THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN BY ANITA DIAMANT IN SOUTH AFRICA

In the tiny backwater of Dogtown, nestled on Cape Ann, the few remaining, utterly eccentric inhabitants show an enduring spirit that keeps life and love alive.  Among the cast of characters is Black Ruth, one of only two Africans still living in the area; she dresses as a man, speaks to no one and continues her craft as the local stonemason.  Mrs Stanley is blowsy, blond and the local madam; totally self-absorbed, she cares nothing for her young grandson, coming of age amid the sights and sounds of a rural brothel.  Oliver Younger overcomes a cruel childhood to find happiness in marriage and parenthood.  At the heart of it all is Judy Rhines, a fiercely independent woman, generous and wise, but also heartbroken and lonely, whose taboo love for Cornelius, a former slave, burns at the centre of her soul. Soft cover, good condition.  365 pages.