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Book of the Month

An open book in front of a book shelf. The book of the Month logo is right above that open book. © Goethe-Institut Johannesburg

Every month, the Goethe-Institut South Africa publishes a review about an African/South African author. Written by South Africans for South Africans.

Darlings of Durban

Review by Tonderai Chiyindiko

Darlings of Durban by sociologist-turned-author Shafinaaz Hassim follows the story of four women, who affectionately refer to themselves as the “darlings” as they navigate the complexities of family life, strict religious practices, suffocating cultural expectations, complicated relationships, broken marriages, debilitating financial struggles and many other challenges whilst belonging to and living in and among the Indian community of Durban.
 

Book cover of Darlings of Durban by Shafinaaz Hassim. The design features a stylized silhouette of a person in profile with a large pink flower in the hair. The background is a vibrant mix of abstract shapes. © Darlings of Durban von Shafinaaz Hassim

The novel is a thorough and detailed exploration of a community which is not often represented in contemporary literature and through Shafinaaz Hassim’s book readers get to indulge in all that makes the Indian community tightknit and culturally effervescent. Not only do we as readers get to learn about delectable dishes such as sojee, biryani, akhnee which have come to define and represent Indian cuisine all over the world, the author shows how deeply embedded she is within her community in how she weaves a tale of diverse and colourful characters within a community many assume is homogenous mostly out of ignorance. This is what gives Darlings of Durban unmatched authority and an uncanny relatable-ness and to some degree this could be ascribed to Hassim’s background as a sociologist.

The story centres around Natasha, who in her own words was not considered Indian enough nor Black enough due to her mixed heritage. She is by far the more adventurous of the ‘darlings’ relation-wise as depicted in her failed tumultuous to Sizwe and her unexpected marriage to Hasim. Other characters include Razia, Farhana and Sofia and in them together with Natasha we are introduced to a sisterhood of sorts which is cemented by their Darlings WhatsApp group. In the group, discussions about love, sex, family and much more take place which makes it a digital sanctuary of sorts for the ‘darlings’.

Though Shafinaaz Hassim has primarily been widely recognised for her academic work, she did receive plaudits for her novel SoPhia (2012) which was shortlisted for the UJ Prize for Creative Writing in English (2013) and for the K Sello Duiker Award at the SA Literary Awards (2013). Her short story The Pink Oysters published in the Africa39 anthology made her one of the authors under the age of 40 honoured by UNESCO. In 2019, Hassim received a National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) award for her novel The Economics of Love and Happiness which focussed on human trafficking.

About the reviewer

Tonderai Chiyindiko

Tonderai Chiyindiko is a voracious reader who is addicted to the intoxicating smell of new books and loves attending book launches (because of the free-flowing wine, cheese and snacks). He lives and works in Johannesburg.

A portrait photo of a man looking straight into the camera, his gaze alert, his mouth closed, wearing a yellow and beige shirt.

More information

This review is part of the Book of the Month series 2025 from the Goethe-Institut South Africa. A new review by South Africans for South Africans will be published every month, check back regularly. 

All books can be borrowed from our library, the membership is free. 

Book of the Month reviews 2025

  • Period Pain - Book of the Month October

    Period Pain is an epistolary and intimate novel of a nation in crisis. It tells the story of Masechaba, a young black doctor struggling to survive in an under-resourced South African public health system while grappling with personal trauma, endometriosis, and living in a dysfunctional country.
     

    Buchcover von „Period Pain“ von Kopano Matlwa, das das Profil einer afrikanischen Frau von hinten auf orangefarbenem Hintergrund mit Titel zeigt. © Period Pain by Kopano Matlwa © Period Pain by Kopano Matlwa

  • The Comrade’s Wife - Book of the Month September

    The Comrade’s Wife by Barbara Boswell is a riveting tale of love, lust, marriage, politics, devotion, deceit, friendship, courage and so much more told though the eyes of our protagonist, Dr. Anita Fredericks.

    Book cover of The Comrade's Wife by Barbara Boswell, showing a woman's shadowed profile on an orange background, with title, subtitle, and a quote from Pumla Dineo Gqola. © The Comrade's Wife by Barbara Boswell is Jacana Media © The Comrade's Wife by Barbara Boswell is Jacana Media

  • Nervous Conditions - Book of the Month August

    Nervous Conditionsis a book that covers imperialism, colonisation, women's rights, and race. The story exposes us to these experiences through the lens of a young black woman from a colonised country.

    Web teaser for August Book of the Month: Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga | © Faber Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga | © Faber

  • Three Egg Dilemma - Book of the Month July

    How do people get their nicknames, what do they say and what is the story behind each person?

    The picture is a collage for the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg's Book of the Month July with a picture of the book cover Three Egg Dilemma and a portrait picture of Tonderai Chiyindiko, who reviewed the book. In the background are African patterns. © Goethe-Institut Johannesburg| Zanoxolo Bonginkosi Muchanga | Faber © Goethe-Institut Johannesburg| Zanoxolo Bonginkosi Muchanga | Faber

  • Notes On Falling - Book of the Month June

    The novel tells an interwoven narrative of a  reflection on photography, dance, space, and storytelling.

    The image is a graphic with the title ‘Book of the Month - June 2025’. At the centre is the book ‘Notes on Falling’ by Bronwyn Law-Viljoen. The book cover shows an empty street stretching into the distance. Buildings can be seen in the background, suggesting an urban environment. The scene appears calm and deserted. To the right of the graphic is a round portrait photo of Moon Mokgoro, who reviewed the book. The photo is framed in a circle and stands out visually from the rest of the graphic. The design is clearly structured, with an easy-to-read font and a focus on the book cover and the reviewer. © UMUZI | Moon Mokgoro | Goethe-Institut Johannesburg © UMUZI | Moon Mokgoro | Goethe-Institut Johannesburg

  • Buried in the Chest - Book of the Month May

    The wind of Moya which is both real and in some ways a metaphor is omnipresent as through it lives are shaken, truths are unveiled and heavy chests are finally able to reveal.

    The image is a promotional poster for a book entitled ‘Buried in the Chest’ by Lindani Lindani Mbunyuza-Memani. The poster highlights that this book is the ‘Book of the Month’ for May 2025. It also mentions that the book was reviewed by Tonderai Chiyindiko. The background of the poster is green with purple and orange geometric patterns. There are two blurred areas, one covering part of the book cover and another covering the portrait photo of Tonderai Chiyindiko. © Goethe-Institut Johannesburg| Jacana Media| Zanoxolo Bonginkosi Muchanga © Goethe-Institut Johannesburg| Jacana Media| Zanoxolo Bonginkosi Muchanga

  • So Long a Letter - Book of the Month April

    The works and writings Mariama Bâ are critical and essential because of the unique and underrepresented perspective they give. Her beliefs and experiences are unveiled and communicated through this epistolary novel in the form of a letter.

    On the left is the cover of “So Long a Letter”, on the right a picture of Moon Mokgoro the reviewer, with African patterns in the background. © Goethe-Institut Johannesburg © Goethe-Institut Johannesburg

  • Avenues by Train - Book of the Month March

    Avenues By Train a welcome addition to Zimbabwe’s literary milieu and showcases the talents of an author who is deeply engaged with his country and its society.

    Book cover of Avenue by Train on the left side and on the right side a portrait photo of the reviewer Tonderai Chiyindiko, top right in the picture the logo of the book of the month. © Goethe-Institut Johannesburg © Goethe-Institut Johannesburg

  • Piggy Boy's Blues - Book of the Month February

    Piggy Boy’s Blues is a tragedy, its self-discovery, its melancholy put into words. It is graphic. [...] What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to love? Who do you transform into during moments of violation?

    The Cover of Piggy Boy's Blues on the left hand side and a profil picture of reviewer Moon Mokgoro on the right hand side. © Goethe Institut Johannesburg © Goethe Institut Johannesburg

Book of the Month reviews 2024

Here you will find all reviews of the Book of the Month series 2024.
All books are available in our library - have a look!

On the left is the logo of the Book of the Month series above a coffee mug, on the right is a book pile. © Goethe Institut © Goethe Institut Johannesburg

Further offers

  • Afro Freedom Bookclub

    The AFRO-Freedom Book Club is a public book club that focuses on African writers to inspire dialogue and civic engagement in the community. We strongly believe in the voice of Africans and the importance of telling our own stories. Everyone is invited to join our circle!

    As The Crow Flies by Veronique Tadjo © Veronique Tadjo © Veronique Tadjo

  • Silent Book Club

    Silent Book club is about meeting other like-minded readers, chatting about what other people are reading and then reading together in companionable silence.

    Silent Book Club © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

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