In a story that is mostly interior reflection, the scanty dialogue is proforma and not intended to add to the plot. Which is fine.
For the most part, the actual writing style is heartfelt, and the narrator's authenticity comes across to the reader. The writing is suitably effective. You feel the narrator's panic and fear and loneliness.
Eve resents her childhood. She feels she was neglected. No one can argue with a child about her feelings. You can only listen. And this child suffered. I will say Eve does have many supportive family members – her mother sticks around, the marvellous Gramma is an event planner, and Eve leans upon lifelong friends like the loyal Grace.
Trust the tale not the teller. That said, Eve is certainly believable. I believe her.
When Beukes dares to offer vivid imagery surrounding an event, the memory sticks. I think of the description of Gramma's seventy-fifth birthday party. Wonderful.
Katherine-Mansfield wonderful.
Eve's description of Gramma's seventy-fifth birthday party will delight all readers, not only the children of the author but also all the other kids who love their grandmothers, and believe no one can love you and hug you and make you feel as special as your "gramma."
This story is written with love for family.
Anonymous
Whistler Independent Book Awards 2024
"Maybe, After To-morrow..." is an emotional and sometimes heart wrenching story about a woman from a very dysfunctional upbringing in Cape Town during the apartheid era in South Africa. Amidst changing addresses and caregivers during her childhood, she creates a ‘love box’ to keep her happier memories and finds comfort within when she’s feeling low.
Thinking she’s met her soulmate, she marries the man, they have twin sons and enjoy a happy life together…. until he starts drinking, bringing back all her pain from childhood. She is desperate to find support and comfort and joins Al-Anon. Sadly, this backfires when her husband finds out, enraging him and eventuating in his death in a car crash.
Our protagonist is amazingly resilient and steadfast and, although she’s confronted with even more challenges, she stays strong in her belief in life’s capacity for renewal beyond tragedy and even founds ‘Helping Hands’, a group that aids women in abusive relationships.
This story brought me to tears of heartbreak and also joy as I was filled with admiration for the strength she embodied in her determination to rise above all the challenges life threw at her.
BritzReads
GoodReads.com
Maybe, after To-morrow... is emotional and heart wrenching at times.
Eve’s story is one that is based on so many truths that women in our society have gone through and are still dealing with today.
Esther
Amazon Customer
A story of tribulation and perseverance... I could not put it down! Women from all walks of life will be able to relate to Eve's journey. Many people would've been broken by the childhood she had to endure, and would've given up after her traumatic marriage to an abusive alcoholic. Not Eve! The caliber of writing speaks to a deep understanding of what life must have been like for Eve. This is a book I'll definitely read again. Maybe, even, after to-morrow!
Kathleen
GoodReads.com