Book Title: North Facing
Author: Tony Peake
Genre: South African history
Centred around atonement, homosexuality, repressive politics, racism, and cultural dislocation – the novel revisits a seminal boyhood with unforeseen sinister consequences and a particular impulsive act of bravado. Peake takes us back to the intense week in October 1962, following the story of a sixty-year-old man reliving the events exploding from the Cuban missile crisis in his schooling career.
The protagonist analysis: Paul Harvey (best identified with)
Leaving their legacy in the United Kingdom behind, the Harvey’s relocated to Pretoria, South Africa. Paul Harvey – proud of his English heritage – set forth into the world of an all-boys boarding school. His initial attitude to the new experience was hopeful, but as his character progressed, he began noticing conflictions with his heritage and that of his peers.
For a twelve-year-old boy, comprehending cultural differences is not the easiest task. He often felt excluded and bullied by the other boys. His inability to connect led him into believing the problem lies within himself – waves of insecurities flushed his innocent mind.
In efforts to escape atrocities of The Cold War, the Harveys misinterpreted the jarring apartheid and political tension present in 1960s South Africa.
As a result of peer pressure, Paul was in desperate search of approval from the class captain – Andre Du Toit. The predominant concept of oppression remained rife throughout the book – either in the form of school bullying, nuclear wars, sexuality, or political distress.
Paul became extremely fixated on becoming popular, that he ignored the magnitude of the world’s abominations – until he grew under the mastery of his teacher.
Juxtaposed to Andre and fellow classmates, Paul was incredibly innocent. His thinking and actions were considerably from the heart and pure – he had no initial intent of hurting another. When viewing Paul under a collective, he stands out in terms of his ethnicity and as well as his immaturity.
I have picked up on various lessons throughout unpacking this understated read. One notable takeaway was the discernment of the past in preparation for the future. The slight referral of child psychology was waved in progressing Pauls character – the readers perception of reconnecting with that “child innocence” and falling in love with the world, was an important lesson as well.
The beginning of the novel set a moral tone – as Paul was a mere child in the eye of an international storm, whereas towards the end, when Paul warped into an older man, his attachment to his past entangled him in a state of obstruction.
Aspect best enjoyed
The bonding of Andre and Paul was a heart-warming scene of acceptance, and a child’s victory in life. I enjoyed reading the Harvey family come together and find union in times of dismay – it brought comfort in such an atrocious-centred book.
In brevity, Paul made the reader blush in both awe and embarrassment of his childhood. The novel was a much-needed reality check for society – in that our decisions directly impact the wellbeing of our youth. Peake’s conclusion humbled and awakened the reader, adding to a satisfactory closure of events.
The never-ending cycle of life was kept constant throughout the book – in the form of a growing twelve-year-old boy to a sixty-year-old man, numerous perspectives illuminated the theme of unity.
Peake’s compelling and haunting novel was close to perfection. A tumultuous turn of events juxtaposed to a sense of calamity reassured the reader of an addictive read. Amidst the close perfection, I would have appreciated a further empathetic farewell – not only to his past but to his loved ones as well.
I would highly recommend “North Facing” to practically all segments of society. Its versatility and compelling story attracts various audiences. It is a must read.
"Kutoka kwa mwandishi wa kitabu hicho, Tony Peake, ""Historia ya Afrika Kusini: Historia ya Afrika Kusini"" inaelezea jinsi ya kukabiliana na ubaguzi wa jinsia, ubaguzi wa rangi, na ubaguzi wa kitamaduni, na inaelezea jinsi ya kuamua kuwa na maisha ya ujana na matokeo mabaya yasiyotazamiwa." "Peak inatuchukua nyuma kwa wiki ya Oktoba 1962, kufuatia hadithi ya mtu mwenye umri wa miaka sitini akiishi tena matukio ya ""mlipuko wa mgogoro wa makombora ya Cuba"" katika kazi yake ya shule." Uchambuzi wa mhusika mkuu: Paul Harvey (ambaye anatambuliwa vizuri na) Kuacha urithi wao nchini Uingereza nyuma, Harvey's walihamia Pretoria, Afrika Kusini. Paul Harvey - mwenye fahari ya urithi wake wa Kiingereza - aliingia katika ulimwengu wa shule ya bweni ya wavulana tu. Mtazamo wake wa awali kwa uzoefu mpya ulikuwa na matumaini, lakini kama tabia yake ilivyokua, alianza kuona migogoro na urithi wake na ule wa wenzao. Kwa mvulana mwenye umri wa miaka kumi na miwili, kuelewa tofauti za kitamaduni si kazi rahisi. Mara nyingi alihisi kwamba wavulana wengine walimkataa na kumdhulumu. Kutokuwa na uwezo wake wa kuunganisha kulimwongoza kuamini kwamba tatizo liko ndani yake mwenyewe <unk> mawimbi ya ukosefu wa usalama yalimnyunyiza akili yake isiyo na hatia. Katika juhudi za kutoroka ukatili wa Vita Baridi, familia ya Harvey ilifasiri vibaya ubaguzi wa rangi na mvutano wa kisiasa uliopo katika Afrika Kusini ya miaka ya 1960. Kwa sababu ya mkazo wa wenzao, Paul alikuwa akitafuta kwa bidii kukubaliwa na nahodha wa darasa <unk> Andre Du Toit. Dhana kuu ya ukandamizaji ilibaki katika kitabu chote - ama katika fomu ya unyanyasaji wa shule, vita vya nyuklia, ngono, au shida ya kisiasa. Paulo alishikilia sana kuwa maarufu, kwamba alipuuza ukubwa wa machukizo ya ulimwengu - mpaka alipokua chini ya ustadi wa mwalimu wake. Akilinganishwa na Andre na wenzake wa darasa, Paul alikuwa asiye na hatia sana. Mawazo na matendo yake yalikuwa ya kweli na safi - hakuwa na nia ya kumdhuru mtu mwingine. Kwa kuwa Paulo anaonekana kuwa mtu wa jamii ya watu, yeye ni mtu wa kabila tofauti na wengine, na kwa sababu ya ukosefu wake wa ukomavu. Nimepata masomo mbalimbali katika kufungua kitabu hiki kisichojulikana. Jambo moja muhimu tulilojifunza ni kwamba ni muhimu kutambua mambo yaliyopita ili kujitayarisha kwa ajili ya wakati ujao. Uelekezo mdogo wa saikolojia ya mtoto ulipeperushwa katika kuendeleza tabia ya Paulo - maoni ya wasomaji ya kuunganisha tena na hiyo "usio na hatia ya mtoto" na kuanguka katika upendo na ulimwengu, ilikuwa somo muhimu pia. Mwanzo wa riwaya hiyo uliweka sauti ya maadili - wakati Paulo alikuwa mtoto tu katika jicho la dhoruba ya kimataifa, wakati kuelekea mwisho, wakati Paulo alipogeuka kuwa mtu mzee, kiungo chake kwa wakati wake uliopita kilimzuia. Sehemu iliyopendwa zaidi Ushirikiano wa Andre na Paul ulikuwa mandhari ya kufurahisha ya kukubalika, na ushindi wa mtoto maishani. Nilifurahia kusoma familia ya Harvey kuja pamoja na kupata umoja katika nyakati za mshtuko <unk> ilileta faraja katika kitabu kama hicho cha ukatili-kituo. Kwa ufupi, Paulo alimfanya msomaji achukue rangi kwa sababu ya hofu na aibu ya utotoni mwake. Riwaya hiyo ilikuwa ukaguzi wa ukweli unaohitajika sana kwa jamii <unk> kwa kuwa maamuzi yetu yanaathiri moja kwa moja ustawi wa vijana wetu. Mkataa wa Peake ulimfanya msomaji awe mnyenyekevu na kuamsha, na hivyo kumfanya ashindwe kukamilisha mambo kwa njia yenye kuridhisha. Mzunguko usio na mwisho wa maisha ulidumishwa daima katika kitabu chote - katika fomu ya mvulana wa miaka kumi na mbili akikua hadi mtu wa miaka sitini, mitazamo mingi ilionyesha mandhari ya umoja. Riwaya ya Peake yenye kushawishi na yenye kusumbua ilikuwa karibu na ukamilifu. Mageuzi yenye msukosuko ya matukio yaliyounganishwa na hisia ya msiba yalimhakikishia msomaji kwamba kitabu hicho kilikuwa na uvutano. Katikati ya ukamilifu wa karibu, ningependa kuwa na mwaliko zaidi wa hisia-mwenzi - si tu kwa wakati wake uliopita bali pia kwa wapendwa wake. Ningependekeza sana "North Facing" kwa karibu sehemu zote za jamii. Uwezo wake wa kutumiwa kwa njia mbalimbali na hadithi yake yenye kuvutia huvutia watazamaji mbalimbali. Ni lazima usome.