Loved this.

Having lived in South Africa in the 70s and 80s, the narrator's delivery brought it all back to me - the words and expressions I haven't heard for years. So sad, some of it shocking, the changes over the years are illustrated very well. And I liked the character development, I disagree with those reviews said there wasn't much.
Pictures are painted throughout of the farm, the old house, the Lombard place, the Koppie. Tanny Marina at Pa's funeral was so funny, I laughed out loud! Highly recommended!

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Well written. I just didn’t love it.

When I read the reviews I was a bit disturbed to see so many South Africans commenting on how the book reaffirmed why they left SA. I had committed to read it so ploughed on. It is clearly well written and an engaging story of apartheid through the lens of a family over a few decades. I listened to it quite quickly so I’d definitely grabbed my attention. I just didn’t like any of the characters and it took death for the right thing to be done. Maybe it’s supposed to leave me uncomfortable. I know very little about SA history and I’m left wanting to understand more.

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Truly brilliant

Don't miss this. For once the Booker Committee made an excellent choice and audible made an excellent choice of reader.

The depiction of white South Africans is just perfect. I have connections with that time and place and I know that this is as authentic as you can get, beating by a mile every other attempt I have found to capture the mindset.

I also love the intelligent, compact prose, which is not exclusively directed at the post-apartheid crisis of the whites but gives astute and entertaining commentary on many aspects of South African society.

I am sorry for anyone who reads the print copy as the audible version adds a whole dimension. It is a rare delight to hear a proper accent, and equally a shame that for his other books they got an Australian who thinks he can imitate a South African but can't.

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Difficult to review

I know my fair share of the SA culture and history. This was accurate and immaculately written with a great performance from Noble. The writing is beautiful that is for sure.

As people have said in other reviews I just didn't love those in it. I'm not sure you will either. A broken state of order. This may reflect modern SA.

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Very slow moving with not much going on

The reason i got this, because it was recommended by a YouTuber i follow. I knew after the first 30 minutes or so that I will not enjoy this book. I tried to find a way how to return it and get my credit back but couldn’t figure that out so I persevered… however as predicted it just did not deliver. All the characters were super boring, with no character development. It was just too realistic. Nothing interesting happened. just ordinary lives described in a fancy prose. The performance was good though, I enjoyed the narration very much!

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An accurate glimpse into a slice of the pre and post democratic era of South Africa

The Promise offers a rare opportunity to explore the minds and world of a wealthy South African family, who in many ways depicted the white South African dream, but, who ultimately fell into a type of hell. A hell that is largely of their own making through their own narcissism, bigotry and racism. While, in many ways, one can’t help but feel that the characters had no other opportunity to act in any other way, being subjected to the unique set of circumstances that presented them, this novel has the unusual ability to force introspection and ask, “How would
I be any different?” It also has the effect of confronting the reader with the impartiality and limitations of human mortality. The book takes the subject matter and uses four decades of South African history, spanning the pre and post democratic era, as its canvas, accurately conveying the everyday experience through rich and honest descriptions.

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A story reflecting torn alliances & values.

Narrator was good, accents were fine. Enjoyed the novel. It deserved to win the Booker prize.

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Superb book, read magnificently well

Well deserved winner of the Booker prize, this is a book which captures the multifaceted, multigenerational challenges of everyday life in the ‘new’ South Africa. The narration is excellent. This is a book which will stay with me for a long time!

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Bleak but sadly recognisable depiction

Damon Galgut is a new author to me and I really enjoyed this book and in particular his writing style but felt there was perhaps scope to delve a little deeper into the key characters. I recognised much in the societal context and yes of course it is depressing to contemplate but that's hardly a reason not to do so. Brilliant narration by Peter Noble!

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5 people found this helpful

Powerful and thought provoking

An evocative story covering many aspects of South African culture, past and present. A brave look at the complexity of the multi - racial society that lives together in a country fraught with historic and current tensions. A story of love and hate, misconceptions and misunderstandings. All is laid out for the reader to contemplate, but solutions to the problems are hard to find. Highly recommended

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3 people found this helpful