Listen to this captivating audiobook, narrated by the talented Christel Mutombo, and get ready to embark on a soul-stirring journey. With an audiobook rating of 2.3 out of 5, Resoketswe Martha Manenzhe's "Scatterlings" is a novel that will move you in the same way as "Transcendent Kingdom" and "A Burning." Hailed as the most awarded debut title in South Africa, this book unveils the compelling tale of a multiracial family grappling with the harsh realities of the Immorality Act.
Set in 1927, the Immorality Act shakes the very foundations of South African society by outlawing relationships between "Europeans" and "natives," threatening severe penalties for those who dare defy the law. This includes imprisonment, with a maximum sentence of five years for men and four years for women.
Meet Abram and Alisa, a husband and wife who, while facing their fair share of marriage troubles, enjoy a comfortable life in South Africa with their two young daughters. However, everything changes when the Act comes into effect. As a black woman, Alisa is now confronted with the fact that her children are living proof of her involvement in a union that society deems illegal.
Initially, Abram and Alisa question how this new law will impact their lives. But soon, officials start prying into their daughters' education and their entire estate is at risk of being confiscated. Abram is left feeling lost, unsure of how to shield his family from the relentless cruelty of a legal system that has disregarded their economic privilege. Their bond begins to crumble under the weight of his indecision.
Alisa, who hails from Jamaica and is descended from slaves, was adopted by a wealthy white British couple who raised her as their own. As she grows older, she realizes that British society's prejudices offer her no solace. Seeking acceptance, she travels to South Africa where she crosses paths with Abram. In the devastating aftermath of the Immorality Act, she reaches a heart-wrenching conclusion that is deeply rooted in her personal history and the collective experiences of her ancestors. In an act that reverberates through their entire family, Alisa makes a decision that will leave you desolate.
Resonating with ritual, myth, and the agonizing question of who stays and who leaves, "Scatterlings" introduces a remarkable storytelling talent that has captivated audiences in South Africa and is poised to take the Western literary world by storm.
