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When Rain Clouds Gather
When Rain Clouds Gather | Bessie Head
12 posts | 8 read | 9 to read
Rural Botswana is the backdrop for When Rain Clouds Gather, the first novel published by one of Africas leading woman writers in English, Bessie Head (19371986). Inspired by her own traumatic life experiences as an outcast in Apartheid South African society and as a refugee living at the Bamangwato Development Association Farm in Botswana, Heads tough and telling classic work is set in the poverty-stricken village of Golema Mmidi, a haven to exiles. A South African political refugee and an Englishman join forces to revolutionize the villagers traditional farming methods, but their task is fraught with hazards as the pressures of tradition, opposition from the local chief, and the unrelenting climate threaten to divide and devastate the fragile community. Heads layered, compelling story confronts the complexities of such topics as social and political change, conflict between science and traditional ways, tribalism, the role of traditional African chiefs, religion, race relations, and malefemale relations.
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shawnmooney
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Tamra
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Pickpick

So much to digest in Bessie Head‘s slim novels - I‘ve only read two so far and they can be reread multiple times. She offers poignant insights on many aspects of life. It‘s a tragedy her life was so difficult and short, which sadly means she left only a small body of work. I am off to track down The Collector of Treasures.

Weaponxgirl I've not heard of this author but now I am very interested! 6y
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readtheworld
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Happy International Women‘s Day! What are you reading today to honor women‘s stories?

#iwd2018 #internationalwomensday #readwomen #readtheworld #readdiversely #readdiversebooks #bookpile #bookstack

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jveezer
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Another beautifully written summation of the African experience:

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jveezer
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Interesting how crossing an arbitrary colonial drawn border can make such a difference in Africa. Makhaya leaves behind the poverty and hell that is Apartheid South Africa for poverty and purgatory in Botswana. While white colonialists are still the primary culprit here, Head also highlights the impacts of tribalism and of greed from fellow Africans on the ability of good people to lead a good life. Beautiful writing made this book a joy to read.

Tamra Have you read Maru? I loved it! This one is on my TBR. 7y
jveezer @Tamra Maru sounds lovely. Adding it but need to get to a couple of other countries first. Heading back to Kenya but this time for my first native woman writer (edited) 7y
Tamra @jveezer 👍🏾 7y
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jveezer
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We might need to think like this in Southern California...This is a beautiful side of tribalism and how it builds community and belonging. Finding bits of writing like this is why I read.

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jveezer
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Reading in my house apparently requires a chaperone...

Faibka Cats are the best reading buddies! :) 7y
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jveezer
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And now off to Botswana to knock another country off my unread list and to continue with #BlackHistoryMonth. #ReadWide #WomenWriters

Tamra Want to read! Hope it‘s a good one. 7y
Tamra I finally ordered it today. 👍🏾 7y
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andrew61
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#womenofcolor #readingwomenmonth
This was a book i read on my around the world challenge and a very good picture of life in a Botswana village, race, the chief system and role of women. A woman with an interesting life who had a troubled childhood, was exiled from south Africa to botswana and struggled with mental health issues but produced great writing. I will now look for more work by her.

batsy Sounds amazing! 7y
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readtheworld
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Happy #InternationalWomensDay! What are you reading to celebrate?

Check out a few of our recommendations here: http://bit.ly/2mFRWrs

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