Customer Reviews

Circles in a Forest

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I brought back two copies of this book from South Africa, and have urged it upon many friends. Everyone says it is one of the most beautiful pieces they have read in years. The reader becomes enmeshed in more "circles" than than you will ever know. You will understand more about elephants and people who love forest and animals than you ever thought possible.

As a German-speaking student I absolutely enjoyed the English-written book. It`s astonishing how Dalene Matthee was able to link so many people from different social origin into one community. But it`s far more surprising in which way the characters deal with the forest and Old Foot, which show to them, what they're on the world for.

People are here in order to help one another, else life will get unconfortable for everyone. Everything one does or avoids to do will once turn back in a circle and affect this person's life. Circles show to us, that we are dependent from one another in order to manage our life. They are a help as well as a hint toward our future action.

Circles don't happen but make happen. Saul doesn't want to follow his circle, but he has to as destiny wants him to return to the forest. It's Old Foot who made him return there. It was also him how brought Kate and Saul together and therefore closed a circle which seemed impossible at the beginning of their relationship.

After I had put down the book I observed my life from a different point of view - and got aware of the many circles which have closed in my life and are up to close in future.

It's amazing how this complex fact of life can be written in such an enjoyable and deep language as Dalene Matthee did in her book.

Coming from South Africa I have been lucky enough to read all of this very gifted authors work in her native tongue but re reading circles in english just hit home once again how gripping her story telling is in any language. You feel the pain, the love, the hate all in one that the character has for the forest he was raised in. And the characters stay with you long after the book has been put down. If you liked this book trying reading Fielas child the only other book in english and if you understand afrikaans a must read is Toorbos (i think it was translated but not sure) the last book the author wrote about the Knysna forest before she died.

This is a wonderful and compelling story, beautifully written. Sympathetic characters, accurate historical information and context. Very moving. Difficult to put the book down.

It is very rare to happen upon such a beautifully written story. It has such a bittersweet ending. It appears to be very historically accurate. I have already ordered Fiela's Child. It appears that that is the only other book from this gifted author available in English. You won't be disappointed and neither will the many friends that you pass the book on to.

You're imagination can really run free with Saul in the forest. But as in Fiela's child the unattainability is the main factor. The love between madman and the lover gives this book an etheareal quality!!!

A well wriiten account of life in the Indigenous Knysna forest of South Africa that made you not want to put the book down.