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The Yearning

I don't think an ending has ever been so perfect. Nov 07, Manna rated it it was amazing Shelves: This was the conversation she had waited her whole life to have. A girl is like a seed; just the beginning stage of something big, something wonderful that will affect the whole world in ways unthought of, she told me. Many little girls grow up not knowing that they are the reason the world is still turning.

Nkono could see that I was listening but not fully understanding; "That day my Nkono sat me down and started telling me about the female anatomy and the changes that would take place in me. Nkono could see that I was listening but not fully understanding; she kept going, knowing that this was only the first phase of my education. This is the story of Marubini, a successful young woman who has it all to be happy. A job she appreciates, a man who honestly loves her and a family to support her in everything she does. Deep down inside of her she knows everything to be linked to her past but she is yet to find how to unravel the strands.

There are many twists and turns in this tale that will definitely keep you flipping pages, the themes are quite heavy but the writer's sensitivity will make it easy or bearable for you as a reader to keep going. I loved the way our ancestry is paid tribute to, not caricatural at all and being a Bantu woman myself, I sure enjoyed it. At times it felt like a SFF but the more I went on, the more it became"real" this is a fiction that eventually doesn't read like one Sep 15, Magdalena Osiejevitch-Qper rated it really liked it.

I really enjoyed this novel. I think the author wrote about a number of themes that are both South African and universal. Nov 11, Lost in a Good Book rated it liked it. A novel filled with heart, dealing with family, cultural and wider social issues. Mashigo puts many of South Africa's dark challenges under the spotlight, but it's not a heavy read - she has a wonderfully light touch.

There are some beautiful lines, and Ruby is a character I enjoyed spending time with. Oct 13, Hloni Dlamini rated it it was amazing. Oct 03, Atla Marie added it.

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The last page of this book is among the most beautiful I have ever read, hands down. May 28, Karina Szczurek rated it really liked it. A story of pain and sharp edges, softly told. The reader has to accept that release from psychological torment comes from traditional practices that seem very strange indeed, if not downright harmful.

Marubini is a young woman living in Cape Town. She works in marketing for a wine company, she has relationship issues with her mother and with her boyfriend Pierre, and she hangs around with her girlfriend Unathi. She is also grieving the death of her grandfather Ntatemoholo and her father Baba who disappeared in mysterious circumstances. Apart from some minor commentary about patronising racism that still persists in her workplace, this is all a bit lightweight and it goes on for about one-fifth of the novel. It is when Marubini begins to suffer what are thought to be seizures that the book becomes more interesting.

When these seizures occur, she sees her dead father and she also experiences what might be visions or flashbacks to some traumatic experience in her past. To read the rest of my review please visit https: Oct 02, Muthoni Muiruri rated it liked it. This is one of those books. A book about love and friendship, that turns into something deeper and pulls you in, keeping you glued from start to finish. Marubini is a 30 something year old me South African woman not me living in Cape Town also not me.

She has a good job, working in the marketing department at a Wine Farm. Her career is going great.


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She has one of those enviable relationship with her best friend, Unathi, and is dating a French chef who owns a restaurant in Cape Town and is set to open another one. When Marubini starts blacking out, having seizures and seeing shadows, she realizes something is off and her search for the truth leads her to discover more than she had bargained for. Secrets from a past she had forgotten. And only when she faces her past will she be able to embrace her future.

An amazing story of strength, hurt, culture and traditions and of the the past intersecting with the future. Mohale tells the story beautifully in first person and the flow of the story keeps you intrigued and interested from beginning to end. I particularly loved how she used flashbacks from her childhood to fill in gaps in the future story. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut book and will definitely be on the lookout for more of her works. May 27, Lauren Crow rated it really liked it. Rubi lives a good life, has a great job, a hot, caring boyfriend, and plenty going for her. The story also includes many flashbacks to her childhood, which are both interesting and mysterious.

Rubi finds herself yearning to get to the bottom of these strange physical reactions to issues that she knows are psychological ones from the past. She yearns for the truth and wants to understand what happened long ago that keeps seeping into the present. This book is beautifully written and has some interspersed poetry in some parts of it, which is exquisite. Mashigo has created tension, turmoil, love, and dedication in her characters with striking seamlessness. The novel also juxtaposes what many young South Africans face: It also contrasts holding traditional beliefs with living in a city where there is a cosmopolitan set of views and beliefs.

This novel is also very South African. I really, really liked it because of that, but I wonder how accessible some parts of it are to non-South Africans. Oct 31, Jude rated it liked it Shelves: A beautiful book - gentle, evocative, haunting and thought-provoking.

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It starts off a little slowly, but in this way Mashigo builds up a context essential to the rest of the story. As the story progresses we gradually learn more about the main character, Rubi, and her father and grandmother. It is hard to say too much about this book without giving away the story - but it is beautifully written and hard to put down.

The only thing that really annoyed me about the book is the repeated grammatica A beautiful book - gentle, evocative, haunting and thought-provoking. The only thing that really annoyed me about the book is the repeated grammatical error when the author uses "you and I" instead of "you and me" when both pronouns are objects, not subjects I think the editors should have picked that up. Sep 11, Neo Mohapi rated it really liked it.

A well written South African story, fiction, but yet so believable. Mohale wrote so well. I absolutely loved the bits and pieces of the different languages she made use of, from French to Sepedi. A story filled with lots of drama, love, laughter and shocking unpredictable outcomes.

I loved how I thought I knew what would happen, but yet it didn't. I didn't enjoy the ending, I felt robbed. Thought there could've been more. One thing that particularly stood out for me, was the theme of love! It is A well written South African story, fiction, but yet so believable. It is so beautiful, so precious and so much treasured, throughout the the entire book.

The Yearning Concert Chorale and Chamber Singers Craig Courtney

Well written story of a woman with secrets revealed The level of pain and suffering in this book was hidden under years of culture and tradition. When Baba is murdered Marubini life is changed forever. As she grows up and moves on with her life the past comes back to haunt her and her brother who seek the truth to save their souls. Political intrigue in this book puts a interesting slant to South Africa. Grandmother and grandfather play a huge role in this tale. Dec 30, Sarah Makumbe rated it really liked it.

Author takes you on many twists as the story explores themes of African culture, gender violence, politics and religion in a modern day South African story. I was a bit thrown by the flashbacks and was getting impatient with the change of setting and the back and forth. It was all a part of the plot!


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Oct 18, Sipho Lukhele rated it it was amazing. What I got from the book is wisdom and appreciated how Mohale put a spot light on cultural education. We need more people like Nkgono as her wisdom is rare. I loved how Marubini and her brother managed to the truth connect through his gift.

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A beautiful book whose very last sentence leaves one with a lot of questions. A definite must read. Mar 24, Michele R. Not what I expected.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was unsure of where it was taking me, and happy with where it led. Coming of age is a difficult process that we all must go through. Add to that a touch of the supernatural - you get a heart wrenching story that will make you appreciate your loved ones for the sacrifices they make on your behalf. Job well done Mohale! Nov 08, Refiloe Mafubelu rated it it was amazing. This was a very intriguing read. The book ebbs and flows so beautifully, etching out the story over the South African landscape.

Marubini's story is touching and delicately told. I really do think that the book ends prematurely, I would have loved it had the ending been fleshed out some. Overall, a truly South African story exceptionally told. Apr 10, Shameez Papathanasiou rated it really liked it.

Started off a bit slowly and then plot twist after plot twist after plot twist. There should be a trigger warning, but that's a bit of a spoiler. Yearning was formed in under the name "Flegeton". Soon after, Flegeton made a 4-track tape titled "Through the Desolate Lands", but it was never widely distributed. In July , Flegeton, with a new bass player, Mr.

The demo received praise from enthusiasts of melancholy music. It also got the attention of the French record company Holy Records , which Flegeton contracted with for two full-length studio albums. In February , the band went into Tico-Tico Studios to record some new material. At this point, the band was renamed Yearning, since the band believed that their old name didn't fit their music anymore. They also recorded the song "Autumn Funeral" during these sessions.

The album was engineered and produced by Ahti Kortelainen. The band went into the same studio again on October 18 and October 19, to record a cover of the Paradise Lost song "Eternal" which would appear on a Paradise Lost tribute album released by Holy Records. Afterwards, Yearning did their first European tour in December and January They toured along with the bands Nightfall and Sup.

It would eventually be released in February Woodland, and flutist and female vocalist Lady Tiina Ahonen. They left because of personal and musical disagreements. Along with the change in line-up, the music changed as well, taking more influence from progressive rock , gothic metal , and classical music. Frore Meadow was released through Holy Records on January 15, Due to changes in line-up, Yearning had to recruit musicians to play live, ending up with Matti S.

The live line-up would remain unchanged for the next 9 years. Yearning did not perform actively during but new material was composed and arranged very carefully during the time of silence. The outcome would result in Yearning's fourth studio album, Evershade.