Cover Image: The Burning Land

The Burning Land

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Wonderful, kept me turning the pages all the way through. A fabulous first novel and I look forward to reading more by the author.

Was this review helpful?

The first thing to say about The Burning Land is that it is written from the heart. George Alagiah’s knowledge of , and commitment to, Africa threads its way through each page of this complex and multi-layered story. This approach is not without its risks, however, and one consequence is that the narrative can be somewhat dense and slow-paced as it seeks to reflect the realities of life in post-Mandela South Africa. There is, nonetheless, evidence of a keen story-telling approach to the author’s writing and a future book that sought a more even balance between the journalist’s need to get a story in front of the public and the reader’s desire for a light touch in terms of messages carried by the narrative would be a good read.

Was this review helpful?

Childhood friends Lindi and Kagiso meet again as South Africa turns to violence in the wake of a land sale scandal.

A good solid thriller with strong characters and interesting relationships.

Was this review helpful?

The Burning Land is a thought provoking and eloquent piece of writing by renowned journalist George Alagiah. It explores the corruption and violence that still exists in South Africa in this post-apartheid era.

The book is a murder mystery, revolving around the murder of a young man fighting against the ongoing land deals, but it is also so much more. It delves into government corruption, politicians working with businesses, family, land deals, displacement, and demonstrates the horrific treatment of migrant workers and poor locals. It is obviously that. Alagiah has a wealth of knowledge on South Africa, and I found it very enlightening to learn more about the situation and the problems that still exist today.

It is an excellent read and well worth picking up to gain an understanding of what life is like in South Africa. It is both informative and engaging, and I would definitely recommend giving it a go.

Thank you to Netgalley and Canongate for the ARC. It was a pleasure to read from start to finish.

Was this review helpful?

Fact or fiction?

A farmer’s house, outbuildings and equipment are sabotaged in Mpumalanga. Four people prepare an article to post under their group proclaiming that they are responsible for this fire. They want to prove that the “New Regime” is no different from the “Apartheid Regime” in South Africa. The people, workers who've lived on the land for centuries, count for nothing, especially when the Government buys the farmland from the white farmers. Often these families are turfed out, and left homeless, when the new owners, people from the UK, many Middle-Eastern countries, China and Japan, take over these properties. People in Government, or on the periphery of Government, are becoming multi-billionaires on the profits from these sales.

Lesedi Motlantshe is the son of one of these multi-billionaires. However, he does not share his father’s way of thinking. He wants to see the land returned to the rightful owners. He travels to Mpumalanga to meet with Kagiso Rapabane, the head of an organisation called Soil of Africa. This charitable organisation tries to help those made homeless by these sales. Shortly after meeting with Kagiso, his body is found – mutilated, clothing scattered, but nothing was stolen.

Lindi Seaton lives in London and works for South Trust, a high profile charity and well-respected organisation dedicated to conflict resolution around the world. Lindi and her boss, Anton Chetty, are both ex-South Africans. Both have links back to fighting apartheid, Lindi through her parents and Anton, through imprisonment by the regime. When they hear of this murder, Anton decides that Lindi should go to South Africa to find out whether it will impact their organisation’s conflict resolution as Mozambique citizens are being burnt to death, their houses destroyed – they’ve been blamed for the murder.

What Lindi finds when she arrives and makes her way to Mpumalanga, puts her at risk of being involved in the growing backlash to the murder.

George Alagiah has written a book, on a subject that is hugely controversial in South Africa – land seizure. His research, flawless method of writing in the South African vernacular and understanding of the country and the people make this one of the most influential books written about the ongoing struggle people have in the “new” South Africa.

Imbali

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Was this review helpful?

George Alagiah, renowned BBC presenter and journalist presents his debut novel about the struggle South Africa has faced for many decades in which he puts his extensive knowledge of the political situation to good use. This is so much more profound than just a simple thriller as my opening statement should suggest, and I am sad to say that the depiction is an accurate one. A murder mystery set against the backdrop of a burning landscape of division and chaos. It explores race, class, power, corruption, violence, land reform, greed, how money really is the root of all evil and how this all fits together to tell the story of post-apartheid SA. This is both an enjoyable and unsettling read and I appreciated learning more about the country's history and the atmosphere Alagiah creates is impressive.

This is a superb novel that shows just how complex the situation was (and still is) and brings forth the longing of many for South Africa to forge a new identity and move forward towards a more stable and prosperous future. The author asks a series of questions, many of a philosophical nature, throughout the narrative which provided much food for thought. In particular, the question of whether anything has actually changed or whether merely what were once primarily wealthy white men climbing the ladder of corruption have now turned to black. The same outcome remains: oppression of the people, corruption and all that comes along with it. It makes for compulsive and fascinating reading and the immersive story is completed by an intense murder mystery. An engaging and thoroughly absorbing novel. Many thanks to Canongate for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I cannot believe this is a debut novel. The subject matter is gripping and very worrying. Corruption and prejudice is rife in South Africa and no foreigners are safe. But the truth about land selling to outsiders must come out following the death of the son of a leading politician. Linda and Kasigo meet again after many years and put themselves in danger to save their South Africa.
Gripping and very well written, great characters.

Was this review helpful?

Whilst George Alagiah clearly knows his subject matter The Burning Land failed to deliver the book I was expecting.

It was very slow and wordy and ultimately power, control and corruption were the main reasons behind the actions witnessed.

Ultimately a great chance missed

Was this review helpful?

What an atmospheric, sad and violent book set mainly in the eastern side of South Africa!

The story centres around Lindi and Kagiso (the first name of my current South African cricketer) and their attempts to stop corruption in South Africa involving land deals. At times the story is incidental with the author's vivid descriptions of life from people in the townships to the wealthy men. Furthermore, the treatment of Mozambicans just shows how immigration is 'alive and well' in SA.

I am not sure if my two recent holidays in South Africa gave me any insight into the problems there - post Mandela, but the author writes vividly about this country and at times it is revealing,...sometimes unsettling.. Well researched, terrific characterisations and a joy to read. I loved the whole book.

Thanks to Net Galley and Canongate Books for the chance to read and review.

Was this review helpful?

Written by an author with a great in-depth knowledge of South Africa this novel deals with many problems that beset the country. Big business, corrupt politicians, aid workers and migrant workers are all caught in the web of lies, self- interest, corruption and the people trying to combat this.
A wide ranging look at South Africa through a work of fiction.

Was this review helpful?

The best story I have read on South Africa for a long time. A clever tale of government corruption,no shocks there, but the tale of the individuals involved both in the scam and those ,skilfully depicted,against is absorbing and at times emotional. The obvious difficulties that still exist in that land are convincingly shown in a tale that never flags and is a worthy testament to the author/ journalist and I hope for more. Recommended!

Was this review helpful?

This is a well constructed,penetrating story based in South Africa after majority rule takes over from the Apartheid regime. It analyses the way in which the country seems to become the same bus with a different driver. There is still racial and class division. Money still wins. Corruption still exists. The message is that little has changed. The context that Alagiah creates is very convincing and is used to give the story real intensity. The efforts of a new generation to ensure real change come unstuck. At the end,some culprits are brought down but it is assumed that little will change. As well as the political element of the book,there are personal stories that give the whole book a genuine feel. This is a good read.

Was this review helpful?

High expectation but having read 10% of the book my goodness it’s a slow start. The mark of a really good story teller is to get the man story out quickly, this sadly doesn’t and could have done with a good edit. Unwind the outcome for sure but tell me soon where this is going. I’k Persist and see whether the story emerges soon.

Was this review helpful?

This is the well known BBC journalist and presenter George Alagiah's fictional debut, a brilliant novel written with his wealth of experience and expert knowledge on Africa and South Africa in particular. It depicts the picture of a South Africa that has emerged from its history of political protest, race and struggle and what it has now become, all the dreams, disappointments, and the search for a new identity. It was home for many who grew up there and left for other countries, such as the Seaton family did for Britain. Perhaps inevitably, many of the revolutionaries, many of whom were imprisoned, lost sight of the ideals, the commitment to equality and tackling poverty, to become wealthy corrupt black men, negotiating and selling land to Middle Eastern, Chinese and other global interests, determined to benefit from South Africa's profitable resources. One such billionaire is Josiah Motlantshe, referred to as one of the Black Diamonds, a businessman, married to wife Priscilla, who has remained true to the cause, even if her husband has not. She has brought up her beloved son, Lesedi, with her vision of the fairer society that she has always believed in.

Lesedi is famous in South Africa for representing an idea, a symbol, and a mascot, the embodiment of the country, its new beginnings and hope. Lesedi is less than enamoured at his father's direction and his self enrichment path, and does not agree with the corrupt 'land reform', the underhand removal of locals, and selling the land to foreign interests. He sets up a meeting in Mpumolanga with Kagiso Rapabane representing the Soil of Africa charity, opposed to and documenting the land sell off. When Lesedi is murdered, the horrific repercussions reverberate throughout the country, with sanctioned xenophobic mob violence and killing, directed at the poorest of the poor, those from Mozambique, when the authorities speak of a Mozambique labourer as the chief suspect. Lindi Seaton, once of the FCO, now works for the South Trust charity. Her white family were prominent opponents of the apartheid regime, a liberal family who treated Maude, their servant and her son, Kasigo, as family. She flies to SA in a mission to find out what happened to Lesedi, meet Kasigo, and identify what role the charity could play in tackling the nightmare that has unfolded. She has no idea of the danger she and Kasigo will find themselves in.

Alagiah paints a multilayered complex picture of SA, the varied viewpoints of some its people, a government mired in corruption, with ministers looking to line their own pockets, such as Jake Willemse in the story. There are big questions that are asked in the narrative, such as does it matter if someone is black or white if both are intent on oppressing the people, and is diversity a good thing if in the world of billionaires, some of them are now black? There is a fascinating exploration of just how the economic and political order has changed or not in the post-apartheid era, or is the only change that of what were once white faces are now black, deploying the very instruments of power against the people that were once ranged against all those who challenged apartheid? This is an informative, engaging and politically informative mystery read that is thought provoking and absorbing. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Canongate for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
I must confess I was really looking forward to this book based upon whom the author was and also the subject matter. Whilst I wouldn't say I was totally disappinted, I did feel it ended being a tad middle of the road for me and never really took me on the journey I anticipated.
Nonetheless it was a dent enough read and to those with real interest in where the main story is set I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this well written book. It's a very political one. It's thrilling, but more slower than you'd expect.
What impressed me the most was the South Africa background and political scape that was in this book. I like to learn about different geographies or their issues. So, it was the highlight for me.
It hooked me from the beginning to end, and I really found it interesting 
Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A well written book by someone who obviously has a good background knowledge of South Africa and the ideals of Africa in general. Enjoyable and also educational at the same time. The book holds your attention from start to finish though the storyline is actually more political than thrilling. A thriller that isn’t really but overall found it intriguing.

Was this review helpful?

I both struggled with this book and enjoyed it.

I'm not a fan of the writing. Its very 'purple' and gushing. The characters are one dimensional and we are repeatedly told who they are rather than being able to find out.

But the wealth of knowledge and understanding that the author clearly has of his subject is truly engaging. He does bring an area of South African life and politics to life - and its an area I knew very little about.

Was this review helpful?

The author undoubtedly knows what he's writing about here but I found this book packed full of background colour, characters with extended backstories, and lots and lots of writing that just doesn't move the narrative on. Once we get to the heart of the book, there's a familiar story of corruption, greed and violence. That would have been fine except I felt like I had to wade through masses of extraneous words to get to the story - lots of potential here but it needs a serious edit in my opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Coloured no doubt by George Alagiah’s own life experiences, and with the thoroughness of his journalistic background, The Burning Land is an exploration of post-apartheid South Africa, still torn apart by rivalries and greed, and the inequalities created by ‘land reform’.

Josiah Motlantshe is a black man, one time revolutionary prisoner, now flush with wealth and power by the land reform business deals he creates. His son Lesedi, has grown into the man his mother Priscilla first saw in the Josiah she fell in love with, a love long gone.

With the brutal killing of Lesedi, there are truths to be uncovered.

Lindi Seaton and Kagiso Mapabane, once childhood friends, now reunited from across the globe, come together to out the truth and with the hope of protecting the land they both love.

Initially I found the book a bit slow and hard to get into, with the writing style a little clunky. However as Alagiah draws the reader further into the story, it becomes a really compelling read, and I completed it in just over a day! Let’s hope George Alagiah continues his foray into fiction.

Was this review helpful?