This September Sun, by Bryony Rheam-Review by Beverley N N

 The purest and most honest form of history is through the eyes of children, which is why after reading ‘This September Sun,’ a novel by Bryony Rheam, we must all re-read ‘The Diary of Anne Frank.’

It is through this first person narrative, through Ellie, an eight-year-old, whom we see growing up, parallel to Rhodesia and Zimbabwe’s shift, is a clever portrayal of the country’s enormous strengths, resilient people, alongside economic challenges and social changes.

Using the potent power of observation of a child, Bryony takes no prisoners. The gentle and yet firm and unapologetic way in which Ellie witnesses how the Rhodesia -Zimbabwe transition is coincidental with her family’s own change for belonging, success and journey out of the imminent confusion ahead.

With flashbacks from post World War 2, we see through the grandmother and her family, friends and lovers that war is not a physical encounter between countries and powers. It is also a conflict that affects individual choices, migrations, leadership and long term relationships. The physical shift caused by war has an adverse emotional impact, which is not obvious as people recover from survival mode. They then realize that dreams still need to be fulfilled and lives have to be lived.

There are clear distinctions between Bulawayo and Harare, which any reader would be glad to read about. Similarly, the relationship between Zimbabweans in England and those in Zimbabwe and the distance between the two countries that decreases and increases with time and political impact, is interesting to read amongst the characters’ conversations and daily lives.

Bryony does not engage in virtue signalling, which is exhausting and condescending at times. Instead she chooses real characters which any reader from any part of the world will recognize, in simple and dire situations, from diverse continents and ideals, and uses their lives to speak about reality.

‘This September Sun,’ was first published by AmaBooks in 2009 and won the Best First Book Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association Award.

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Review by Beverley N Nsengiyunva