In A Human Being Died That Night by Paumla Gobodo-Madikizela, tells the story of the apartheid government that once ruled South Africa. Paumla is a psychologist that works to help people share there stories and grief of how the government treated them under the apartheid system. Paumla is eventually assigned to interview Eugene De Kock a head of the apartheid government imprisoned for many racist crimes against humanity. During her interviews Paumla begins to feel empathy for this brutal killer and is battling in her own head that perhaps there is good and bad in everyone. Paumls begins to feel that De Kock is truly sorry for his crimes. A Human Being Died That Night offers unique perspective into the motives behind the apartheid crimes and the people effected by them.
-Fidel Castro
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ReplyDeleteThe book sounds very interesting. Typically during war trials, people only listen to victims' stories. It is very intersting to hear about a book that investigates more into what Apartheid perpatrators feel about their crimes than the victims.
ReplyDeleteDid Eugene De Kock ever admit to his crimes during Apartheid? Did he take full responsibility for what his regime did?
-Nelson Mandela
This book looks like an intense and interesting thriller. Id love to read it. Was it long and hard to read? It seems like it would be interesting no matter what the length! Great job!
ReplyDelete- Mary Queen of Scots
I'd like to read this book, it gives an interesting twist on an already interesting story. The book I read also dealt with apartheid, so it would be interesting to compare the two.
ReplyDeleteRamses the Great
This book sounds like it would educate the reader without just throwing facts at them. Was it difficult to read a book about such a dark subject?
ReplyDelete- Betty Crocker
It wasn't to difficult of a read and yes, De Kock did admit to his crimes, however, he said all of the South African people are also responsible for letting it happen. I also do think he does feel sorry for his crimes and wants to be forgiveness or have some kind of closure to what he has done.
ReplyDelete-Fidel Castro
This book looks very interesting. I like the theme of everyone having a good and bad side to them. It shows a lot about human nature.
ReplyDeleteWas this a hard read?
Do you think De Kock is actually sorry for his crimes?
-Siddhattha Gotama
This book seems like it would be really interesting, although a little dark. Unfortunately in my book, many of the people who attacked others and the government too remain unsympathetic and unapologetic. Since the crimes are not taught in the country, many people do not even know what happened. To me, this is almsot as bad as the original actions.
ReplyDelete-La Reina Sofia
This book seems very interesting. I love reading books where you hear stories from live people that experienced such troubles that we take advantage of everyday.
ReplyDelete-Martha Stuart
I like to think that nobody's purely "bad," so I find that to be a fascinating point about everyone having a good and bad side to them. This seems like a really good book.
ReplyDelete~Mohammed
Great discussion!!
ReplyDeleteFidel - when you wrote that de Kock believes the society is responsible, I think you're on to something. The crimes of apartheid were mainly committed in an attempt to enforce legislation and quell dissent. It wasn't random personal hatred. In fact, many times, Afrikaaners would employ Africans as servants, working side by side with them all day. That type of time together could only happen if there were genuine affection between them. The violence didn't come from hatred, it came from political decisions.
In part, that could explain why forgiveness was possible. It wasn't personal. Contrast that situation with nations in which people hate each other in absence of official legal segregation -- or in fact, the hatred persists in spite of official attempts to resolve personal conflicts.
Mrs. McCabe
This book sounds like a thrilling page-turner.
ReplyDeleteWas this book hard to read? It doesn't seem so, especially with your input on it.
It sounds almost like Capote's "In Cold Blood."
This book is another one that I'd love to read.