Reviews for “The First Canary”
NetGalley Reviews
Kathryn M, Reviewer 5 out of 5 stars
“this was a great story in war torn South Africa, it was what I was hoping for from the description. I really enjoyed reading this and really felt for the characters in this story. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and felt like they were really people. I look forward to reading more from Sheldon Baverstock”.
Paul V, Reviewer 4 out of 5 stars
“Pretty good writing here. This author did a great job of creating real people. I see a lot of talent, and look forward to his future work".
Amazon Reviews amazon.co.uk
5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting ride with serious themes and twists aplenty
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 February 2023
There's so much going on in this entertaining and exciting novel. In particular, there's a thorough exploration of the nature of friendship and family as well as loyalty and betrayal, and the many forms these can all take. All this is against a backdrop of a violent and changing South Africa in the latter days of Apartheid. The action is wide-ranging too, moving from training camps and warzones through to tense townships and hospital bedsides. Nothing and no-one is quite what you think they might be, and this is fulsomely explored throughout via vivid characterisation.
5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting Story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 June 2023
This novel is written with in depth knowledge and a page turning pace. The unknown level of the South African Defence Force during the apartheid era becomes evident when a patrol vehicle suffered a radiator failure literally miles from anywhere and it was replaced "on manoeuvres"!
One character is Zeb Hani which is a triumph reflecting the intensity of his name. Chris Hani was an anti apartheid activist sadly assassinated in 1993.
The author captured the level of resentment in the "townships" in such detail, it's as if he lived there. Towards the end of the book is a thrilling chase through the "township" with sinister overtones.
You will not be disappointed with this book.
4.0 out of 5 stars An engaging rite of passage novel set in the apartheid era in South Africa
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 March 2024
I remember joining protests against apartheid in front of the South African High Commission when I was at university in London, and publishing articles about it in the student newspaper I edited, but frankly I knew only what we read in the newspapers until I first went to the country in the early nineties, by which time it was history. The First Canary presented me with a fascinating insight into the life of young men growing up there and facing conscription in the 70s. It’s very much a rite of passage story, with a lot of military experiences. Neither are things I would normally enjoy reading about, but the historical angle and first-hand knowledge of the author made it very engaging. I imagine that contemporaries of the author with relatable experiences would enjoy the book even more. My only serious criticism is that the army camp experiences in the middle of the book go on too long with too much detail and little happening – the book would be much more readable if it were a hundred pages shorter.
Wolfgang Muller
5.0 out of 5 stars The story
Reviewed in Germany on 16 August 2024
I was confused by all the different characters initially but reading on brought the story together I enjoyed it more and more. I brilliant story well told. Can’t wait for your next Novel
Goodreads Reviews
I really enjoyed reading this book. Set in southern Africa in recent times of political and social upheaval, it is the story of an ordinary extended family whose complexities and dynamics slowly come to light, and play out in the broader context of strife between nation breakdown and reconstruction towards the end of the 20th century colonial era.
There is a wonderful poignancy in the descriptions of the innocent young men sent off to be hardened in the ways of war in distant corners of the wild territories caught up in this conflict. And too, a strong sense of the unique region and an isolation of the kind that many will relate to as it recaptures a time of history that was neither benign nor honourable. But which has been the making of the 4 modern nations depicted in this tale of tumultuous change.
Despite this atmosphere so redolent of all these things the story remains grounded in the family twists and turns as fortunes ebb and flow around the equally changing social mores and expectations that the last thirty years of the 20th century brought.
The First Canary is an intriguing, interesting read which is as enjoyable for its historic context as it is for its compelling family drama.
Reviews for “One Black Ear”
Reviews from Amazon purchasers: see others on amazon.co.uk
5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional interpretation...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 January 2020Verified Purchase So - for all those that enjoy a good book - I’ve just finished 'One Black Ear'. I never get to read anymore, but when I found out that the author is my old SA boss (as in 25 years ago - not age!) I had to give it a go.
Honestly? I couldn’t put it down - read it in 2 days (I’m not just saying that either - I’d never go easy on him)
It’s a novel set in South Africa and expertly weaves into it a real insight into the changes that the country experienced (& continues to experience). It's an exceptional interpretation (in my humble opinion) of life in South Africa for those of us that lived through the changes....
Add it to your list - you won’t be disappointed....
4.0 out of 5 stars A snapshot of life after apartheid.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 March 2020 'One Black Ear' chronicles one family's experiences in the 'new' South Africa (the years following Nelson Mandela's release from Robbin Island). The Lenbruikte's and their extended family encounter many challengers on taking on the farm - Caracal Ridge - not least of which is dealing with the legacies of the past and a society still trying to cope with the consequences of apartheid. The prologue drew me in, there is tenseness in the air - it can only be Africa - it's people, the land and it's seasons, the flora and fauna. The author cleverly lays the foundation of things past and things to come - events that touch all the family and the people living on the farm and in the nearby town. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns in the book and in the end was left with a sense of promise of things to come.
4.0 out of 5 stars One Black Ear Reviewed in the United States on 1 December 2019
Verified Purchase
As a white english speaking South African (Rooinek) with an English heritage, having lived my entire life in this country I am very familiar with the settings, situations and problems the country has faced over the past sixty years.
One wonders if things may have been different if all the people who took their money and ran, had remained.
Critics have been forecasting the end of the country for as long as I can remember, but here we still are!
I had misgivings initially, before buying this book, fearing yet more criticism and intolerance of the country.
Fortunately I was wrong, the situations and problems have more than fairly been described and the Author obviously still has a great love for this beautiful country.
The prologue was a pleasure to read and I am sure most nature lovers will agree.
Initially I had a problem with the book, trying to keep track of the characters and their relationship to each other.
As the story developed this problem resolved itself and I began to enjoy the characters and the various subplots.
I thought the book a pretty good description of rural life in a small town, many of which are much the same today.
Also felt the story was a very good description of how many people are doing their best to cope with what, at times, is a very difficult situation.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the Author is to be congratulated on his first publication, I look forward to the next.
PS great cover
4.0 out of 5 stars Book Review of One Black Ear by Sheldon Baverstock
Reviewed in the United States on 1 January 2020
Verified Purchase
Set in South Africa during the birth of democracy, the early 1990’s, this book follows the story of an anti-establishment, free thinking “hippie” who rejects the usual societal influences to follow a path of financial success and instead,creates a life of his choosing, farming in a very conservative small town area of the hinterland. Bringing with him his own brand of egalitarian philosophy he has a powerful and positive effect on the lives he touches. The author’s reflections on the previous apartheid system and it’s unavoidable effects on the people, going forward, are astute and, as a fellow South African, resonated with me. It was a page turner for me and I devoured it in one day. The language is beautifully descriptive and took me back to areas of the country I have long missed. I could smell those old familiar country farm smells and envision the spectacular sweeping views in that part of the world. All in all, it was a positive uplifting story of the courage it takes to march to the beat of your own drum and live your best life. Definitely worth a read!
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and relatable read
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
A nice combination reflecting insight into the transformation of South Africa, within the complexity of family emotions. The novel allows you to actually visualize the scene, which is powerful.
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2021 Graham Ford
I read this book in two days. It is a real page turner. initially I was concerned that Sheldon was going to dwell on the past injustices of apartheid but, he didn't and created a great story about families in SA and how they have adjusted to the new post apartheid South Africa where I lived in the 1970's.
Reviews from Angus Roberson purchasers:
page turner - a real family drama
on 15/01/2020 gripping and believable this saga could only be written by someone with an in-depth knowledge of the country and the time - be swept up into this life-changing period in modern South African history told from such a personal and raw, human perspective. Well done - I am looking for to the sequel already
Reviews from Instagram
“I loved your story and felt I could almost have been there”. August 2020
“Sheldon. I’ve just today finished one black ear and wanted to message you to say thank you. I loved your story and felt I could almost have been there. I visited SA some years ago for work and stayed on a small farm stay just outside Johannesburg (no idea where mind!) and loved it. You really took me back to that time. I could almost smell the grasses. I also thought you really knew your people and might have recognised them should I have met them in the street. So thank you again”. Candy Smellie UK
Reviews from Goodreads
Tom Kelton rated it it was amazing January 2021
Great read, couldn’t put it down, read in 2 days. Beautiful ending. Looking forward to the author’s next book. Highly recommend.