Scribbling the Cat by Alexandra Fuller has a great title (which is explained in the narrative) and an interesting premise. The author was brought up in Africa (see here and here for two previous books about her life and family) at a time when many countries were declaring independence and where the life of white inhabitants changed completely. In this book the author explores what that meant for white settlers by describing a trip she makes with a white veteran of the Rhodesian War.
K, as she calls him, is a dangerous man who has lived a life of violence but who has also developed a deep Christian faith so he is challenged by the things he has done and the memories of war. He has lived a brutal life but now runs his own farm and tries to find peace in hard work.
Together the two of them set off on a trip across several countries which were torn apart by war and the struggle for self-rule. They revisit the scenes of events in K’s life and meet other veterans of the wars who now have to find a way to live in a new environment but with old memories and attitudes.
This is a fascinating look at a time and a people which have often been overlooked. This continent was the home of white settlers but at the expense of indigenous peoples. This book represents how these soldiers thought and what was important to them without in any way condoning or agreeing with them – the author seeks to understand their point of view.
The writing, and especially the descriptions of the landscape, is brilliant and very atmospheric. The book is often shocking, especially in its description of the wars and what happened to people. What most affected me was the depiction of K’s mental processes and the burden of guilt he carries, and how these now determine how he behaves.
A reflective book that maybe raises more questions than it answers but which I found fascinating to read.
Anne Is Reading 