Still Breathing

Author: Marita van der Vyver
Publisher: Tafelberg
Reviewer: Beryl Eichenberger
Gracing my shelves for many years, Marita van der Vyver’s books are a constant joy, dipping into the lives and personalities of a diverse cast, her characters and situations are always real, relatable and with a steady dose of wry humour thrown in. Her writing is a breath of fresh air with, in ‘Still Breathing’, a hearty dose of ozone, set as it is on the West Coast of Cape Town.

When I picked up ‘Still Breathing’ I immediately recognized the characters, in fact for a moment I thought this was a reprint of her highly successful ‘Breathing Space’, published in 2000.  But no, the cast was the same but the time- frame some 25 years later – present day. Irresistible, and into my bag it went. I had simply loved Breathing Space - recognizing so many of the South African experiences of the late 1980s and 90s – it was a book that had introduced me to van der Vyver’s writing and made me a firm fan.
What I enjoy in her books is her links to her birth country. Although living in France since 1999 we still see her as a South African Afrikaans author – a treasure - her settings so often here and her visits regular. The translations into English are always excellent so thank you to those who have enticed us English readers into van der Vyver’s charmed circle. 
With ‘Still Breathing’ it is not necessary to have read the earlier novel as a  ‘who’s who’ places each character with a short synopsis bringing us into present day. You can happily read this novel as a standalone.
 Recently there have been a slew of novels that have been written about aging protagonists. Their authors are themselves in their late 60s or early 70s and are speaking for us baby boomers, who in the main, seem to be enjoying their retirement years with a host of projects.  Light and cheerful they show us that life is so much what we choose and that there’s a lot to be said for getting older and looking back on our younger selves. Sometimes with a grin, sometimes a grimace but hopefully few regrets. This is one such novel as it brings us to a group of friends who are now ‘elderly’.
A reunion to celebrate a 70th birthday. A gathering of old friends for the first time in 25 years. In their beach house on the West Coast Adriaan and his wife Yvette are preparing for their friends’ arrival. Turning 70 is not to be sniffed at and exuberant artist Adriaan is planning to enjoy every moment. Yvette, in her quiet contemplative way is making sure that everything is in place, including how she might mention her own journey.  
Each guest comes with their own inter-twined story, all still on their own journeys with partners or having lost them, sharing new loves or even finding them. All with old memories and ready for more.  Children and grandchildren bring a new take with exuberance and an insight that is sometimes lost on the adults. It is a joyful time and van der Vyver shares the highs and lows, the discoveries and reflections, and the darkness that some inhabit. She understands the complexities of the South African society and blends those changes with smooth and dexterous strokes. The weekend is seemingly cloudless, a perfect break as one can have on the West Coast, but the storm clouds of COVID 19 are gathering and each guest has to make a new decision.
Friendship – where would we be without it and this is what van der Vyver is celebrating. Those enduring relationships that weather the storms of our journeys, join the warm embrace as family as their history blends with ours. A simply wonderful sequel (or introduction) to van der Vyver’s magical pen.