Too Late the Phalarope
by Alan Paton
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Read in January, 2008
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Read in January, 1986
"I kept my peace, which was no peace at all"
How many times have you stood by in silence as you've watched someone descend into self destruction? Would you have been able to save that person if you had only said something; if you had only screamed out your fears?
As someone who tends to want to "keep the peace", I often reflect back on Alan Paton's heart wrenching story when I find myself watching someone take a treacherous path in life. It reminds me that we have a ...more
How many times have you stood by in silence as you've watched someone descend into self destruction? Would you have been able to save that person if you had only said something; if you had only screamed out your fears?
As someone who tends to want to "keep the peace", I often reflect back on Alan Paton's heart wrenching story when I find myself watching someone take a treacherous path in life. It reminds me that we have a ...more
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Read in January, 1997
Passage From Book:
I knew a man that counted the days, each day, everyday, tearing them off on the little block that stood on his desk. He was always looking at his watch, and saying it’s one o’clock or it’s four o’clock or it’s nine o’clock, as though it were something for satisfaction. When April went, he would say, April’s gone, and wait for May to go too. I never saw him on New Year’s Day, but I suppose he would have said, the old year’s gone; he was waiting for death...more
I knew a man that counted the days, each day, everyday, tearing them off on the little block that stood on his desk. He was always looking at his watch, and saying it’s one o’clock or it’s four o’clock or it’s nine o’clock, as though it were something for satisfaction. When April went, he would say, April’s gone, and wait for May to go too. I never saw him on New Year’s Day, but I suppose he would have said, the old year’s gone; he was waiting for death...more
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This gripping novel explores the terrible family and social consequences of choices made in a culture that is very unforgiving of intimate relationships between whites and blacks. It also draws the reader’s compassion for the offending adulterer who unsuccessfully tries to let his wife know of his unfulfilled sexual needs.
What a tragic story, I hope the culture has become more accepting of interracial relationships.
What a tragic story, I hope the culture has become more accepting of interracial relationships.
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
yumi
Too Late the Phalarope offers a devastating look into human brokenness, confession, and ultimately a failure of redemption. How many of us have secret selves? How many of us struggle to share those selves with others and fail? A painful, and beautiful book, although a bit rambling in style, this is the Paton that people should read just as often as cry the beloved country.
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recommends it for:
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I loved this book, I read it about 10 years ago. It is an under-rated South African classic. I prefer it to Cry the Beloved Country and it would make a brilliant movie. Full of all the terrible South African themes, but written in a gripping page turning, yet literary style.
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Read in August, 2007
Because I loved Cry the Beloved Country....more great poetic prose.....another look at apartheid through personal disintegration of the life of a white man who has a brief relationship with a black girl....nothing is simplistic, everyone is sympathetic....really good.
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This is my favorite book of all time. I know that if I were open minded I'd be willing to have a new favorite book of all time, sometime. But no. This is it. Forever.
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Compelling story about race and family in South Africa. What sets it apart from a thousand other similarly themed novels is Alan Paton. He writes so beautifully.
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This book is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. So wistful. I don't know why it hasn't gained the popularity that <i>Cry, the Beloved Country<i> has.
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Read in January, 2006
I only made it through 1/3 of this book. The narrative is beautiful but watching the protagonist hurtle into self-destruction was too painful.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2007
I loved this book. It speaks of the destruction caused by hidden sin and pride and of the need for grace.
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1 comments
Read in January, 1997
Story set in South Africa about a rural family and it's son who goes off to St. Petersburg.
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Read in May, 2007
Fascinating character study taking place in South Africa during Apartheid.
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One of my favorite author, so I hope to read this soon
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