The Woman Next Door (novel)
_book_cover.jpg) | |
| Author | Yewande Omotoso |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Set in | Cape Town |
| Published | 2016 |
| Publisher |
|
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 978-0008203566 |
| [1] | |
The Woman Next Door is a 2016 fiction novel written by Yewande Omotoso and published by Chatto and Windus in the UK, Picador in the US, Farafina in Nigeria and Penguin Random House in South Africa.
Development and publication[edit]
Omotoso got the inspiration for one of the character's called Hortensia during the funeral of her grandfather in Barbados in 2012[2] but started writing between 2013 and 2014.[3] In preparation for the novel, Omotoso conducted interviews, read news from Cape Argus and Cape Times during Apartheid-days in South Africa and spending time in a Jewish old-age home in Cape Town, visiting District Six Museum, the Jewish Museum and the Slave Lodge.[2]
The Woman Next Door was published in 2016 by Chatto and Windus in the UK, Picador in the US, Farafina in Nigeria and Penguin Random House in South Africa being Omotoso's second novel and first to be published in the United States.[1]: 1 [4] In an interview with NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro, Omotoso revealed that she didn't plan on writing a story with happy endings.[5]
Plot summary[edit]
The novel is set in Katterijin, a suburb community in Cape Town where two women who are widowed and both in their 80s: Hortensia James an international fashion designer who is the only black homeowner in the suburb and Marion Agostino, a white Jewish woman who is an architect. Both women hate each other but soon unites after an accident.
Themes[edit]
Danette Frederique identified "South Africa's post-Apartheid closet, including land rights, reconciliation and white guilt" as the themes.[6]
Reception[edit]
Publishers Weekly referred to it as "this charming, touching, occasionally radiant tale of two prickly octogenarians: two women, one black and one white, neighbours who discover after 20 years of exchanging digs and insults that they might help each other... Omotoso captures the changing racial relations since the 1950s, as well as the immigrant experience through personal detail and small psychological insights into mixed emotions, the artist's eye, and the widow's remorse. Hers is a fresh voice as adept at evoking the peace of walking up a kopje as the cruelty of South Africa’s past."[7] The Irish Independent described it as "a finely observed account of female prejudice, redemption and that often elusive commodity - friendship."[8] Kirkus Reviews called it "[a] pleasing tale of reconciliation laced with acid humor and a cheery avoidance of sentimentality."[9] Olatoun Williams of Borders Literature Online called it "a thought provoking, and immensely readable fictional biography."[1]: 3
In The Harvard Crimson, it received a 3.5 star rating, citing that it "reads more like a beach book than a serious piece of literature, the novel’s discussion of difficult topics such as racism, apartheid, grief, and the past add a depth that a lesser novel would lack.",[4] while Freya Neason of Palatinate gave a less positive review citing the storyline, writing style and "[the character's] constant grumbles and criticisms quickly [becoming] cumbersome." for its shortcomings.[10]
The novel was shortlisted for the University of Johannesburg Prize in 2016[11] Sunday Times Barry Ronge Fiction Prize in 2017[12] and was longlisted for the 2017 Bailey's Women's Prize for Fiction,[13][14] and went on to be shortlisted for the 2018 International Dublin Literary Award.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c William, Olatoun. "THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR by Yewande Omotoso" (PDF). Borders Literature Online. Borders Literature Online. p. 4.
- ^ a b Omotoso, Yewande (3 July 2017). "'I appreciate stories that mess with me a little': Yewande Omotoso on her latest book, The Woman Next Door". Johannesburg Review of Books (Interview). Interviewed by Jennifer Malec. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Omotoso, Yewande. "Yewande Omotoso: My Characters Determine The Course Of My Stories". TheNEWS (Interview). Interviewed by Adefoyeke Ajao. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ a b Tew, Caroline E. (28 February 2017). "'The Woman Next Door' Subtle but Effective". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Omotoso, Yewande (12 February 2017). "'Next Door' Neighbors Gradually Learn To Get Along In Post-Apartheid Cape Town". NPR (Interview). Interviewed by Lulu Garcia-Navarro. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Frederique, Danette (12 May 2016). "Book reviews: When two old ladies go to war". City Press. Media24. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "The Woman Next Door". Publishers Weekly. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Conroy, Deirdre (27 June 2016). "Fiction: The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR". Kirkus Reviews. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Neason, Freya (16 April 2017). "Book Review: The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso". Palatinate. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Malec, Jennifer (6 June 2017). "UJ Prize shortlists announced: Fiction, poetry, short stories, essays and biography feature". The Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Malec, Jennifer (25 June 2017). "Zakes Mda and Greg Marinovich win Sunday Times Literary Awards". The Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Kean, Danuta (8 March 2017). "Baileys women's prize 2017 longlist sees established names eclipse debuts". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "A Q&A with Yewande Omotoso". Women's Prize for Fiction. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Obi-Young, Otosirieze (6 April 2018). "Yewande Omotoso Is on the Shortlist of the €100,000 International Dublin Literary Award". Brittle Paper. Retrieved 3 January 2024.