Book Review – Call and Response by Gothataone Moeng

***Note: There are affiliate links in this post and if you click on them and make a purchase, we will earn a commission from it. We appreciate your support and thank you in advance.

Description

Richly drawn stories about the lives of ordinary families in contemporary Botswana as they navigate relationships, tradition and caretaking in a rapidly changing world.

A young widow adheres to the expectations of wearing mourning clothes for nearly a year, though she’s unsure what the traditions mean or whether she is ready to meet the world without their protection. An older sister returns home from a confusing time in America, only to explain at every turn why she’s left the land of opportunity. A younger sister hides her sexual exploits from her family, while her older brother openly flaunts his infidelity.

The stories collected in Call and Response are strongly anchored in place – in the village of Serowe, where the author is from, and in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana – charting the emotional journeys of women seeking love and opportunity beyond the barriers of custom and circumstance.

Gothataone Moeng is part of a new generation of writers coming out of Africa whose voices are ready to explode onto the literary scene. In the tradition of writers like Chimamanda Adiche and Jhumpa Lahiri, she offers us insight into communities, experiences and landscapes through stories that are cinematic in their sweep, with unforgettable female protagonists.

Book Reaction Navigation

The Gist

What Worked For Me

What Did Not Work For Me ( For Now)

Content Warnings

Final Verdict

Gist

Imbued with emotion and reflection, Call and Response will supply readers with a front-row seat into Batswana life. In 9 beautifully written, self-revelatory stories, we experience the inner turmoil and contradictions of embracing cultural traditions in post-colonial Botswana, inevitable shifts and changes in shared bonds between people, coming of age, navigating familial expectations, and the all too familiar event and memories of homecoming.

Be prepared to traverse around cities of Botswana, and witness the characters’ revelations of themselves as they answer their call.

What Worked for Me

Gothataone’s writing mechanics, especially sentence structure, are delicious. Kept me lingering and saying “Mmm.” I have several sentences and passages highlighted for their use of semicolons. I praise authors that create embellished sentences, and meaning and significance are not lost. Achieving it with minimal effort is an art and flex I wish to have one day.

Notable Stories

A Good Girl

Small Wonders

Dark Matter

Bodies

Early Life and Education

What Did Not Work for Me (for now)

There were some stories in this collection that I need to do a closer reading of and maybe speak with someone else about. I sometimes felt that I missed the mark or maybe there wasn’t one. I’m not the best at identifying less obvious themes, so I’m sure a more seasoned reader would be able to see what I didn’t in my first read of this book. I mostly felt that the book as a whole could be included in an anthology study, as some stories could be more impactful if analyzed and discussed amongst others. I’m not sure how else to word it, as I didn’t dislike the stories. Below are the stories that I think a more critical eye (more critical than mine) would appreciate.

Stories That Need Closer and Critical Reading

Botalaote

Homing

When Mrs. Kennekae Dreamt of Snakes

The First Virginity of Gigi Kaisara

Content Warnings

The global, long-lasting effects of colonialism will forever hurt my feelings.

Final Verdict

3.25 stars, I recommend this short story collection. The writing is poignant and thought-provoking. That is what I most enjoyed about it. Despite my enjoyment of Moeng’s writing, the pacing of the stories did not compel me to reach for the book as much as I expected to. It would have been a perfect fit for me if the calling were stronger.

I suggest this book to readers who are seeking a slower-paced collection of stories, centered around mostly female characters.

Many thanks to Viking, Gothataone Moeng, and NetGalley for an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for an honest review. My review/reaction is voluntary, all thoughts are mine and unbiased, and receiving the Advanced Review Copy does not influence my rating and/or recommendation.