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Sabi Star
Africa - captivating, charming, contradictory, confused - provides the setting of this story told alternately by two people; Sabi Stirling, a fifteen year old Zimbabwean girl, and Clare Boucher, a thirty seven year old American woman - but these words could also describe the two narrators.
Sabi is a delightful and irresistible character. Her life has always been difficult, but she manages to face up to and work through her difficulties with a mixture of naivety and courage.
Clare was born in Zimbabwe but moved to America as a child. She has come back to the country of her birth while she deals with the mess she has made of her life in the States.
The story begins with the death of Sabi's gogo. Sabi and Clare meet for the first time at the funeral, and Sabi feels an immediate connection with Clare. In the weeks that follow, when long hidden family secrets surface, she turns to Clare for comfort and clarification. Clare meanwhile, in trying to help Sabi through her problems, begins to have a clearer understanding of her own predicament and what she must do to improve her life.
Sabi is an engaging girl. She takes herself seriously, as teenagers often do, and yet at times she can be hilariously funny, making outrageous observations in the most unwitting and innocent way. Clare on the other hand is idealistic and analytical and confused. Through her character the reader will gain an interesting view of life in the present day Zimbabwe through the eyes of someone who has struggled to shake off the nostalgic longings of their youth.
Sabi is a delightful and irresistible character. Her life has always been difficult, but she manages to face up to and work through her difficulties with a mixture of naivety and courage.
Clare was born in Zimbabwe but moved to America as a child. She has come back to the country of her birth while she deals with the mess she has made of her life in the States.
The story begins with the death of Sabi's gogo. Sabi and Clare meet for the first time at the funeral, and Sabi feels an immediate connection with Clare. In the weeks that follow, when long hidden family secrets surface, she turns to Clare for comfort and clarification. Clare meanwhile, in trying to help Sabi through her problems, begins to have a clearer understanding of her own predicament and what she must do to improve her life.
Sabi is an engaging girl. She takes herself seriously, as teenagers often do, and yet at times she can be hilariously funny, making outrageous observations in the most unwitting and innocent way. Clare on the other hand is idealistic and analytical and confused. Through her character the reader will gain an interesting view of life in the present day Zimbabwe through the eyes of someone who has struggled to shake off the nostalgic longings of their youth.
290 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 29, 2023
Beautiful Zimbabwe- warts and all!
A touching and unforgettable tale of a wonderful country and her people. I read it in one sitting, unable to put it down, having lived in Bulawayo over 60 years ago.
A touching and unforgettable tale of a wonderful country and her people. I read it in one sitting, unable to put it down, having lived in Bulawayo over 60 years ago.
March 3, 2016
Told in the first person by the two main characters, Sabi a (motherless) Zimbabwean teenager and Clare a 37 year old ex Zimbabwean living in America and having returned to Zimbabwe, the two meet each other at a funeral, and Clare takes Sabi under her wing. Sabi's father does not appear to be a very loving or kind father, and has an equally seemingly unkind younger girlfriend, so she is certainly in need of a mother figure at a difficult time in her life. Clare has returned to Zimbabwe where she was born and grew up, and has her own problems. At times I found the writing stilted, and a little boring maybe, but a quick read, that comes together in the end. Nothing great, but not too bad.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews