Facebook Twitter Pinterest <Embed>

Have one to sell?
Sell on Amazon
Flip to back Flip to front
Listen Playing... Paused   You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more
See all 3 images

Coconut Paperback – 2 May 2007

by
Kopano Matlwa (Author)
› Visit Amazon's Kopano Matlwa Page
search results for this author
Kopano Matlwa (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 6 customer reviews
See all formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Amazon Price
New from Used from
Paperback
"Please retry"
—
£19.22 £16.20
Top Deals in Books
See the latest top deals in Books. Shop now
Available from these sellers.
click to open popover

Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone

To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number.
Top Deals in Books
See the latest top deals in Books. Shop now

Product details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Jacana Media (2 May 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1770093362
  • ISBN-13: 978-1770093362
  • Product Dimensions: 15.2 x 1.3 x 23.5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 651,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Review

"Narrated from a teenager's perspective, [this] is an audacious, lyrical and compassionate tale. It explores the grey, in-between, intimate experiences and dilemmas of a young girl who, like the society around her, is undergoing changes that call old boundaries, comforts, and certitudes into question." European Union Literary Award Jury"

About the Author

Kopano Matlwa is the chairperson and founding member of Waiting Room Education by Medical Students, a nonprofit health promotion organization that uses students talents to educate patients on common health conditions in the waiting rooms of clinics. She was awarded the Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Award in 2005 for academic excellence and leadership potential."

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
5 star
3
4 star
2
3 star
0
2 star
1
1 star
0
See all 6 customer reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsIncisive look at life in apartheid south africa
By neema bell on 23 April 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This is an incredibly insightful book, and rightfully won the European Book award in 2007. Matlwa narrates the experiences of two young women growing up in post apartheid south africa. One is wealthy, highly educated, but dismissed by friends and society. The other is poor, uneducated and lamentably idealistic. Only one ordinary day passes in the novel, yet in this time the women experience enough slights to prompt recollections of the generations of oppression and isolation which have beset black South Africans. Both of their futures are also uncertain. In the face of racism and family breakdown, it is not clear that either woman will be able to reach her full potential.

It is not fair to describe this simply as a "sassy" or "light" read. The book is indeed short, and often amusing. Yet this is in the context of some very weighty themes. The marginalisation of the two main characters from their own lives is striking. The narratives of brothers, white fashion models and employers take frequently precedence over the views of the women themselves. Matlwa's also makes careful use of structure to bring out parallels between the lives of white and black, rich and poor. Her delicate portrayals of white south africans suggests that despite their relative power, the atomisation of south african society leaves them equally confused and estranged.

Overall, a jarring and enjoyable read.
Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsBeautiful and thought-provoking
By suzieb on 25 April 2015
Format: Paperback
I came to this book by a rather strange route, in that I was working on a manuscript about the economics of South Africa, and the author had quoted from "Coconut" in a chapter about what he termed "enclavization". I was interested, so I bought the book. It's beautifully written, a little literary gem that is gentle in its approach, yet hard-hitting in its conclusions. There is a tendency, outside South Africa at least, to assume that now that they don't have legalized apartheid, everything is OK. This is not the case. There are so many ways in which you can marginalize people and yet stay within the law. The two black girls whose stories are told, Ofilwe and Fiks, find themselves between worlds. Ofilwe's family have become rich, and can therefore afford to live in a wealthy area, but their white neighbours don't accept them. Fiks lives in a poor township and has dreams of becoming like Ofilwe, but doesn't realize that money, even if she had it, would not solve the problem of being black among a white elite. The book raises uncomfortable questions, but also gives valuable insight. Well worth reading.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
4.0 out of 5 starsOverall this is a good book
By Kinga on 2 Jan. 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This book shows South Africa's life from a different perspective. It is easy to read, but it is not great literature.
Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

There's a problem loading this menu at the moment.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

Look for similar items by category

Feedback