Vandermerwe
has a concise, easy writing style and she moves the story along a good pace.
Her descriptions are rich and vibrant. (Review by Keith Millar)
The
author of this book, Meg Vandermerwe, is a senior lecturer in creative writing
at the University of the Western Cape. She has two previous publications to her
credit. A short story collection titled The
Place I Call Home and the critically acclaimed novel, Zebra Crossing.
She
was born in South Africa in 1978 but was raised in Switzerland and received her
rather extensive education in the United Kingdom.
Vandermerwe
obviously has a good knowledge of the Cape West Coast and its people as she
paints an alluring and authentic picture of the small un-named fishing village
that is the setting for her novel, The
Woman Of The Stone Sea.
While
reading the story, one gets a real sense of the cluster of whitewashed
fishermen’s cottages, the fishing boats pulled up onto the beach and,
dominating it all, the wild sea with its ever-changing moods.
The
story itself is one of bereavement, sorrow, redemption and friendship.
Fisherman
Hendrik doesn’t have much to live for after his beloved wife Rebekkah walks
into the ocean and is never seen again. Hendrik refuses to accept that she is
dead and gone forever and is convinced she will eventually return.
He
is also still mourning the loss of his brother Anton, an activist who was
murdered by the security police during South Africa’s struggle for freedom of
all its people.
Hendrik
has become a recluse and is making a good effort to drink himself to death. When
he rescues a wounded creature on the beach his fortunes start to take a change
for the better.
The
dark skinned, creature is a woman and has a fishtail. She may be a mermaid or
possibly a mythical Xhosa water maiden which brings good fortune to those who
help them, or even a Mamlambo, the fearsome river creature of Zulu folklore.
Hendrik
hides the creature in his house while she recovers from her injuries.
In
the meantime, Hendrik slowly manages to turn his life around with the help of
old friend Sara, a woman who has also suffered misfortune, and the wise Xhosa
school caretaker, Xolani.
Vandermerwe
has a concise, easy writing style and she moves the story along a good pace.
Her descriptions are rich and vibrant.
The
only worry I had is that she uses many Afrikaans words and local colloquialisms
in her writing and this may make it a bit difficult at times for anyone other than
a bi-lingual South African to follow. There is no glossary provided to overcome
this problem.
That
been said, I found The Woman Of The Stone
Sea to be a pleasant read, rather than one which I could not put down.
The Woman Of The Stone Sea is published by Umuzi. ISBN
978-1-4152-0938-7. Recommended Retail Price is R265. Also available in
Afrikaans. – Keith Millar
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