The Housemaids Daughter, Barbara Mutch
The Housemaids Daughter, Barbara Mutch
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The Housemaid's Daughter

Author: Barbara Mutch

Narrator: Bahni Turpin, Cat Gould

Unabridged: 14 hr 56 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/10/2013

Synopsis

A stunning first novel that tells a story of love and duty colliding on the arid plains of apartheid-era South AfricaWhen Cathleen Harrington leaves her home in Ireland in 1919 to travel to South Africa, she knows that she does not love the man she is to marry there—her fianc├® Edward, whom she has not seen for five years. Isolated and estranged in a small town in the harsh Karoo desert, her only real companions are her diary and her housemaid, and later the housemaid's daughter, Ada. When Ada is born, Cathleen recognizes in her someone she can love and respond to in a way that she cannot with her own family.Under Cathleen's tutelage, Ada grows into an accomplished pianist and a reader who cannot resist turning the pages of the diary, discovering the secrets Cathleen sought to hide. As they grow closer, Ada sees new possibilities in front of her—a new horizon. But in one night, everything changes, and Cathleen comes home from a trip to find that Ada has disappeared, scorned by her own community. Cathleen must make a choice: should she conform to society or search for the girl who has become closer to her than her own daughter?Set against the backdrop of a beautiful yet divided land, The Housemaid's Daughter is a startling and thought provoking novel that intricately portrays the drama and heartbreak of two women who rise above cruelty to find love, hope, and redemption.

About Barbara Mutch

Barbara Mutch was born and raised in South Africa, the granddaughter of Irish immigrants. She is married with two sons and divides her time between Cape Town and London.

About Bahni Turpin

Bahni Turpin has guest starred in many television series, including NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Six Feet Under, and Cold Case. Her film credits include Brokedown Palace and Crossroads. She has won numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and three prestigious Audie Awards.

About Cat Gould

Cat Gould grew up in Sydney, Australia, and after extensive travel moved to the United States in 1990. A classically trained actress with a BFA from Southern Oregon University, she has performed in many regional productions.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Carmun on March 19, 2018

Este libro más que contar una historia, cuenta un situación, una realidad. No es tanto la gramática, como la forma tan sutil de narrar los sentimientos. Una historia desgarradora marcada por el conflicto político-social de Sudáfrica. Y también por las guerras, todas ellas (las mundiales, las raciale......more

Goodreads review by Natalie on May 28, 2013

Being South African and growing up at the end of the Apartheid, I could totally relate to this story. This too was the South Africa I recall as a young teen. The park benches, public toilets and beaches with their signs "Whites Only" - a picture I still have in my head. I found the book was very read......more

Goodreads review by Maria Olga on January 19, 2020

Duro libro, pero a la vez está lleno de ternura, me asombró que en la historia de esta novela, la protagonista Ada, no tenga ningún historia de amor o tal vez tuvo la historia de amor más grande e incondicional, el de una madre, aunque no es su madre de sangre, pero si de corazón. Me encanto el coraj......more

Goodreads review by Cheryl on August 21, 2018

My review will give no justice to this story. I listened to the audible version and this story melted my heart and my soul. I will forever remember this book and the characters. Three generations of Black and White love, hate, joy, pain, good and evil. When things were good they were good and when t......more

Goodreads review by Louise on April 19, 2013

I grew up in South Africa so reading this book had special meaning for me. Ada's mother could have been the housemaid who was part of our family as I grew up and my beloved housekeeper who helped me raise my children. Barbara Mutch draws a vivid word picture of life in a small Karoo town and the dis......more

Quotes

“If you loved The Help, try The Housemaid’s Daughter…The friendship at its center will leave your heart singing.” Good Housekeeping (UK)

“Told from an interesting perspective and in a clear, sincere voice, this is a compelling story that sweeps readers into the life of a woman caught between two worlds, whose forbidden friendship with her mistress leads to tragedy and triumph. Poignant and gripping storytelling holds readers from beginning to end in this book that is as thought-provoking as it is lyrical.” RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)

“In this moving first novel, Mutch’s lilting prose summons the stark South African landscape, making readers feel the heat of the Karoo Desert and fear the rising waters of the Groot Vis. More than that, Mutch conveys the joys of dancing and music, the exultation of hope and courage, and the pain of being ostracized for one’s skin color. Rich in detail and subtle in its politics, this affecting novel tells a poignant, inspiring story.” Booklist (starred review)

“Mutch’s sprawling debut spans five decades of South Africa’s richest—and most painful—history…A vividly drawn setting and Ada’s consistent, special voice drive the story and keep the pages turning.” Publishers Weekly

“A shared love of the piano brings two women together across the racial divide of apartheid South Africa…Mutch’s…setting is a fascinating one, and she does an excellent job of showing the horrifying effects of apartheid law on individual lives. The book may hold special appeal for music fans thanks to the numerous classical and South African jazz pieces lovingly referenced throughout.” Library Journal

“A compelling story…Ada’s voice is by turns as lyrical and fierce as the music she plays on her beloved piano…Mutch evokes compassion for this stark and beautiful land and for the characters who strive to find their place amidst the turmoil that grips it.” Patricia Falvey, bestselling author of The Yellow House

“[An] exquisite debut…This is a book to be cherished, one that will grow deeper and richer with re-reading.” Anna Jean Mayhew, author of The Dry Grass of August

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