Ways of Dying: A Novel

I read this book for a postcolonial lit cousre, and I really enjoyed it. Although the book takes place in South Africa (interacting with cultures I personally am unfamiliar with), Mda did an excellent job of making the cultures in the novel accessible to readers not from those cultures. Any words that were not in English were explained within the paragraph, which I really appreciated, because this maintained the influences of local languages on the novel, while allowing me (an English speaker) to read without pause.Mda's style of narration was also really interesting. Most of the novel is told from a plural second person perspective-- from the perspective of the village and community. The narrators are omnipresent and anonymous, which was a really cool and neat experience different from most Western novels.Even though the content was somewhat depressing (death obviously plays a large role since Toloki is a professional mourner), the novel was still engaging and not entirely depressing. The characters live in a difficult world, but they are not consumed by the depression and death that surrounds them, which made the novel easier to read for me at least.

I am an avid reader of African literature, both fiction and non-fiction (especially memoirs). I am always searching for contemporary non-white writers (the white writers are good, but it is not unreasonable to want other perspectives), so I was happy to learn about Zakes Mda from a recent New York Times book review column, and I ordered his two books immediately.'Ways of Dying' is not about post-apartheid South Africa, though the blurb suggests that. I estimate it to be set in the late 1980s, shortly before the end of the old regime was drawing near.It's a short book, but it's well written, and paints a vivid picture of life in South Africa. And yes, the 'black perspective' is different, and very interesting, and most welcome.

Had to read it for class, but thoroughly enjoyed it and finish quickly.

But, it does convey the difficulties of the characters. I thought it would be more descriptive of Africa as a whole, but instead it is all about the 2 main characters, who are just not that interesting to me.

It was a beautiful book in an ugly scene. The writing had a folk or mythological tone which only added to its attractions. The second reading only confirmed why the first time I had read it stayed with me and haunted me for years. Highly recommended.

There are numerous books that you can read that explain South Africa's recent political history. Or you can read this work of fiction that captures these times in an even more vivid and truthful manner.

At first 'read', this story appears to be a simple one about a man who appoints himself to be a 'professional Mourner' at funerals. However, extreme poverty, senseless killings, racial inequities, and the inequality of the sexes are ever present in this book by South African author, Zades Mda. It's well worth a second 'read'.

Great read! One of the most original novels I've read, be that in its content or in its form. Mda is a real master!