Mountain of Lost Dreams
by by Annelie Botes
(Penguin)
For the Kammanassie, which is my native country‚” Annelie Botes writes as a note of dedication in this novel. And true to her words, her book is a genuine tribute to her homeland.
Set in the mountainous Eastern Cape, the novel tells of the dreams, struggles and realisations of rugged farmer Daniel Verryne and his son, Schoonraad. Botes grabs the reader’s attention in the first few pages with startling descriptions of the protagonists facing emotional dilemmas on their home ground. Daniel sits paralysed in a wheelchair in the heart of Seven-Star Fountain, with young January keeping him company and a leopard watching him from up a tree. Listening to the chattering and singing of January, and observing the familiar surroundings of his terrain, he turns nostalgic.
Born and raised in a farming community, Daniel is a determined farmer whose love for the soil, fauna, flora and people make it a struggle to establish his identity while on home territory. More than his kith and kin, it is the indigenous inhabitants — Old Abram, the spirited January and the mountain zebras — that he considers his own, and who he turns to in his hour of need.
It is with their help that Daniel sets up his home and makes it his mission to preserve their natural habitat. Yet, when his dear ones leave him one by one, he is shattered both emotionally and physically. As he lies recuperating in the hospital, he craves the company of his son, to sort out their misunderstandings and strengthen their bond.
As for Schoonraad, he is as much a mountain lad as his father. But circumstances compel him to leave his home and father to seek his fortune. He succeeds in establishing his career, but he is not at peace with himself. Separated from his land and family, he craves them all the more. His mind is in George but his heart is in Seven-Star Fountain. The last few pages of the book beautifully create situations that bring about reconciliation. Their beloved mountain makes both father and son realise their lost dreams.
Shuffling between the past and the present, Botes succeeds in revealing the heart-rending story of the Verrynes with honest realism, subtle imagery and pithy songs. She highlights the plight of man in conflict with his environment. Using African dialect, she recreates the natural setting of her novel. The movement of the stealthy animals in the wilds, the superstitious customs of the native inhabitants, nature’s glory, fury and human passions all add to the excitement.