Sixteen-year-old Davey Baker is in the attic when the militia comes to Edenfields to reclaim his familys farm. Locked in shock, he witnesses the br...
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reviews
Dec 14, 2009
Louise
rated it: 
I didn't exactly love this book but was able to tolerate it enough to finish. I guess ya just can't please all of the people, all of the time. lol
From dust jacket:
"Set against the backdrop of a post-independent African country during the notorious farm attacks, UNFEELING is a powerful narrative that captures the moral, political, and social complexity of a nation torn apart by violence.
Sixteen-year-old Davey Baker is in the attic when the militia comes More...
From dust jacket:
"Set against the backdrop of a post-independent African country during the notorious farm attacks, UNFEELING is a powerful narrative that captures the moral, political, and social complexity of a nation torn apart by violence.
Sixteen-year-old Davey Baker is in the attic when the militia comes More...
Sep 01, 2009
Jean
rated it:
This literary novel is set in Africa. While this story is fictional, it speaks truths and is based around true events.
White, 16-year-old Davey witnesses his family being murdered by a Black militia who has come to reclaim the land his family has farmed for several generations. Davey, who survives the attacks by hiding, is taken in by the nearby farmers who have always acted as a second family to Davey. After a few weeks, he is sent back to boarding school where he is expected to heal More...
White, 16-year-old Davey witnesses his family being murdered by a Black militia who has come to reclaim the land his family has farmed for several generations. Davey, who survives the attacks by hiding, is taken in by the nearby farmers who have always acted as a second family to Davey. After a few weeks, he is sent back to boarding school where he is expected to heal More...
Mar 03, 2011
Gerold
rated it: 
A sad book because it is based loosely on facts: the (colonial) farmers own most of the arable farm land and have done so for generations. Under the guise of giving the farm land back to the indiginous people, the land is forcefully taken back, regardless of the cost to the (colonial) owners. There are no consequences if they are killed in the process. However, the farm land is not given to the indiginous farmers but taken over by greedy politicians using it as a status symbol - the farm allowed
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Nov 11, 2009
Allison
rated it:
I sort of feel like the title of this novel has more to do with my reaction to it than to the content of the book. I generally really appreciate a human face being put on a tragic or problematic situation. I had read about white farmers being slaughtered and their farms taken over by black South Africans, in a clumsy, violent, horrifying effort at restoring an imbalance, and I was interested in reading about it. I just never felt emotionally connected to any of the characters. It's certainly
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May 14, 2010
Doreen
rated it:
Although it doesn't acknowledge it the book is set in Zimbabwe during the time of the farm attacks. In fact in some ways it could be set in the present day as the issues are still very much the same. I did some research on this book and author after reading it as I was once again interested in why it received quite abit of attention and was short listed for some awards. I have been to South Africa and my close friend lived in Zimbabwe in the 1990's and I have followed the
politics of the co More...
politics of the co More...
Nov 12, 2011
Katherine
rated it: 
I picked up this book a while ago from Book Crossing and was intrigue by the story being set in Africa (allegedly Zimbabwe, as the author was born there). The story surrounds the murder of the Baker parents, white, by black Africans who are reclaiming their farmland to be theirs. The surviving son is in shock, as he has witnessed their deaths and is looking for vengeance. The story is very much told by the white perspective and I'm not sure how well the dynamics of White Colonialism is elaborate
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Feb 01, 2012
Lisa
rated it:
On a lucky street lately for picking up great reads. This one was very good and highly recommend but its disturbing...disturbing in what we humans can do to others, including creatures. Set in Africa during the farm attacks. best not to say much as the story goes back and forth and reading the back of the book..or reviews..could lessen the discovery.
Aug 04, 2011
SOOOO confusing, present/past is mixed into paragraphs for the first 1/2 of the book, i never knew what was going on, last half mixed it up in chapters at least. Overall the story was ok once i was finished and realized what went on but i wouldn't read it again!
Jan 14, 2010
Catherine
rated it:
A tough story to read, but interesting assessment of what is happening in parts of Africa.
Apr 24, 2009
Neville
rated it:
I couldn't make it through the whole book. It just didn't feel good enough to draw me in.
Oct 01, 2008
Sally
rated it: 
I enjoyed reading about the inner beliefs of the white Zimbabwean farmers and why they believe so firmly that their farms should belong to them forever. On the other hand, the author makes no excuses for their racist behavior and their almost complete lack of awareness of the lives of the Africans who live on their farms. As with many good books from Africa, it is a violent and brutal story.
May 14, 2010
Katherine
rated it:
This is one of my all-time favorite books. It's terribly difficult to get a hold of since it was written in Zimbabwe, but it's a gut-wrenching account of the farm takeovers when Mugabe came to power in Zimbabwe.
May 31, 2009
John
rated it:
The story of a boy who's family of Zimbabwean farmers is murdered and then he seeks revenge.
Jan 18, 2012
Dec 03, 2011
Nov 10, 2011
