In 1950's South Africa, free-spirited Amina has broken all the rules of her own conventional Indian community, and the new apartheid-led government, by running a café with Jacob her 'coloured' business partner. When she meets Miriam, a young wife and mother, their unexpected attraction pushes Miriam to question the rules that bind her and a chain of events is set in motion that changes both women forever. The World Unseen transports us to a vibrant, colourful world, a world that divides white from black and women from men, but one that might just allow an unexpected love to survive.
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'An impressive debut. [Sarif's] story brings together the descriptive power of the novelist with the screenwriter's mastery of dialogue: a overarching vision of a community shackled by race and gender, which also registers the small shocks and struggles of two women at its centre' --The Times
About the Author
Shamim Sarif is a novelist, screenwriter and film director. She recently wrote and directed the motion picture adaptation of her own novel, The World Unseen. She is also the writer/director of the feature film, I Can't Think Straight, which is based on her novel of the same name. She is the author of the novel Despite the Falling Snow. She lives in London with her partner Hanan and their two children.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a finely woven tale with a magical sense of place, atmosphere and character, set in 1950s South Africa during the time of apartheid's most stringent race laws. Arriving in South Africa from India, shy Miriam and her unapproachable husband seek a better life in Delhof for their children. They set up a general store in a remote area, and soon Miriam is wrapped up in a mundane existence without a smile, without much pleasure and love, except for that of her children.
Meanwhile, fiercely independent Amina is determined to break with tradition and not marry for the sake of her family's name. She runs her own businesses with a gentle and wise Coloured man, Jacob, and often clashes with the local police. When Miriam and Amina's paths cross in the gossip-ridden and scandal prone Indian community of Pretoria, events are set in motion that will put Miriam on a path of personal awakening that leads to an eventual confrontation with her dogmatic husband.
Shamim Sarif, born in the UK, and of South African decent, won the Betty Trask Award and Pendleton May First Novel Award with this glowing debut. Although the book begins slowly, Sarif has proven herself adept at patiently layering a complex narrative with vivid characters and subtle plot twists. She has a rare gift of bringing alive sensuous undertones and the intricacies of body language in her narration. I was a bit puzzled by her Afrikaans characters' strange use of Ja all the time, but let's not fuss about peculiarities. Definitely a book I would recommend and an author who has convinced me to pick up an even better second book, Despite the Falling Snow
Meanwhile, fiercely independent Amina is determined to break with tradition and not marry for the sake of her family's name. She runs her own businesses with a gentle and wise Coloured man, Jacob, and often clashes with the local police. When Miriam and Amina's paths cross in the gossip-ridden and scandal prone Indian community of Pretoria, events are set in motion that will put Miriam on a path of personal awakening that leads to an eventual confrontation with her dogmatic husband.
Shamim Sarif, born in the UK, and of South African decent, won the Betty Trask Award and Pendleton May First Novel Award with this glowing debut. Although the book begins slowly, Sarif has proven herself adept at patiently layering a complex narrative with vivid characters and subtle plot twists. She has a rare gift of bringing alive sensuous undertones and the intricacies of body language in her narration. I was a bit puzzled by her Afrikaans characters' strange use of Ja all the time, but let's not fuss about peculiarities. Definitely a book I would recommend and an author who has convinced me to pick up an even better second book, Despite the Falling Snow
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By VS
Format:Paperback
This is one of those books that you'll have trouble putting down. It's very engaging.
The characters are seriously well written an you have a deep insight into their thoughts and perception of the world around them changing with the start of the apartheid. There's a crescendo to the whole atmosphere of the story that just keeps the reader wanting to know more of what's to follow.
I did find the ending to be a bit abrupt given the flow of the previous narrative, but the whole picture and development of the characters' emotional strength explains it rather well.
You'll enjoy reading this book.
The characters are seriously well written an you have a deep insight into their thoughts and perception of the world around them changing with the start of the apartheid. There's a crescendo to the whole atmosphere of the story that just keeps the reader wanting to know more of what's to follow.
I did find the ending to be a bit abrupt given the flow of the previous narrative, but the whole picture and development of the characters' emotional strength explains it rather well.
You'll enjoy reading this book.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The characters in this book remain vivid to me even 2 months after reading this wonderful novel. I picked it up and was riveted for 5 hours till I finished it! I was amazed at the accuracy of the authors portrayal of the issues presented , even down to the comedic funeral rites and rituals. Anxiously awaiting a sequel!
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A 'nice' read
Slow burning book. I feel that the author concentrates on an insight into the religion of the two main characters and their families.
Published 4 months ago by miss h bubb
4.0 out of 5 stars
great read
a very well written, engaging story with amazingly thought out characters with amazing insight into what it would have been like in those times. Read more
Published 10 months ago by BB
4.0 out of 5 stars
Slow paced but beautifully written.
I really enjoyed this. It is quite a slow, but well paced novel, every scene is wonderfully described and the writing is lovely. Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2009 by L. R. Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a great read!
I bought this book after seeing the movie, and I wasn't disappointed. Storyline covers the emotions and effects of all the multi-cultural people living in the apartheid era (early... Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2009 by Pearce
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
The book arrived at 10 a.m and i was still reading into the night, finished it in a day simply because it was so compelling and engaing I couldnt stand to put it down. Read more
Published on 10 May 2009 by Cara
5.0 out of 5 stars
lovely
What a wonderful book. I can't believe it has been on the shelf for all these years without my noticing it. I feel as if I've been left out of a big secret. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2008 by RD
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book - highly recommended
This is a fabulous book - beautifully written and extremely perceptive. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published on 21 April 2005
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautifully written book about human relationships
I bought this book to accompany me on the plane back to the US. I finished it on the 10-hour flight. The characters are compelling and rich - the story beautifully narrated. Read more
Published on 5 July 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
an extraordinary first novel, with insight and tenderness
This is an extraordinary debut novel, written with a mixture of quiet restraint and passionate understanding, about the quest of two young Indian women in apartheid Africa for... Read more
Published on 13 May 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must-read for those who love a good story and great writing
Sarif transports us to a far away time and place - exposing the complex facets of a history while absorbing the reader in a beautiful tale of tradition, love and survival. Read more
Published on 8 May 2001
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