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91st out of 655 books
—
501 voters
A Story Like the Wind
Van der Post’s incomparable knowledge of Africa illuminates this epic novel, set near the Kalahari Desert, about a boy on the verge of manhood, his experiences with the wonder and mystery of a still-primitive land, and his secret friendship with the Bushman whose life he saves. The narrative of A Story like the Wind continues in A Far-Off Place.
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
November 8th 1978
by Mariner Books
(first published January 1st 1972)
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The story initially centers on Francois Joubert, a boy coming of age, & his life near the Kalahari desert; his wonder at the world & culture around him & the unique relationship he & his family have with the local population. This world is fragile, though, which is seen through many omens and foreshadowing. Meanwhile, Francois continues to mature through a friendship with a young lady newly introduced to the African wilds & his secret friendship with the Bushman whose life he...more
Francois Joubert is a boy who has been born and raised in the remote interior of South Africa. His father established a farm in partnership with the local tribes of that area, and Francois has been raised to understand the cultures of the native Matabele as well as the traditional Bushmen. Early in the novel he rescues a lone Bushman who is traveling through the area and they form a close bond. Later he will also befriend the daughter of a European family who move into the area. These two relati...more
I can't decide whether to rate this 3 or 4 stars. It is infuriating because there's so many things about this book that I do not like: the idealized characters, the lack of a coherent plot, the forced shoveling of theme down the reader's throat, the numerous trivial tangents. Yet at the same time, these faults 'worked' in the book's favor, lent it a naive charm of a land seen through the eyes of a young boy suddenly required to mature much too fast. Part philosophical treatise, part written docu...more
Perhaps I especially like coming-of-age stories, but I found this book about a young man coming of age in southern Africa to be beautifully written and touched my heart in a magical sort of way. Also a great deal of insight into Africa and the peoples there, both white and black. I was surprised that I had never heard of van der Post before and surprised that he had not won the Nobel Prize for Literature or similar prizes for this and his many other works. Some parts are just a tiny bit clunky h...more
I've been trying forever to get through this. It sucks me in and then it bores me... a lot of description but slow in some parts.
This was one of the best books I've ever read. Like one of the great children's adventure books (Narnia, Bedknobs, etc) but with a historical and geographical context. The riveting adventure story painlessly taught me about colonial africa in the last century - something I might otherwise have missed. And the mystical layer was so realistically painted that I have a hard time imagining it's not real. The characters settled quickly into my heart and the plot kept me turning pages until it was ove...more
Finally! I finished this book FINALLY after about two years...possibly even three years of reading. It was well worth it. It started off slow for me. So slow, in fact, that I just couldn't keep reading it. Now that I've finished it though, I see that it takes some time to get used to the style of writing and to the pace at which the story is told, but once you do, it's easy to see that it is exactly the pace at which it needs to be read. Don't expect to fly through this book. You'll miss the mos...more
A very well-written work that painted a picture of the beauty of Africa and its people in a way I've never visualized before. The education of the young man in this coming of age story shows how time spent outside and alone complements and enhances a classical education and vice versa.
This book was hard to put down. It was evocative of another time and place. It reflected an intimate acquaintance with the bush. It made me envy the author's skill in creating a magical, memorable story.
This book was hard to put down. It was evocative of another time and place. It reflected an intimate acquaintance with the bush. It made me envy the author's skill in creating a magical, memorable story.
This is a pretty thick book, and you can't read it fast or it loses it's magic. The friend who recomended it to me told me repeatedly that you don't read it for the story, you read it for the images. I agree that the images are beautiful, but I thought it had a story too. It was a wander-and-explore-along-the-way story, but I felt I'd learned something valuable by the end. Be warned though, the story drops off a cliff at the end. You'll want to have the sequel "A Far-Off Place" close by.
This is hands down the best book I've read in years. The descriptions are lush, the story is compelling, and the language is simply beautiful. Van Der Post is an underrated author, and I'm glad to have 'rediscovered' him after last reading his books 25+ years ago. Every time I picked this up, I was instantly transported back into the African bush, with all the plants, animals, sounds, and smells, the stars at night, the incredible sunsets, and of course, the unspeakable horror.
What a wonderful recommendation; thanks Beth. Honestly, I blame the four-star rating on my lack of attention and not the book. I found all the characters, except of course the evil ones, to be very likeable, the kind you want to cheer on to success. The ending was very exciting, and while I had a feeling something like that was coming, I wasn't sure until it happened. I thought all the perspectives of the differing peoples were explained and represented which was nice when being introduced to ne...more
A very poignant account of a different sort of Africa than the one I am familiar with through modern shocking stories about the bloodshed in the south or through statistics about disease incidence rates... or through the lens of colonialism, British "good ole boy" tales of conquest. Interesting persepctive on the time period, and a very beautifully written novel. Read this book when you are in a patient and quiet mood and want to be transported.
Jun 13, 2011
Lynne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Lynne by:
Francie
Shelves:
2011-2012,
historical-fiction
This is the Southern Africa, early 20th c in which European settlers edge into African cultures. The main character, François, is the son of descendants of French Huguenots, a family with deep respect and appreciation for the native people. Another main character is Hintse, a Rhodesian Ridgeback. The book is rich with details of place and culture. I would have given it 5*, but the ending makes it clear...you have to read the sequel.
Feb 26, 2008
David
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
young adults, anyone.
Shelves:
unexpectedly-terrific
Laurens van der Post was one of the people chosen as godfather to Britain's Prince William. Don't hold that against him though - he is also the author of this wonderful book and its sequel, "A Far Off Place", two of my favorite books when I was a teenager.
Set in the Kalahari, the book tells the story of a young boy, Francois, whose life changes for ever when he saves the life of a Bushman, Xhabbo. Van der Post explores the conflict between African and European cultures with sensitivity. I am no...more
Set in the Kalahari, the book tells the story of a young boy, Francois, whose life changes for ever when he saves the life of a Bushman, Xhabbo. Van der Post explores the conflict between African and European cultures with sensitivity. I am no...more
This book was a huge part of my youth. I've read it many times over the years. The descriptions of African landscapes and wildlife are wonderful, and the overall spiritual tenor of the book. I found myself being more questioning of his underlying politics, but those questions are trivial compared to the spirituality underlying the writing.
I am reading this again, having received it as a b'day gift -- so far, I am finding it to be better than the first time I read it.
A beautifully written story about a facet of life in Africa, featuring young Francois. You can read the description and you can read praises elsewhere. But until you read the book, you can't imagine the beauty encompassed in this book! I recommend it, without reservations!!!
A beautifully written story about a facet of life in Africa, featuring young Francois. You can read the description and you can read praises elsewhere. But until you read the book, you can't imagine the beauty encompassed in this book! I recommend it, without reservations!!!
Another magic book that lives in the halfway world between the real and the imaginary. In fact there is no out-and-out magic in it, but the effect of a childhood in Africa on van der Post (and by extension Francois) colors everything in this book with the unworldly blue and gold of a vanished Africa before its innocence was wholly lost. I finished this book after midnight on Christmas eve of 1995 and tiptoed out to pick up the next one (staying at my parents' house is a little like living in a l...more
I LOVE this book and read it every few years. The culture of the Bushmen, the courage and integrity of the people and beauty of Africa as told by a man born there. Van Der Post was in Changi as a POW and he is written about by Weary Dunlop, and interesting story there if you are interested. A very spiritual book.
This book is absolutely BRILLIANTLY written. I love the descriptions, the pictures it evoked in my mind, but the last 10 pages RUINED the ENTIRE book. I won't give it away, but I was so angry when I had finished. As my mother would say, it was a complete and utter emotional manipulation. The way it was presented was callous and abrupt. It strikes me as the kind of thing the authors do when they are feeling insecure and worried their book won't sell and so they add something like this in in order...more
This is now in my top 5 books of all time. How did this book get overlooked back in 1974? Poetic insights into nature and culture of South Africa in early 20th century. Good character development. Hated for the book to end. Guess what?! There's a sequel and I'm starting it now: A Far Off Place
My all time favorite book!
Mr van der Post's ability to bring me the sounds, smells and touch of the south African dusk is quite remarkable. This is a slow book, a book for people who like me could spend 15 minutes exploring one foot of a coral reef...the wonder is all in the minute detail.
Mr van der Post's ability to bring me the sounds, smells and touch of the south African dusk is quite remarkable. This is a slow book, a book for people who like me could spend 15 minutes exploring one foot of a coral reef...the wonder is all in the minute detail.
One of my ALL TIME favorites. If you find yourself enjoying it, the end will leave you absolutely dangling. I recommend having the sequel on your bedside table ready to go, so as not to have both a sleepless night and an anxious wait for the library or bookstore to open the next day!
It is so rare that a book can evoke a place so well that you feel as if you are standing there, right beside the main character, as the tale unfolds. This is such a book, with all the beauty and harshness of the African landscape, and the friendship and turmoil of human relationships.
A compelling tale of the Kalahari. The writer inhabits the psyche of a young European man with highly evolved survival skills, and takes us on a journey through dessert, famine, and sickness. told with assurance and acute observation.
Laurens van der Post writes with passion and empathy. I was caught up in his love for wild Africa. This is a wonderful book. The hero is a bit to good to be true at times, but it is well worth the read.
Probably the most amazing book i have ever read. The Bushmen lived a life profoundly spiritual and closer to the earth and its creatures than any other. I feel like i have lived in southern Africa now.
It's been a long time, but I loved this book and the one after. This one is more quiet and descriptive; the second has more action. I'm planning to read them again and highly recommend them.
This could be a perfect book. I have recommended it to many people and bought it as a present for people of all ages - it rarely fails to become one of the best books they've ever read.
This and it's sequel, A Far Off Place, are 2 of my favorite books of all time. I have reread them probably 8 times each, and am about ready to read them again.
Beautifully descriptive and inspiring story of a young boy who has to grow up quick. I first read it when I was in 8th grade. I thank a daring literature teacher for presenting a formative book in my life.
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Sir Laurens Jan van der Post (aka Laurens van der Post)was a 20th century Afrikaner author of many books, farmer, war hero, political adviser to British heads of government, close friend of Prince Charles, godfather of Prince William, educator, journalist, humanitarian, philosopher, explorer, and conservationist.
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Jun 11, 2008 06:26am