Review of Honoring My Village

[Mutai Marshal]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Honoring My Village" by Josephine N. Norward.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Honoring My Village by Josephine Norward is a memoir recounting the author's life growing up in apartheid South Africa. She is the daughter of Henry Nxumalo, who worked as a journalist, and Florence Nxumalo, who served as a nurse. She talks about life in Soweto, an acronym for southwestern townships. Josephine notes that back then, Soweto was made up of a thriving middle class of small businesses, teachers, nurses, and accountants, among others. In South Africa, racial classification was the cause of many disparities.

Josephine pursued her education at St. Joseph's Catholic boarding school in Swaziland after the execution of her father. Upon completion, she was accepted into the University of Zululand in South Africa. College life had its fair share of challenges, but she eventually pulled through. But what did life have in store for her?

This memoir was quite enlightening for me. I got insights into the disastrous apartheid regime in South Africa and the never-ending challenges its citizens continue to grapple with years after independence. Despite the innumerable resources that can be tapped into, poor leadership is ailing the country. I was moved by the author’s commitment to achieving a quality life. I liked that Josephine knew when things were working against her. For instance, she stopped her friend from taking advantage of her.

I felt uplifted reading this book. Despite not being among the best in her class growing up, Josephine climbed the ladder to become a reputed black woman in a United States university. She refused to back down to intimidation from male colleagues. Her coachability at the university by her mentor demonstrates that we can become anything we desire, provided we are ready to learn and believe in ourselves.

While the book details relevant information, I wished that the author had incorporated the dates some events took place. This is a personal preference, however. The book warrants 4 out of 5 stars as it elegantly envisages a woman who defied all odds to excel in the male-dominated world of academia. This informative book will open your eyes to the issues people of color face in and out of their countries. The errors I flagged denied the book a perfect score. I recommend Honoring My Village to those interested in learning the cultural and political dynamics in South Africa.

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Honoring My Village
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[Lisa P Cowling]

This memoir is both educational and eye-opening. I love how the author shares her life story with such openness. The author's resilience is inspiring.

[Minaxiben Chandrakant Patel]

Your review of "Honoring My Village" by Josephine Norward effectively conveys the impact of the memoir, providing insights into apartheid-era South Africa and the challenges faced by its citizens. Your observations on the author's resilience and determination contribute to a nuanced understanding of her journey.

[Donaking]

The review for "Honoring My Village" by Josephine Norward suggests that the book is an enlightening memoir about the author's experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa. Despite some minor shortcomings, such as the absence of dates for certain events, the reviewer found the book informative and uplifting. It portrays a woman who defied societal expectations and excelled in academia. Overall, the review indicates that the book is a recommended read for those interested in learning about the cultural and political dynamics of South Africa.

[patricia MGBEMENA]

I actually admire Josephine pursuing her education in a boarding school and it is very sad that her father was executed. I would love to read and understand this book.