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 Charlotte's Story: A Bliss House Novel by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book An Essay On The Seven Year Hitch by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Einstein's Masterwork: 1915 and the General Theory of Relativity by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Destiny in the Desert by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Werewolf of Paris by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Elizabeth's Rival: The Tumultuous Life of the Countess of Leicester: The Romance and Conspiracy that Threatened Queen Elizabeth's Court by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Napoleon: The Spirit of the Age: 1805-1810 by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Eisenhower's Armies: The American-British Alliance during World War II by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Falcon of Sparta: A Novel by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Heavens Are Empty: Discovering the Lost Town of Trochenbrod by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book More Deadly than the Male: Masterpieces from the Queens of Horror by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Even Darkness Sings: From Auschwitz to Hiroshima: Finding Hope and Optimism in the Saddest Places on Earth by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The King's Revenge: Charles II and the Greatest Manhunt in British History by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book The Murder Bird by Z. P. Dala
Cover of the book Saving Sin City: William Travers Jerome, Stanford White, and the Original Crime of the Century 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