A moving novel from Sarudzai Mubvakure
London based Zimbabwean, Sarudzai Mubvakure has just released her debut novel, entitled A Disappointing Truth…
Review by Melissa Levine: The Tragic Life of Sarah Witt, the lead character so frequently encounters catastrophic events that forgiveness does not seem to have a place in her life. But it is the choice to forgive that ultimately leads the young, bi-racial woman to unconditional love and true happiness.
“Love ignores the faults. And that’s why no matter what, our love is forever.”
Mubvakure’s story unfolds in London, New York, Zimbabwe and ends in Scotland were Sarah accepts the limitations of those who have caused her harm and makes the decision to move forward in her life.
In the fall of 1971, a young woman is violently raped in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Her assault will greatly impact the lives of several people, including Farai, the young boy who witnesses the crime and a group of English entrepreneurs who have set up businesses in Rhodesia to make their fortunes. The members of the “English Boys Club” become deeply involved in the plight of this young woman whose attack results in the birth of a daughter.
The opening scene of the book is Sarah Witt’s wedding. From there, the author unfolds the details of Sarah’s life starting with her matriculation at a notable arts college in New York City. Sarah was raised by her father George Witt and her paternal grandmother. She was told that her mother, a black Rhodesian, died when Sarah was two-years-old. Her father passes before she journeys to America to attend school. As an Art History and Music major, Sarah makes friends who will remain loyal to her throughout ordeals that occur as she finishes school (sexual assault by her mentor) and during her early adult life (separation from her church and the murder of her first husband in front of her). As Sarah’s own multi-layered story escalates, the details of the secretive English Boys Club slowly unravel as her Uncle Peter and the group’s head man, Algeron Fairbanks, find it increasingly difficult to hold on to the secrets of their shared past. When Sarah decides to seek out information about her mother, the truth that surfaces is startling.
The author displays a strong command of plot and characterization. Sarah and those closest to her are fully formed personalities who become easily familiar as they appear throughout this 700 plus page tome. The protagonist is presented as a beautiful, intelligent, dynamic woman who actively serves any community she finds herself a part of. While Sarah works hard and is successful in both music and business, the murky details of her mother’s life plague her. Mubvakure offers the reader vivid descriptions of the global setting in which the story takes place. On occasion, the author does repeat too much of the plot that the reader has already been informed of, possibly because the book is quite long. With the acumen shown in this book, Mubvakure is sure to grow into the type of writer who trusts her readers’ memories and thus offers just enough information to spark recollection.
As Sarah is slowly enlightened about her parent’s past and the consequences of her own conception, the author infuses the character with a strength that enables the young woman to accept the string of lies that she has believed all of her life and to transform into a person with the maturity required to choose forgiveness.
A Disappointing Truth: The Tragic Story of Sarah Witt is overflowing with sadness and tragedy, but the author offers hope throughout the tale. Mubvakure challenges our understanding of what humans can endure and how they can come out improved and drenched in love on the other side.
Review by Melissa Levine
For Independent Professional Book Reviewers
About Sarudzai MubvakureSarudzai was born in Islington but then at the age of ten moved to Zimbabwe to live with her parents and siblings.
She studied Occupational Therapy at the University of Zimbabwe and then returned to London in 1998 to work.
A Disappointing Truth is her debut novel.
- A Dissapointing Truth Blog
- Contact the author: adisappointingtruth(-at-)googlemail.com
- Zimbabwean contact: Tsitsi Mubvakure, careerhr(-at-)mweb.co.zw, 092 314 126
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Congrats Saru! From the review this seems like a good book. I hope it will be available in Zimbabwe soon!
Thanks. We are working out a way it can be published from Zimbabwe and thus cut some of the cost.
Hope you enjoy it when you do get to read it.
This seems like a different perspective on a Rhodesian story. Most Zimbabwean authors have tackled stories of this time through the eyes of a black protagonist and set in black society. Saru’s approach is unique.
That the book is 700 pages is also interesting. There have been some interesting discussions on the interent recently about how Zimbabwe is a short story country and how most Zimbabwean novels are simply long short stories…
Hi Caleb,
Many thanks for the congratulations !!! I surely hope that you will get to read
‘A Disappointing Truth’ and enjoy it ! As Tsitsi stated, we are working on the books availablity in Zimbabwe. Please contact her using the contact details above. For further interesting information and/or discussions, please don’t hesistate to meet me at my blogsite. The link is above, right under my photograph !
Anyway, thanks for stopping by and happy reading !!!
regards,
Saru
Hi James Fungai
Thank you so much for your interesting comment and observation. Yes you are quite right. The protagonist, Sarah Witt, is a mixed-race young woman that grows up in a predominantly western (white) society however, her past is embedded in 1960’s to 1970’s Rhodesia. She is privileged with a heritage from both black and white alike - from a mother and father that were on either side of the racial divide. It is when she seeks out information about her mother (that she never knew) that the history of pre-independence Zimbabwe is unfolded to her.
Yes the book is 700+ pages because Sarah Witt’s Story is multi-layered. It’s like peeling the layers of an onion until you get to the core - ‘the disappointing truth’. As you peel the onion the tears may flow but ulitmately at the end, you will be filled with hope !
I do hope that you get to read and enjoy. Please contact Tsitsi for more information.
Thanks for stopping by and happy reading !!
regards,
Sarudzai