, despite the work being really funny, the story seem to drift for a long time. It’s not easy to write in a way that every chapter is a page turner and it took a long time for things to ‘heat up’ in this work. Masterson compensates for all this by being really really funny and providing some of the most amazing lines. . .

“Whores screamed and cried, dashing from the wagons naked and bolting in all directions. Men followed them, hopping and skipping while trying to pull their pants up” (p.89)

“Sherman, you may know whoring, but I know about Cheyenne. You just leave that detail to me.” (p.94)

When taken into consideration the many shades there is to this work, it is truly amazing. In fact, one is almost ambivalent towards “Bloody earth” since, despite the fact that the story is not always very fast moving, and despite the fact that it is even a bit predictable at times, “Bloody earth” still succeeds in being entertaining and even fascinating. Morgan Kane is no typical lawman, and as a lead character, he is a huge success. He is an unusual man – not always giving you what you exactly expect.

What more is there to say? One begins to read works like “Bloody earth”, expecting one thing, and ending up receiving something else instead. The more I am confronted with these works, the more I am starting to believe that Westerns is not just simple Westerns. They are stories that are often underestimated. Despite having read in total only three Western novels now, of which “Bloody earth” is the second by Masterson, one can clearly start to see patterns in the work of Masterson that differs from DeRosso. But without any further ado, the verdict: “Bloody earth” is a good read and it is because of characters like Kane and works like “Bloody earth” that Western novels should not be overlooked, and least of all underestimated . . .

The rise and fall of apartheid – David Welsh


The Rise and Fall of Apartheid is a very balanced book about the era of apartheid in South Africa. What is very notable is that the book provides an overview of ‘both sides’, namely that of the African National Congress (ANC) as well as the National Party (NP). It also looks at the activities of political groups from all over the spectrum including the PAC, the PFP, the DA, the CP and the AWB. Most importantly, this is not another book about white politics. This is a book that leaves you with insights into the past of all the people of South Africa, and especially about their leaders.

There are many things that I liked about this book, but there are many things less enjoyable also. For me, the style of writing is quite boring. It is very academically written and not exactly Dickens or the like. But still the work is really very ‘informative’, as one observer described it.

To me the most annoying thing though, is the fact that it seems that the book gives you a lot as to the WHY, but less so as to the WHAT. And what I mean by that is that this work does not leave you with the feeling that you have experienced a great story. Rather it left me confused, much like the way South Africa as a country makes one feel in general.

But there are many details that the book do provide that I did not know, and for that I am happy. I would recommend this work, if only for the fact that it splendidly drives the point home that there were no ‘winners’ in South Africa. And that the policy apartheid failed because it was deemed to fail and because it was an artificial way of sorting a country. And more importantly, this book also showed once again that the supposed thick line between black and white in South Africa is not thick at all.

Jesus’ resurrection in Joseph’s garden – FLIP SCHUTTE


A “believer within the Christian paradigm”, that is how Flip Schutte is described according to this little book. But Schutte’s book, I suppose, will by no means be a ‘little’ one for some readers. Quite the contrary.

I wonder how many preachers there are today that does not believe in the trinity anymore. In the reformed churches, one is often led to belief that the interpretation of the life and meaning of the life Jesus is understood very uniform. Of course very few members of reformed churches are informed about catholic tradition (this excludes learned people of course). And so, believers are often totally unaware of the different ways in which the life of Jesus is understood.

Schutte provides at least some of the very important reasons as to how and why Jesus’s life is understood differently by Christians.

Schutte’s work tries to provide answers, but I do not know if any of these will, in the long run, provide answers to some of the most difficult questions facing the church today. At the very least, Schutte gives the reader a perspective on different views, and this is important for whoever cares to take notice.

In “Jesus’ resurrection in Joseph’s garden”, Schutte summarizes a great deal of history impressively, using the eye of a philosopher. As a source on the history of Christianity, this work is a useful point to start off, but the book is more about rationalizing disbelieve within the church than it is about the history of Christianity. Nevertheless, Schutte explores a wide range of themes, most of which is about the nature of narrative and the ancient approach to sacred texts. A lot is also being said about canonization.

Reading this book, what came to my mind time and again, is that the church is very often its own worst enemy. While on the one hand many theologians maintain that Jesus is the son of God, others like Schutte argue that ‘Jesus is a myth to live by’ (p.186). There is very often no continuation between what theologians say. This situation is to my mind not sustainable at all. While some very smart theologians with PhD’s and many years of experience may find it possible to rationalize their disbelief in Jesus as the son of God while still being part of the church, ‘ordinary’ Christians, those who have to face the demons of this world every day and who turn towards Jesus for their hope and inspiration, might not understand things that way...

THE DARK BRAND – H.A. DeRosso


“He was one of the lost, seeking what the restless wind sought...” (pp.7-8 )

“He heard the urgent whisper of the wind as it sought to tell him its numberless secrets...” (p.94)

THE DARK BRAND by H.A. DeRosso is a very impressive action packed work. Officially, it bears the classification of Western, however, a Thriller would be a much better description of this wonderful story.

Possibly the most refreshing aspect of DeRosso’s THE DARK BRAND is the simple fact that this book has that quality one craves from any book and that is that it is a page turner. Although speaking only on my own behalf, I can confirm that never once did I find myself lacking motivation to continue reading. THE DARK BRAND provides one with that motivation from the moment you pick it up.

But what is most surprising about THE DARK BRAND, apart for its exciting story, is the book’s wonderful characterization. As with most colonial style works (and Westerns tend to fall in that category, be it novels of films), there are the ‘good guys’ and the ‘baddies’ in THE DARK BRAND. However, DeRosso almost confronts the reader with a protagonist who is flawed in his own right. The main protagonist, one Driscoll, is not only a ‘dark’ man in his reasoning, he is even an ex-convict having been jailed for a crime that he openly admits he committed.

“He felt a gloom come over him, a premonition of the grave, darkening his spirits a moment, filling him with an instant’s futility.” (p.211)

Apart from this a-typical hero side to Driscoll, he displays trades typical to many men of his time. He is a loner and not used to company:

“He felt very uncomfortable, because this was something strange to him, eating at a table in a home, with china plates and cups instead of tin, without the somber darkness of prison or the guttering smoke of a lonely campfire stinging his ears and wind blowing grit into his food. Something touched him deeply and he kept his eyes on his plate.” (p.61)

He remains a dark sort of character all the way; it is only at the end that one really starts to feel that you are getting to know him a bit. But this image of Driscoll fits in lovely with the rest of THE DARK BRAND. There is a somber air to the whole work. Somber. And the word keeps creeping up. In THE DARK BRAND, there is even a mountain range carrying that name – the Sombras. A word unfamiliar to my spellchecker, which is set on English (South Africa), somber, a word similar to gloomy, dark and very serious, according to other dictionaries at my disposal. But then, even DeRosso’s title, THE DARK BRAND, suggests the dark backdrop against which this story is set. Death is all over, even in the opening two chapters, where a man is subjected to capital punishment.

There is an air of futileness about THE DARK BRAND. Of people being uncertain, not only about the world around them, but one sense also about themselves in the world...

“He swore at his softness, at this strange person that had taken command of him, and mounted the black and, leading the other two horses, rode westward, toward the Sombras, the mountains of shadow and sorrow.” (p.192)

“I get lonesome very often but this is a lonely country to begin with, and somehow I don’t feel at home unless I am lonely with it” (p.70)

There is only one thing that one miss in this work, and only a little bit, and that is that you do not get that strong feel of country or being in the ‘wild’ of the ‘wild’ west. There are very few descriptions of the environment, animals and the countryside. It is as if the work is almost completely people orientated in a way, but then again, Driscoll himself, with his criminal record, doesn’t come across as your typical hero that is set to tame the wild. He displays most of the trades one expect from a hero, apart from this little fact, and it makes the world of difference with regards to the reading experience. The lack of ‘feeling’ the country, however, in this work, didn’t do too much harm to my overall impression of the work.

THE DARK BRAND is a simple yet powerful story. Maybe it is because the story is so simple that it is so powerful. It tells the story of a man who is wrongfully suspected of knowing where a former fellow jail inmate hid the money he stole. Apart from all the treats of this wonderful work, the story has some amazing twists as well.

THE DARK BRAND, in my mind, is a very very interesting and unusual work. It is well worth the read for anyone with a taste for Westerns, and even those who do not typically fancy it will possibly find it refreshing. In my search for the perfect Western novel, the DARK BRAND now ranks number one. However, the search will go on. It is a spiritual quest, and although I am not certain of success, I know that the journey will be far more important than the destination...

Tuesday 1 January 2013

Alan Paton: Selected letters. Edited and introduced by Peter F. Alexander


‘Alan Paton: Selected letters’ is a collection of letters that was written by the well-known author Alan Paton. This collection of letters will be of interest to anybody with a passion for 20th century South African and African history in general. As a source on the life and work of Alan Paton it is also very valuable.

Alan Paton wrote his letters on a great number of subjects. His correspondents include family members, colleagues, friends and a list of well-known individuals including authors and politicians. The first of these letters was written while Paton was still a student. The last letter was written shortly before his death.

Although Paton touches on a wide range of issues in his letters, and although Paton was a man who partook in a variety of projects during his life, what is of particular interest is of course Paton’s process of authorship and his frustrations as an author. Paton was a man who had a passion for literature from a very early age in his life, but after the success of his world famous novel ‘Cry, the beloved country’, Paton was not able to write another book with as much success. This led to frustration for Paton, something that comes to the fore in these letters.

The process of writing and the particulars of a famous novel receive a lot of attention in this book. And it is in a fascinating format since it was not written specifically for this publication. It is written piece by piece for individuals and presented as an enjoyable and compact whole.

Of great interest is Paton’s political activism – something that is lesser known about him to those interested in his work. For many years Paton was a member of the parliament in South Africa. He was a staunch critic of the policy of apartheid and racial segregation, but Paton was never a revolutionary politician. Alan Paton’s views as a politician is well reflected in these letters.

A lot is also to be learned of Paton’s personal relationships in these letters. Alan Paton was married twice, had children and had close friendships. A lot of the letters was written to his family, especially during the time while he was working on ‘Cry...’.

It is very important to study primary sources of historical nature. It brings us much closer to the past than any textbook can do. This publication makes precisely that possible and therefore it is a very valuable contribution to the collection of important documents in our historical heritage and very well worth the read.

THE BLACK ICE – Michael CONNELLY


“There was always a baby at his mother’s breast. And, sometimes, a baby alone in a dumpster. Somewhere.” (p. 114)

When it comes to crime fiction, in my mind, there is no author that can compare to Michael Connelly. And when it comes to main characters in crime novels, in my mind, there none more cut-out for being a crime novel hero than Hieronymus ‘Harry’ Bosch. In Harry Bosch, Connelly has created the almost perfect protagonist. A flawed man, Harry is utterly successful, if not always as a cop, then at least in the joy he provides for the reader.

And so it is with THE BLACK ICE. THE BLACK ICE is just one of the many novels featuring Bosch as its main character, and it is perhaps not even the most entertaining of them all, yet it is entertaining enough, if for no other reason, then for the fact that it features Bosch. It is set in a world filled with violence, drugs, failed relationships, distrust and the like, yet as usual, despite the dark nature of this work, there is always an amount of ‘light at the end of the tunnel’. It is always enjoyable to read works of a cross border nature. THE BLACK ICE is such a work. It reminded me of a Western novel in many ways, perhaps a Morgan Kane adventure. On the one hand, there is L.A. And then there is Mexico. It speaks a different language, and the people are unpredictable, and they don’t always like Americans. And this makes for lots of leisure reading pleasure. In fact, THE BLACK ICE is perhaps nothing but a modern day Western. There are the good guys, the baddies, and a whole lot to munch on as they vie for victory.

In THE BLACK ICE, Bosch typically runs into trouble with his own department. Being Bosch, one has to cause many many troubles for oneself, in order to solve the greatest of them all. While trying to solve cases, and being under pressure to do so at lightning fast pace, Bosch sets of to Mexico, disobeying orders along the way and causing a great general stir, landing himself in great trouble, all this while continuously confronting his own demons along the way. Perhaps this story takes a while to get going. This was my impression, and this is a-typical of Connelly’s works. Often times, these novels are edge of the seat stuff from the word go. Yet despite this particular novel struggling to really ‘get going’, Connelly still is able to hold one’s attention.

There were some memorable moments in THE BLACK ICE. Having read most of Connelly’s works, THE BLACK ICE certainly does not rank number one in my mind when compared to his other works. Yet it is certainly worth the read. For fans of the ‘Bosch’ character THE BLACK ICE is of course a must read and those unfamiliar with Connelly’s works might also be hooked after putting this one down.

Action. Adventure. Bosch. Enough said.

The war diary of burgher Jack Lane, 16 November 1899 to 27 February 1900. Edited by William Lane


The war diary of burgher Jack Lane chronicles the experiences of a member of the South African Republic’s military during the long and bitter Anglo-Boer war of 1899 to 1902. It is a very insightful account of the war. The author of this work partook in the war against his will, being an Englishman who settled in South-Africa. Subsequently he is very critical of the Boer forces, despite being part of a Boer commando.

This publication is in many ways a very important one. There is a lot known about the South African war, and yet, for some reason, it remains a very over-romanticized line of events in the history of South Africa. Where it is often portrayed as a war of bravery, it was very often marked by the opposite.

The Anglo-Boer war was a bloody, tragic and largely unnecessary business. It was a war that should have never taken place. It was a season of disinformation, lies and big ego’s, both on the Boer side as well as the British side. It was a war, not between two civilized races, but against civilians (much like modern day jihad). It can thus be said to have been a war fought by cowards, won by losers and lost by idiots. The war dairy of burgher Jack Lane confirms this, at least to me.

But most of all, it was a war of innocent victims, caught up between the political egos of cowards calling themselves statesmen. One often encounter, while you read through the pages of this work, how many Boers would brag about their bravery, but would run away from gunfire or would try to injure themselves to obtain sick leave. Rich influential men, often having being politically affiliated with the president Paul Kruger, would obtain powerful positions in the force – not because they are the best men for the job, but because they are able to manipulate the election processes.

Inevitably, this led to a poor and disorganized Boer force. Although there were many brave Boers (the war would not have lasted so long had there not been so many brave Boers), the Boer forces were, as a rule, disorganized and pathetic and were it not for their guerrilla tactics the war would have been over long before 1902.

But the diary does not chronicle this part of the war, because Jack is taken prisoner. It also doesn’t tell any tales of how the British army treated the women and the children like animals – burning down their houses and crops, and moving them to overpopulated concentration camps in open train trucks with no sanitation in the blazing African sun and thru the icy cold night, only to die in their thousands of hunger and disease.

These people were the real heroes of the Anglo-Boer war, and the war diary of Burger Jack Lane tells us why. It tells the story of how society can flourish on lies – and how chaos and murder is soon to follow in the shadows of these.