The world was first introduced to Tafadzwa Taruvinga in his memoir ‘The Educated Waiter’.
The title itself was arousing enough for readers to devour his work.
The book was an account of Taruvinga’s experience as a Zimbabwean immigrant in South Africa.
This was back in 2019 and now the gifted wordsmith is back but this time with his first work of fiction, a novel titled ‘Gone With The Blue Zodiac’.
The book cover is a single sky-blue vehicle with a backdrop of a dry savannah, the picture gives an almost haunting effect and would not let me pass it by.
It is a contemporary novel spanning nearly two decades of Zimbabwe’s lush and complicated history.
As the book opens the reader is introduced to two lovers, Nyika and Bettina, a young couple who are building their lives together in a newly independent Zimbabwe.
It does not take long for tragedy to strike and after that, the characters navigate life’s complexities.
Throughout the novel, readers come across different characters who navigate grief and life after the loss of a loved one.
The book is told in first person narrative style and is told from the perspective of various characters; even the family dog named Mazowe is given the chance to speak!
The most prominent voice throughout the novel though is Bettina as we see her navigate the realms of motherhood, love, work and many more.
Taruvinga’s writing style is contemporary and modern with the chapters relatively short.
He is able to create an engrossing atmosphere and allows readers to know his cast of characters on a deep level intimately.
The book spans urban Zimbabwe, rural Zimbabwe and the diaspora which gives it a wonderful view of various landscapes.
One distinct feature of the novel was the choice to make use of Shonglish (a mixture of English and Shona). Examples of these words are ‘parfum’ (perfume), ‘Bhiriteni’ (Britain), ‘roorad’ (derived from the Shona word ‘roora’ for marry) and ‘sipero’ (spell).
The effect of this is that it gives the book the actual texture of how Zimbabweans often speak and pronounce their words.
Readers who are unfamiliar with this way of speaking may find it difficult when they come across these words.
Taruvinga also displays a strong sense of the landscape that he writes about through how he describes the nation’s history and also the characters.
From the optimism and prosperity that characterised Zimbabwe in the 1980s to the nation’s decline come the 1990s, the historical backdrop gives the novel a wonderful and nostalgic feel.
His characters were also well developed and well sculpted; whether it was the comic war veteran Mai Huku or the adolescent Tunga trying to find his way, it was exciting to witness each character through their journey.
The growing pains of Tunga were particularly poignant as I read through his chapters.
Taruvinga was able to interrogate a number of issues that people grapple with today.
On top of this is probably the issue of womanhood through his female characters.
Throughout the novel, the women make choices that are often in contradiction to their upbringing but they stand by their decisions, particularly the characters of Faustina and Bettina.
Another issue that was analysed was familial relationships from parenthood to in-law relationships.
This was done mostly from Bettina’s point of view as she manages her relationships with her children and her many in-laws.
Overall, the author was also successful in showcasing the battle between older generations and younger generations and the evolution of culture.
‘Gone With the Blue Zodiac’ is a book reminiscent of family struggles in which the characters’ lives take primacy over the plot allowing for their feelings and struggles to be in full display.
This is a recommendation for fans of contemporary African fiction and family sagas.
The softback is a little under two hundred pages and should make for a quick read for avid readers.
- About author
- Tafadzwa Zimunhu Taruvinga is Zimbabwean author based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the acclaimed author of the 2019 memoir ‘The Educated Waiter: Memoir of an African Immigrant’. His debut novel ‘Gone With the Blue Zodiac’ was a project a worked on as part of his thesis for a MA in Creative Writing he obtained from the University of the Witwatersrand (earned with distinction). He has been longlisted for the 2023 Afritondo Short Story Prize.
- About reviewer
- Kudzai Mhangwa is a poet, short story writer and humanitarian. He is the winner of the 2022 Intwasa Short Story Prize for the story ‘Greta’s Year Away’. His debut collection of short stories ‘Moments In the Private Room’ was released in 2023 under Carnelian Hearts Publishing.
- Are you a book reviewer khumbulani@heartandsoul.co.zw