The African writer, Yvonne Vera, used to recall that, as a young girl in the cotton fields, the urge to write was so strong that with no pen and paper available she picked up a twig and started to scratch words onto her skin.

Stories in South Africa kept the dream of freedom alive during the colonial and apartheid years; and the tradition of the people and elders of a village meeting under the shade of a tree is based on telling stories as a way of arriving at an understanding.

This rich tradition is brought to life here, by women who write of and from the landscape and its people.

Part of a series showcasing contemporary women writers from around the world.

Picked up this book at the Bücher Brocki ( book second hand shop) in Zurich Enge.

I loved these short stories! South Africa is a country that is not too familiar to me, so it was especially interesting to get a glimpse of women's lives there. Some stories made me think of them over and over.

If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it.

Looking forward to reading this!