Zenzele

There is no doubt that Zenzele's conclusion is something of a tear-jerker; however, what I found most poignant was not the revelation of the narrator's impending death, but rather her reflections of her life. This is especially relevant for the 'coming of age' theme.

The death of the un-named lover of our narrator is a moving moment in the book (as death scenes usually are). However, its full impact, though slightly foreshadowed at the time, is not fully realised until the conclusion of the narrative.

Also of interest is that, although the novel is presented as a letter from mother to daughter, it is the former's coming of age that we are privy to, rather than the latter's. In fact, we learn the bare minimum about the younger woman; simply her characteristics, which are idealized by her doting mother, rather than her development.