The Architecture of Loss: A Novel

Fiction & Literature, African American, Literary
Cover of the book The Architecture of Loss: A Novel by Z. P. Dala, Pegasus Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Z. P. Dala ISBN: 9781681774923
Publisher: Pegasus Books Publication: July 4, 2017
Imprint: Pegasus Books Language: English
Author: Z. P. Dala
ISBN: 9781681774923
Publisher: Pegasus Books
Publication: July 4, 2017
Imprint: Pegasus Books
Language: English

A novel of forgiveness and reconciliation that shines light on the dark underbelly of South Africa’s fight for freedom and democracy.

Estranged at the age of six from her mother, who sent her away from her hometown of Brighton in rural Zululand, brilliant architect Afroze Bhana has carved out an impressive life for herself in Cape Town. But when she receives word that her aging mother is desperately ill, she finds herself compelled to return to her place of birth to find answers about her painful childhood.

Afroze arrives in Brighton to find that her mother, Sylvie—who was a doctor and a fierce activist during the dark days of the anti-apartheid struggle—is a shadow of her formidable self, but Sylvie has still retained her sarcasm and anger toward the daughter that she sent away. Somehow, Sylvie cannot draw her daughter close, even facing the looming threat of her own mortality. She remains in the cottage of Afroze’s childhood, frozen in a world where she surrounds herself with luxury and garish indulgences, cared for by the fiercely protective Halaima, a Malawian refugee. Especially painful for Afroze is the love and affection that Sylvie showers on Bibi, Halaima’s pampered and precocious daughter—love which she could never give her own daughter.

A moving novel about the complexities of family ties, The Architecture of Loss beautifully explores the ways in which the anti-apartheid struggle—a struggle in which the roles of women have been largely overlooked—irrevocably damaged many of its unsung heroes.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

A novel of forgiveness and reconciliation that shines light on the dark underbelly of South Africa’s fight for freedom and democracy.

Estranged at the age of six from her mother, who sent her away from her hometown of Brighton in rural Zululand, brilliant architect Afroze Bhana has carved out an impressive life for herself in Cape Town. But when she receives word that her aging mother is desperately ill, she finds herself compelled to return to her place of birth to find answers about her painful childhood.

Afroze arrives in Brighton to find that her mother, Sylvie—who was a doctor and a fierce activist during the dark days of the anti-apartheid struggle—is a shadow of her formidable self, but Sylvie has still retained her sarcasm and anger toward the daughter that she sent away. Somehow, Sylvie cannot draw her daughter close, even facing the looming threat of her own mortality. She remains in the cottage of Afroze’s childhood, frozen in a world where she surrounds herself with luxury and garish indulgences, cared for by the fiercely protective Halaima, a Malawian refugee. Especially painful for Afroze is the love and affection that Sylvie showers on Bibi, Halaima’s pampered and precocious daughter—love which she could never give her own daughter.

A moving novel about the complexities of family ties, The Architecture of Loss beautifully explores the ways in which the anti-apartheid struggle—a struggle in which the roles of women have been largely overlooked—irrevocably damaged many of its unsung heroes.

More books from Pegasus Books

Cover of the book The Merman: A Novel by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Dark Dawn Over Steep House: The Gower Street Detective: Book 5 (Gower Street Detectives) by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Shipwreck Hunter: A Lifetime of Extraordinary Discoveries on the Ocean Floor by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Missing Italian Girl by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Search for Atlantis: A History of Plato's Ideal State by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Hollow Men: A Novel (Harry Kent Mysteries) by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Motor City Burning: A Novel by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Classic American Crime Fiction of the 1920s by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Wild Sex: The Science Behind Mating in the Animal Kingdom by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Genius Within: Unlocking Your Brain's Potential by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Seasonaires: A Novel (The Seasonaires) by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book In the Company of Sherlock Holmes: Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Snooze: The Lost Art of Sleep by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Kamikaze Hunters: Fighting for the Pacific: 1945 by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Vulgar Tongues: An Alternative History of English Slang by Z. P. Dala
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy