Book Review: Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings

Rating: 3 Stars

I recently picked up Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings, and I have to say, my experience was a mixed bag. The book is set in post-apartheid South Africa and follows Deidre van Deventer, who receives an unexpected call from the police regarding her family’s former home. It turns out that the site has uncovered several bodies, leading detectives to question Deidre about her brother's possible involvement with a pro-apartheid group. The premise intrigued me—this idea of confronting a family’s dark past against the backdrop of national trauma and guilt promised a deep exploration of personal and collective memory.

However, while the novel had a strong start, I felt it ultimately didn’t deliver on its premise. Deidre's journey of confronting her family’s troubled history felt shallow. For most of the book, there’s minimal exploration of her family's past aside from her brother’s involvement as a bomb maker. Yes, it’s hinted that this led to Deidre losing her leg in an explosion when she was eighteen, but the narrative glosses over what that truly means for her character and for the story as a whole. It's only toward the end that we get a glimpse of other aspects of her brother's actions, but even then, Deidre doesn’t really deal with the significance or fallout of these revelations."

Moreover, I found it hard to connect with Deidre as a character. She comes across as quite unlikable, and much of the narrative paints her as ungrateful and unwilling to take responsibility for her life’s trajectory. Rather than a compelling protagonist grappling with her past, she felt more like a passive observer in her own story. This made it difficult for me to root for her or feel any real emotional investment in her journey.

In summary, while Crooked Seeds has an interesting concept and some beautiful prose, it fell short in delivering a satisfying exploration of its themes. I appreciate what Jennings was trying to do, but I walked away feeling more frustrated than moved. So, I’d say it’s a solid three stars—worth a read for its premise and writing style, but perhaps not as impactful as one might hope.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This is a dark and depressing novel about a highly unlikeable main character, amputee Deidre, who is coming to terms with her current life in an almost dystopic Cape Town (water shortages, power issues) and also the legacy of her family’s actions during the apartheid era. I found it hard to look away as the story unfolds and still have questions at the end. An intense read.