After the Rains

by Emily Barroso

After the Rains is an adventurous, dramatic coming of age novel set in post-colonial Rhodesia that parallels the coming of age of fictional Jayne Cameron with that of post-colonial Rhodesia as it morphs into the free Zimbabwe. This is an intimate novel, told in the first person, of a young, spirited girl. It is set against a vast backdrop of the upheaval and tragedy of an African war, in which a girl battles to make sense of her life during the complexities of her time. The novel has universal appeal with its themes of land, loss, longing and redemption and the ability of the human spirit to overcome great odds. After the Rains is narrated in the first person by Jayne. She tells the story of her experience of the war, and how it shapes her as an individual as she struggles to come to terms with its impact on her and her family. The novel seeks to look at both 'sides'. Does the land belong to black or white Zimbabweans or both? Who is to blame for the atrocities that occurred during the war? This is a powerful, gripping read that is ultimately redemptive for Jayne, written by an author whose own early life was affected by similar themes. Emily Barroso has been compared to writers such as Alexandra Fuller (Don't Let's Go To the Dogs Tonight).

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Lizzy Baldwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

So reading the blurb I wasn’t sure on this book. Although I adore historical fiction sometimes I worry that I don’t have enough knowledge to really get to enjoy the book depending what era it is in. Now stick with me, my fondness for this genre does sit in the history of the story that is being told but I don’t want to feel like I’m missing out if I lack knowledge in that area of history. Here however, I found myself utterly compelled to keep reading deeper into the plot, learning more and more as I worked my way further into the narrative. As you can see from the blurb we follow Jayne, a darling character who lives during the dire and disastrous consequences of the African Civil war. We see as she struggles to make sense of the world around her as it radically changes causing her ideas regarding her life to change fundamentally. A wonderful read with a real sense of recovery and redemption.

So, in terms of the historical side of this novel I thought that the political side of the book was written with such a level of skill that I couldn’t put the book down. The writing is melodic and lyrical but it is stuffed full of details and specifics that help to pinpoint the reader into this new environment. The writing is powerful and poetic, full of detailed writing that is both gripping and vivid but smooth and without stumbles. It is so evocative of the reasons why I adore historical fiction. The characters are brilliantly built; Jayne is both free-spirited and gentle but then powerful and unmoveable. She has a gentle spirit and seeing her life change so definitely made me feel a little emotional. The additional supporting characters that are interweaved into the life of the main character are also written flawlessly. The book is written with heartfelt emotion that is written layer after layer into the plot itself. It’s not all tears and pain because there is also laughter and forgiveness and a sense of recovery that makes this is all the more moving.

In terms of details, I thought the specifics of the farmers working tireless and the miners and the ways that lives were changed in a way that could not be reversed was written brilliantly. I felt, as I was reading that I was learning more and more about this part of the world and this time in history. The pace is steady, but I think it works here; there are not jolts or upheavals but instead a languishing story that I won’t forget for a while I can promise you that. I thought the use of the native language helped to make this more evocative and real. I say this all the time but historical fiction needs to place the reader somewhere utterly and completely new and this does this with stunning clarity.

Overall, if you couldn’t tell I loved this book. Powerful and exciting it was a book that I didn’t really want to end. I think the title is beautiful and the cover matches it perfectly. Overall a really strong read and one I will be passing along so others get the joy of experiencing it for themselves.

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

[Katherine Blessan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Barroso's first novel follows the life of 12 year old Jayne (Jay) Cameron and her family's experience as white farmers in Rhodesia / Zimbabwe during the civil war up until she's 15 or 16. It is a beautifully written immersive experience, where you experience the sights, sounds and smells of Jay's world as if you were living it for yourself. It is a story that doesn't offer easy answers about racism, colonialism or the rights of farmers, but we understand the different perspectives through the various characters including Jay's black friend, Enoch, and her 'commie' loving aunt, Nessie, and her own hard bitten parents. It is a colourful read (with the dialogue liberally splattered with the colloquialisms and cursing of the characters), which further immerses us in the realism of this world. Although the novel tackles serious issues, it has plenty of humorous moments, which keeps it from being too heavy.

[Les Capouya · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the Rains
Having grown up during the ‘Hondo’, or Rhodesian Bush War, this book brought a lot of memories screaming back. Good and bad. That does not mean the book is bad. After the Rains is beautifully written in first person, from the perspective of a young girl, coming of age. Set mostly in the Eastern Highlands of what is now Zimbabwe, Barroso paints multiple masterpieces of people and places of what might have seemed to be an idyllic life. But as with families, fortunes and places anywhere, there are relationships, places and politics conspiring to turn over the ’fruit basket’. The book may draw a African ex-patriot in deeply, but the book also pulled in my American born and raised wife. Definitely worth reading.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not my usual choice of a book - coming of age novel, but it was set in Rhodesia in the 1970s during its transition to Zimbabwe and I remembered the news stories from my childhood. It looks at the transition from the perspective of a young white girl reaching her teenage years, no longer encouraged to play with her black childhood friends and examines the differing views of those around her, both white and black, regarding the political turmoil.

Some reviewers have found the use of a few Africaans words and phrases offputting, but I did not find this the case. There is a glossary and most could be surmised from the context. I did not find this a barrier to enjoying the story.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a bit tired of the plot midway.

[Yvann S · Rating 1 out of 5]

“Everyone knows that terrs poison dogs before they attack.”

(Please note: I have referred to Rhodesia repeatedly in this review – this is not a political choice, simply a reflection of the fact that in the time in which this book was set, the country now known as Zimbabwe was called Rhodesia in the English-speaking world)

From the blurb: Amidst the full throttle of civil war, tomboy Jayne ‘Jay’ Cameron is growing up quickly. Caught in a web of deception and betrayal as her beloved friend Enoch, a worker on her farm, is swept along in the struggle for land and freedom, culminating in violent action and and betrayal, she struggles to form her own identity, while the life that she has known rapidly capsizes.

I broke my 100-page rule on this one (normally I insist that I read 100 pages if I am to review the book – and have forced myself to do it before, particularly with Book of Days and No Safe Haven). I couldn’t make it past 46 in this one, for the following reasons:

- Barroso writes in a strong dialect, including a large number of native and Afrikaans words, and none of the dialogue is straightforward, making it almost impenetrable

- this results in a gulf between the average standard narrative writing (too many similes, as I have run across too often this year in review copies!) which is in comprehensible English, and the dialogue

- in an effort to make the child’s view authentic (and as I had guessed, Ms Barroso’s biography indicates that she spent a large part of her childhood years in Rhodesia), the story includes the minutiae of life in Rhodesia and they are dull.

- the characters are fairly lifeless – the father is boorish, the mother unconvincing, and no other character apart from Auntie Nessie seems terribly interesting just yet.

Not for me – and unless you speak Afrikaans, probably not for you either.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating depiction of life as it was in Rhodesia. Personally, I had no real idea of the war that was going on or how the farmers and native people experienced this, which you soon realise, they both experienced it in very different ways for very different reasons.

In contrast to the other review, there was absolutely no need to break the '100 page' rule as it was riveting from very early on, with some parts almost heart stopping and others quite humorous. The characters, I feel, do not lack enthusiasm or interest but quite the opposite. They capture the different personas of the people who were there- and represent clearly the role that firstly the older generations, and secondly the new, (liberal) generations had to play with life in Rhodesia.

Yes, the 'lingo' can appear unfamiliar but this is why Barroso put explicit translations in the back of the book- the language gives the book more flavour, and brings familiarity to the characters and represents their African influence.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I feel it is essential that people read it in order to understand the history and time of great transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe as we know it.

[Simon Hillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extraordinary novel set during the final years of the Rhodesia/Zimbabwe civil war, as experienced by the young Jayne Cameron who is coming into a socio-political consciousness during a time of violent upheaval that comes at great personal cost to her. Powerful, evocative, vivid and gripping, the beauty of it is that it never judges, rather it holds up a mirror to reveal its truths – of which there are layer upon layer. The book functions on a number of levels: it is a plot-driven, page-turning narrative full of unforgettable characters that takes the reader through laughter, tears and every human emotion in between. But the truly three-dimensional characters that the reader comes to know function as symbols and signifiers that point to and illuminate aspects of the socio-political historical landscape that it inhabits. This is an important book that will stand the test of time.

[Jo Woodhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the Rains kept me involved to the final page. It was a really good read & I very quickly found myself back in Africa. It evoked visual memories, the sights, the sounds, the smells, even the taste of Africa There's a good plot & the pace is varied, with great dialogue, humour & tragedy, as well as social & political history. I highly recommend this novel - especially to anyone with African connections