Review of Muddy Waters

[Shelby Laine]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Muddy Waters" by David G Higgo.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Wow. That's what I found myself thinking after finishing Muddy Waters written by David G. Higgo. This book is the story of the life of David Boshoff, a gay man living in South Africa. There were so many different emotions that came up for me while reading this book. There were funny parts, sad parts, and parts that really made me mad. As you might imagine, being gay in South Africa in the early 60s was not easy for David. The amount of discrimination, hate, and bullying he dealt with was both shocking and saddening to read. Despite this, he writes a beautiful story about overcoming, finding oneself, and being proud of who you are. I think this is a great read for anyone. 

The book also discusses the volatile political environment in South Africa throughout the span of David Boshoff’s life. He, like many others in the country, faces violence, crime, and political corruption. The author does a great job of balancing the story of his personal experience with an ongoing narrative of world and local events. Even being a lover of history, I learned about a significant historical event I’d never heard of before thanks to this book.

My only critique, which I feel must be mentioned, would be that the editing in the book does need a good bit of work. There are many typos and incorrect punctuations, occasionally making it a bit hard to follow, however, I believe it is a story worth reading regardless. 

With consideration for the editing, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. There are a lot of people who, I know, would find this book inspiring. I believe it is important for stories like David’s to be shared and remembered. The book ends with a beautiful message of encouragement from David to anyone who has ever been made to feel that they weren't 'normal'.

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Muddy Waters
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[Onyemuwa-dave]

Your review of Muddy Waters truly highlights the powerful and inspiring journey of David Boshoff, especially his resilience in overcoming immense discrimination in 1960s South Africa. While it sounds like a deeply important story, and I appreciate your detailed insights into how it balances personal experience with historical context, it's not typically the type of read I would give a try. Thanks for the review.

[Kibet Hillary]

I would definitely be interested in reading and learning about the political, economic, and social atmospheres in the country in the 1960s. I hope the author will consider having the book taken through another round of editing; thanks for the insightful review, @Shelby Laine.