I had a really tough time with this book. As an international Booker Prize long-list, and an author from South Africa (I haven't read any books from authors from South Africa before) I was intrigued. The writing was strong, but I found the narrative to be wandering and the main character completely unlikeable (although I think that was the point). This may be one of those books where had I read it at a different point in time in a different mindset, I may have enjoyed it more. But I did not enjoy reading this book and do not recommend it.

I just reviewed Red Dog by Willem Anker. #RedDog #NetGalley

This is an original and inventive historical novel of the South African frontier with some very fine writing indeed – but I just couldn’t finish it. The historical background is indeed very interesting and the book is a fictionalised biography of Coenraad de Buys, a remarkable and notorious colonial frontiersman. It takes us from his childhood to his death – but I’d bailed long before that. The problem with the novel for me was that it is so repetitious – murder, mayhem war, killing, atrocities, sexual exploits, extreme violence – on and on and on. Over and over again. Relentless. I found de Buys a totally obnoxious character and had no interest in following him on yet another violent spree. It wasn’t long before I found myself plodding through the narrative and not long after that I gave up the struggle. I think the book does have some merits, portraying vividly as it does this lawless period in history and the tribes and colonisers who fought over the land. But its failings outweighed its merits.

Ok, I tried to like this one, I did. And about 3/4s of the way through, I had pushed as far as I could. The premise was interesting. The main character was compelling and I really liked him. But I finally had to DNF. It just wasn't the book for me.

If there is going to be an audio version of this book, I would like to have it narrated by Marlon James.
I was very excited about that book and it started out more than promising. I love books which include the reader and this book did an amazing job. The very first chapter was absolutely magificant and encouraging, motivating me to read on.
Sadly, well... This motivation didn't last long.. I absolutely can't stand it if there is no use of quotation marks in a book. It completaly ruins the reading experience. and messes with the flow. I don't know, maybe I am just not the right audiance for books like this, because I can never get a graspe with books like these. It makes the reading very unpleasant.
I loved that this book started the way it began: A story being told to the reader. Like I alreaady said,, I have a weakness for book these.
Sadly, I think the book could have done well with some more editing. I can understand that it is an inportant story, but it just seemed too much. The story could have been told in about half the pages that the book acually had,
The story itself was quite well; I came to love African Writing and I've always loved morally grey or unmorally main characters.