La difícil elección entre el amor y el sentido del deber, entre la amistad y las convenciones sociales en las áridas llanuras de Suráfrica. Corre el año de 1919. Cathleen se traslada a Suráfrica, al duro y desértico Karoo, para casarse con su prometido al que no ha visto en cinco años. Pero el matrimonio no va a resultar como había soñado. Aislada en un entorno inhóspito, Cathleen encuentra consuelo en escribir su diario y en criar a sus dos hijos, Philip y Rose. También a Ada, la hija de su criada, a la que enseña a leer y a tocar el piano, a amar a Chopin. Todo se verá alterado cuando Ada descubre que está embarazada, que espera un hijo mulato en un país que no admite las relaciones entre blancos y negros. Ada se escapa al sentir que ha traicionado a Cathleen. Despreciada y marginada por ambas comunidades, tiene que luchar por su supervivencia y la de su hija. La música, y Cathleen, serán sus refugios.

3.5 stars ( )

I really wanted to like this book. I thought the writing was good;the subject a worthy one. I listened to this on audio and I also liked both of the readers. So why am I not finishing it? It is toooo long. I am a little over half way through and I just can't seem to stay interested. Mutch needed to move this story along. And her character development needed some help as well. Ada was way too nice, too forgiving, too naive (so naive that at some points in the book I thought she was a simpleton). And Catherine too was unbelievable-she does nothing with her spoiled, unruly daughter, and pretends that her husband has done nothing wrong, and I could see what direction Ada's daughter was taking, so I just thought it was a good time to just give up. I have too many books on my list to read to force myself to finish one that is not holding my attention. ( )

Reminded me a lot of Kitchen House. Similar, but very different. I loved the writing style and story line. However, I’d have liked to have had more insight on Dawn towards the end. I am definitely looking forward to her next book. ( )

I listened to this on audiobook.

It is the story of two women in pre- and post-apartheid South Africa, and though the main character, Ada, is the voice of most of the novel, her Irish madame's voice is heard mostly though her journal entries. I don't remember any specific dates being mentioned but the time spans decades, from the time Ada is young through to near the end of her life. The story, told in the first person, really gives voice to what life was like in South Africa at that time, life in the townships, the struggles and indignities, and the stark contrasts between the two worlds. Real historic figures come into play, briefly, in so far as they are mentioned to set the time (Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela), but the story is one woman's story, told in her words and through her own experience.

A recurrent theme throughout is how music heals, even in the worst of times and situations, and how love and education can be a door out of hell but can only go so far, when too much of destiny is not in one's control.

I found this to be a gripping story and I think the narration, in the accents of the 2 excellent narrators, made it all the more so. ( )