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Flame in the Snow: The Love Letters of André Brink & Ingrid Jonker, is a collection of letters and telegrams between two of South Africa's greatest writers. We read about their romantic liaisons, their everyday lives, their innermost secrets, and more. It's a look into the thoughts and emotions shared by two literary marvels in a time when South Africa was experiencing political turbulence. These letters and telegrams are provocative and beautiful and sometimes downright literary.
Here's the thing, though: While I read Flame in the Snow, it sometimes felt as if I was invading the privacy of the dead. It's not that I didn't like it, oh no, I loved it. And yet, there was this needling part of me that said: "Stop! This is not for your eyes. These letters, these telegrams, is someone's diary. Close it, close it now!"
I mean, I have a letter box (technically a Tinkerbell suitcase), filled with old letters from my ex-boyfriends from primary and high school. Inside, there are some Valentine's Day cards, some Spice Girl memorabilia (I loved the Spice Girls, and I still do to some extent), and some other stuff ... but I don't think I could ever allow anyone else entry to that box. It's mine. It's part of my life, you know? It's childish bullshit, yes, but it's my childish bullshit. So, although I found it difficult to sometimes enjoy these compiled letters between Ingrid Jonker and Andre Brink, due to some indoctrinated No! I cannot, in good conscious, say it didn't give me some brilliant insight.
The rest of the world may not know who these two writers were, but that is inconsequential. The fact is, this is a great book that gives people a glimpse into the lives of writers. Yes, not all writers - even South African ones - are quite as exciting, but you get a whiff of their personal processes. They talk about their work, their dreams, their emotional problems. It's all very scandalous at times.
Flame in the Snow: The Love Letters of André Brink & Ingrid Jonker is translated to English from Afrikaans, beautifully.
This hardback non-fiction romance has some glossy pages of some of the actual letters, written in their hands, and even a few photographs. Furthermore, it's utterly riveting. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down! Not to mention, it's memorable.
If you're looking for something non-fiction and romantic in nature, especially if you're doing a reading challenge this year, you need to get your hands on this book. You will not be disappointed.
Read more of Monique’s reviews on her blog.
Keen on reading this book? Buy your copy now.
