"An interesting and thought-provoking memoir."
An interesting and thought-provoking memoir based on Ruth Hartley’s escape to London, and the ordeal she went through to get here in the early 1960’s while pregnant with her first born.
I’m not one to get emotional over books but this is one of those rare occasions where I went through a whole roller-coaster of emotions, ranging from Sadness to happiness to even angry about some of the attitudes that people had in the early 60’s. I know some of these prejudices and stigmas still exist to this day but these day’s people and even communities are learning to accept it a little better.
This was a very well written memoir, which I found easy to read. I managed to race through this book quite quickly. In fact I finished it in 2 sittings. This was due to the fact that I just wanted to keep reading to find out what happens next.
Overall a very enjoyable read. I haven’t read Ruth’s other books but I will definitely be adding them to my TBR list.
I highly recommend this book, especially if enjoy reading memoirs and your looking for a memorable read.
Manisha Natha, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Biographies & Autobiographies |
| Recommendations: |
When I Was Bad is the memoir of a young pregnant woman who left South Africa to embark on a new life in London in the 1960s. It’s a thought-provoking insight into South African culture, and I was fascinated by the author’s experiences of living under apartheid rule.
When I Was Bad is the memoir of a young pregnant woman who left South Africa to embark on a new life in London in the 1960s. It’s a thought-provoking insight into South African culture, and I was fascinated by the author’s experiences of living under apartheid rule. Mixed-race relationships were not only frowned upon but carried the risk of death, especially if a pregnancy was involved. The author’s personal stories portrayed a strong sense of fear as she journeyed into the unknown to keep her and her baby safe, shifting from place to place until she finally became more settled. The book goes into a lot of detail, not just about her own experiences in South Africa and London, but also the political and social climates at the time and the people she met along the way.... Read Full Review
