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The Year the Gypsies Came
 
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The Year the Gypsies Came [Hardcover]

Linzi Glass (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
List Price: CDN$ 18.95
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From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up This story of a fateful year in a girl's life takes place in 1960s apartheid South Africa. In order to divert attention away from their failing marriage, Emily's emotionally distant parents invite a family to stay in a camper in their yard. Emily befriends the younger son, Streak, while the older son, Otis, who is clearly brain damaged, becomes almost a devoted shadow to her gentle and loving older sister, Sarah. It soon becomes clear that the boys' father beats them regularly, and that one of his beatings most likely led to Otis's condition. Emily increasingly looks to Buza, the night watchman, for love and reassurance, and he shares folktales and traditional Zulu wisdom with her. The relationship between Otis and Sarah becomes more and more tense, and Otis rapes her. Through tragedy, the girls' parents finally come to a truce. Emily's relationships with the people close to her ring true, and her friendship with Streak has its touching moments. However, the dialogue is uneven. Streak's semi-educated speech, for instance, sounds more American than South African. While the story has emotional power and shows something of the class and race relationships of the time, it lacks a deep grounding in the social context, such as that shown in Beverley Naidoo's collection Out of Bounds (HarperCollins, 2003). Instead, it focuses primarily on Emily and her tragic family circumstances. Suggest this one to readers who are always looking for a sad book. Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 8-11. Growing up in a wooded Johannesburg suburb 40 years ago, Emily, 12, takes her white privilege for granted. Her anguish is mostly about her parents' daily fights, and when they take in a family of wandering Australians, "Gypsies," she hopes tensions at home will ease. As it turns out, the Gypsy trailer holds unspeakable violence that spills over into Emily's family. Seen through Emily's viewpoint, the characters are one-dimensional: her perfect older sister ("pure and good"); adulterous, narcissistic Mother; cold, distracted Father. In contrast there's Buza, the wise, saintly Zulu night watchman, who teaches and comforts Emily with stories--from Zulu folklore to Mandela's speech in court. What will hold readers in this first novel are the powerful family story and the horror of the racist regime. Buza is Emily's true parent-caregiver, and only later does she confront the distress of his legally enforced, lifelong isolation from his real daughter and family. When Buza is arrested for not having appropriate papers, Emily finally sees the daily police brutality, and the war of apartheid enters her home. For more about coming-of-age in a racist regime, see the adjacent Read-alikes: "Growing Up under Apartheid." Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Evocative, Mar 21 2006
By 
J W H (Halifax Nova Scotia Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Year the Gypsies Came (Hardcover)
I read this book out of curiosity! I had heard so much about it, I was pleasantly amazed. Linzi Glass, throughout the entire book kept my interest, Her very descriptive writing style had me envisioning everything in my minds eye, the entire read was very pleasureable, experiencing every emotion. I would recommend all read it!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com: 4.6 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars magic revisited, Mar 21 2006
By Inis Tune "Inis Tune" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Year the Gypsies Came (Hardcover)
The Year the Gypsies Came is a magical, mystical tale from South Africia told by a magnificant writer with a deep connection to the Zulu warrior and the universal qualities of the human being. I could not put it down. Magical realism from Africa! Wow!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!!, May 25 2006
By E. Landsman - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Year the Gypsies Came (Hardcover)
The Year the Gypsies Came is an amazing book. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing Emily's life. Experiencing a time when being black or white predetermined your standard of living, but not your happiness. Yet the children were still able to enjoy the "richness" of black and white.

I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I did.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A dazzling debut!, April 4 2006
By E. Rhodes - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Year the Gypsies Came (Hardcover)
Before reading "The Year The Gypsies Came" by Linzi Glass I read all the glowing reviews with a skeptic's eye. Now that I have just completed this book let me rush to join the chorus who sing its praises.

This intimate family story envelops the reader not only in the personal, but also in the larger story of Apartheid in South Africa. The novel becomes increasingly engaging as it unfolds. Especially compelling is the relationship between the young narrator, Emily, and the elderly Zulu night watchman with his wondrous tales filled with poetic wisdom.

The impressive narrative is tightly woven and moves inexorably forward. Every word, phrase and sentence is there for a reason. How refreshing and unusual it is to find a book that is neither too long, nor hopelessly marred by excessive details.

Linzi Glass' remarkable achievement is that through her lyrical prose she presents simultaneously the astonishing beauty of her native South Africa along with its correspondent sadness.

Some of my best friends are my books. I often go back to a select few and reread passages that I have found to be particularly memorable. Surely "The Year The Gypsies Came" will join my group of special friends.
› Go to Amazon.com to see all 17 reviews  4.6 out of 5 stars 
 
 
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