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Ralf49
Posted October 15, 2011
I am not a big reader, simply because my concentration span is rather short and I pretty much need to be intrigued from the very first chapter onwards. "Moffie" did exactly that! I could not put the book aside, stayed up far too long at night to just finish another chapter and when I finished reading the book, I had to speak to my friends about it who were as touched as me. Andre Carl took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I am German and live now in South Africa. Being gay, I was raised in a much more liberal environment and I consider myself lucky that I did not have to spend time in the army! Nevertheless I was able to relate to the characters portrayed in the book which made me laugh, cry, grief, angry and fall in love.
Thank you!
Anonymous
Posted September 26, 2011
I read Moffie in one sitting and was blown away. This book will resonate with anybody who has a heart!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 5, 2011
A very descriptive and realistic portrayal of the South African bush war during apartheid and mainly of the persecution that gays faced in the South African Defense Force and society in general. Moffie highlights the drastic need in this world for tolerance of other people's differences!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.GerritJ
Posted September 2, 2011
I am a South African. The same age as the author and the lead character. I did my two years national service. I am a veteran of the Border War (the 'Angolan Bush War'). I am heterosexual. In 1980 an 18 year old white boy was expected by white South African society to loose his innocence, and become a killer of men. Little provision was made for anything but that. And certainly not by the compulsory military service regime. And I obliged.
But today I know better.
When the regime changed in our country during 1994, we veterans, for sake of convenience, locked away the memories of our days as soldiers. And only now the stories are being told. Also the stories of those like the main character.
I was riveted by the book, not only by the unfortunate circumstances of the main character having to deal with his sexuality in such an abnormal social environment, but also by by the accurate recollection of the military environment experienced by myself during that period. This included the military sub-culture, habits, language, vehicles, weaponry, drills, and geography.(The US reader will find many similarities with the Vietnam-war.)
This book is a valuable contribution to our South African literary heritage, and a compulsory read for people across social and sexual borders.
Anonymous
Posted October 4, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Nicholas van der Swart has always known he is different. Unable to live up to the expectations his family, his heritage and his culture have of him, he grows increasingly diffident and introverted. When, at the age of 19, he is conscripted into the South African army, he enters a world that is utterly at odds with his every sensibility. Here, he will face the scorn and violence of his tormenters, but will also find the strength to survive. Although the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa has gone...