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You Will Be Safe Here
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
28 posts | 18 read | 33 to read
An extraordinary debut that explores legacies of abuse, redemption, and the strength of the human spirit--from the Boer Wars in South Africa to brutal wilderness camps for teenage boys. South Africa, 1901. It is the height of the second Boer War. Sarah van der Watt and her six-year-old son Fred are forced from their home on Cherry Tree Farm. As the polite invaders welcome them to Bloemfontein Concentration Camp they promise Sarah and Fred that they will be safe there. 2014. Sixteen-year-old Willem is an outsider. Hoping he will become the man she wants him to be, his Ma and her boyfriend force Willem to attend the New Dawn Safari Training Camp where they are proud to make men out of boys. They promise that he will be safe there. You Will Be Safe Here is a powerful and urgent novel of two connected South African stories. Inspired by real events, it uncovers a hidden colonial history, reveals a dark contemporary secret, and explores the legacy of violence and our will to survive.
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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From the #tbr shelf 📚📚

#BeginsWith #You

Eggs ❤️🧡❤️ 3y
quietlycuriouskate Fabulous book! 3y
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TheLudicReader
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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I meant to do my #bookspin list last night, but I got distracted by the damn Hallmark Christmas movies. @TheAromaofBooks I swear I didn‘t peek before I posted this list.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Never too late to BookSpin!! 3y
31 likes1 comment
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TheLudicReader
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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#sorrynotsorry #bookhaul where the majority of books are for me.

Hooked_on_books That‘s the best way! 3y
41 likes2 comments
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TrishB
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Thank you Cindy for my lovely birthday gifts 😁♥️ lovely to come home too! Not heard of either of these books before. And that book journal is the same one I‘ve been using for the last 5 years!
The stationery is brilliant - I‘ll let you know about the snack.
Thank you 😘 I‘m up for a re-run visit!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊 3y
Cathythoughts Lovely gifts ! You two 👯‍♀️❤️❤️ lots of Litsy love there X 3y
squirrelbrain Lovely gifts! ❤️ 3y
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Cinfhen Just a little something xx Thinking of you 3y
TrishB @Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain they definitely are 😁 3y
TrishB @Cinfhen 😘♥️ 3y
78 likes7 comments
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squirrelbrain
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

Not an easy book to read at all, but very easy to get lost in.

I found the first part fascinating; life in South African concentration camps where the English interred Afrikaner women and children. It‘s a subject I knew nothing about and I learned a lot.

The second half, about an alleged to be a gay-conversion camp for boys was as good, but felt a little rushed.

Thanks so much for sending this to me Kate! @kathedron

TrishB That‘s so weird I‘ve just opened this book as a gift off @Cinfhen 3y
squirrelbrain @TrishB - I saw on @Cinfhen ‘s review that she offered to send it to you a while ago and I was going to ask if she had been able to, or if I should bring it to Gladstone‘s for you! 3y
TrishB Lol! I‘d forgotten all about it! As you do, lovely surprise. 3y
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Cinfhen SUCH a coincidence!!! Great review…I bailed 🤭it was too sad 😢 and my brain is mush these days. If I can‘t connect with a book in the first 5 pages I‘m pretty much over it. Hope you like it @TrishB (edited) 3y
Cinfhen Are you ladies having a meet-up??? So jealous!! I‘m ready for a trip 3y
squirrelbrain It is rather sad isn‘t it @Cinfhen ? Be warned @TrishB ! Yes, we‘re going back to Gladstone‘s library Cindy for a #readingretreat, at the third attempt I think, due to you-know-what…. Fingers crossed it will go ahead this time. (Last weekend of Nov, if you want to join us! 😁) 3y
Cinfhen Ohhhh, maybe I can convince hubby!!!! 3y
62 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Cinfhen
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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I ordered this book for the #pop21 #FeaturesThreeGenerations prompt. Can‘t remember whose post put this one on my #ReadersRadar but it has lots of Litsy Love 💕

TrishB It‘s got great reviews 👍🏻 4y
Cinfhen I see you stacked it @TrishB I‘ll send it to you after I‘m done 😄 4y
KarenUK That cover is gorgeous! 😍 4y
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Cinfhen I KNEW you‘d LOVE the cover @KarenUK it‘s the water theme 💙 4y
Reviewsbylola I‘ll have to keep this in mind. I‘m really stuck on the musical instrument prompt. 😂 I think I‘m going with 4y
Cinfhen That‘s a good idea @Reviewsbylola I read ( audio) this book/ a memoir which I REALLY LOVED ( very sad but ultimately uplifting) 4y
TrishB Thank you 😘 4y
68 likes7 comments
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quietlycuriouskate
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

This book is *brutal* but so good!
It is two connected narratives: a woman and her little boy in a British-run concentration camp during the Boer wars (about which I was wholly ignorant) and, a century later, a teenaged misfit sent to a boot camp to "toughen him up". Thus the legacy and perpetuation of violence. Thank goodness for Helen, and Willem's gran Rayna: without these women and the love they bear, it would have been just too bleak.

TrishB Stacked 👍🏻 4y
squirrelbrain Sounds good - stacked. 4y
Bookwomble Yeah, amongst the other "great ideas" we British came up with was the concentration camp ? 4y
43 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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TheEllieMo
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 131
#BooksToRead #TBRPile #TBRMountain

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JillR
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

First this is the story of mother and son placed by the British in a concentration camp during the Boer war. Then the stories of mother, daughter and grandson starting in 1970s Johannesburg and ending with the grandson Willem‘s story which brings us up to date. Sensitive, bookish Willem is forced to a camp for boys to “toughen him up.” Each story had its own sadness, there were gentle links between them, and my heart just broke for Willem 💔

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thereflectiveflaneur
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

Hands down!!!!! Without a doubt!!!!!! This is the BEST novel I have read in 2020!!!!! (After 32 novels!!!!) I have been a literature teacher for 14 years and next year I am starting a reading blog/website. This novel will be my first book review!!! WOW!!!! AMAZING!!!

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thereflectiveflaneur
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

Such a brilliant and heartfelt exploration of the human impact of the Boer War!

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NovelNancyM
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

Part of this well-written novel is about the Concentration Camps during the Boer War in S. Africa in the early 1900s. This connects with modern times & the story of teenager Willem who is sent to an abusive wilderness program run by a racist man whose beliefs stem from the British during the Boer War.
A difficult read - so many hurtful despicable characters. However, Willem has one adult - his gran - who believes, understands & loves him.

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KatieB
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

Book number 4 for #bookspinbonanza. This was a riveting story based around a country (South Africa) and time (the second Boer war) that is didn‘t know much about. Really interesting. There were a few times where I rolled my eyes at some cliched character choices but the plot more than made up for it. This is an impressive debut novel and I will definitely read another novel by this author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

TheAromaofBooks Oh what an interesting setting! I feel like I never see anything about either of the Boer wars. 4y
7 likes1 comment
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Lel2403
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

Both tales are brutal and heartbreaking. This is beautifully written and packed with emotion and a little hope. It‘s shocking and utterly compelling and will stay with me for a long time. A stunning, haunting read.

https://orlando-books.blog/2020/04/11/you-will-be-safe-here-by-damian-barr-book-...

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Abailliekaras
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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New episode of Books On The Go up now! 🎧 We discuss how to support your local bookstores during COVID-19. Our book of the week is ‘You Will Be Safe Here‘ by @Damian_Barr . Loved it! ❤️ #stayhomeandread

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Abailliekaras
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Coming up on the podcast - these books. 📚🤓 have you read any of these? We‘d love to hear your thoughts.

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Cathythoughts
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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I‘ve been shopping ( with my 2 Audible credits ) for #booked2020 👍🏻Thankyou to @Abailliekaras for the tagged recommendation for subject mostly new to you ( Boer War) and Thanks to you @Lindy 👍🏻as I got Little Weirds For read in a day ❤️

Lindy Enjoy!👍 5y
youneverarrived I want to read Little Weirds too. Look forward to seeing what you think ❤️ 5y
Abailliekaras Yay I hope you enjoy it! 5y
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Cathythoughts @Lindy Thanks 🙏 5y
Cathythoughts @andrew61 I was very swayed by your review of this one ... it‘s very good ... I‘m about 1/3 in 👍🏻 5y
andrew61 @Cathythoughts glad you are enjoying ☺ 5y
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Abailliekaras
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

I loved this! I expected it to be grim but it has some wonderful, uplifting, strong women characters and I learnt much about South Africa, the Boer War and its aftermath. Written from interesting perspectives - a mother in a concentration camp, a teenage boy & a single mother. There‘s an undercurrent of violence & the tension builds. A great ear for dialogue and characters written with care & compassion. Recommended.

Cinfhen Stacked!!! Thanks for sharing 💕 5y
Cathythoughts Stacking 👍🏻 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Sounds good, stacking. 5y
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Cathythoughts @Cinfhen @erzascarletbookgasm I thought I might use it for #subjectmostlynewtoyou as I know nothing of the Boer war 5y
Cinfhen Great idea!! Let me know if you pick up a copy @Cathythoughts 5y
erzascarletbookgasm @Cathythoughts fantastic! Hope you‘ll find a copy. I‘ll keep this book in mind for the prompt too! 😘 5y
Abailliekaras @cathythoughts I too knew nothing of the Boer war - would be a great choice for that prompt! 5y
39 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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I think I need to read this one soon! It sounds like a gripping read...

#Shelter
#LetsTravelAugust

OriginalCyn620 It does! Sounds like tough subject matter. 💔 5y
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Debblyliz
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
Pickpick

Powerful and evocative writing about two different historical periods in South Africa, both which I feel slightly ashamed to say I have limited knowledge about. This book has led to the need to understand and know more. Just for igniting this desire I love this book. A devastatingly gorgeous book.

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andrew61
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

I couldn't put this book down today as the author told two stories a century apart. In one set in 1901 a boer mother and child are interred in british concentration camps and treated as little more than animals. Then as apartheid changes into anc government a vulnerable yng man is sent to an extreme right wing training camp for young men. The book touches on race as well as family and is fascinating, well told, and absorbing.

Clare_Riley I really loved this book - it‘s really high up on my books of the year! 5y
Cathythoughts Sounds interesting 👍🏻 5y
Anna40 Ha! Just borrowed it, read a few pages and returned it. But if you recommend it, I'll give it another try. 5y
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andrew61 @Anna40 sometimes books don't initially grab you. I'll be interested to see if you get into it eventually ☺ 5y
andrew61 @Cathythoughts yes I think you might like it cathy ☺ 5y
andrew61 @Clare_Riley yes i reserved it thinking id steal a march expecting to see it on the booker longlist. 5y
Clare_Riley @andrew61 I don‘t understand why it hasn‘t made any of the awards lists🤷🏼‍♀️ 5y
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Hestapleton
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

Guys. 😭 I am devastated. The beginning was a little rocky because I know nothing about the Second Boer War or South Africa, but after orienting myself, I was quickly sucked in. Two parallel (and connected stories) of a woman and her son in a British concentration camp during the war and a boy in the present, sent to a brutal boot camp. A moving story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #listyatoz

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

It's disturbing though that we continuously repeat history, destroy human spirit and yet human spirit always rises. If you close your eyes to the dates in the book (1901) it could be that you're reading about current affairs.

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Clare_Riley
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

Set in the internment camps of Bloemfontein in the 2nd Boer War and a modern day camp that ‘makes men out of boys‘. Brutality under the guise of safe-keeping. How humans can be so wilfully/ casually cruel is astounding. This will keep you thinking long after you‘ve finished. History that affects the present. “You will be safe here” was said to both groups of people - and they weren‘t. A truly beautiful book despite the subject. Highly recommended.

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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I'm going in....

Tashreads Loved it! Hope you do too 😍 5y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders @Tashreads I only hear amazing things about it! So I'm sure it'll be one I live too. 🤞 5y
35 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Thank you @Bloomsbury_Publishing for sending me this book!! I look forward to reading it!! 🎉🎊🎉🎊

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Tashreads
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a wonderful debut novel that left me heartbroken yet hopeful. It is shocking and compelling and I feel as though the characters will remain with me for some time. Bravo Mr. Barr!

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Tashreads
You Will Be Safe Here | Damian Barr
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Only 10% in and am sure I‘m going to enjoy this one.

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