At the start of chapter four, Gal talks about experiencing constant nausea but then blames it on the alcohol. Do you think she is a bit of an unreliable narrator here? That she is perhaps keeping something to herself, events that may have occurred?
What do you think of how Mthunzi is described in the fourth chapter?
Shortly after, when Gal wakes up, she finds Mthunzi stripping a car. When she confronts him, Mthunzi shouts at her saying he is not a thief. Do you think Mthunzi is twisting the truth to serve himself? Or do you think he is being honest with Gal and it just looks bad?
What do you think of Gal professing that she would choose Mthunzi over her mother again?
Through Rosemary’s perspective we learn that Seun had not returned home since Christmas morning. Do you think he will keep running from his ghosts?
Rosemary’s perspective is very revealing. She shows us the cracks in the facade that Buang is trying to convince Moipone of. Do you think Rosemary is a bit harsh in her unveiling of the truth?
Rosemary questions who she is because she doesn’t know her father. Do you think that as people we need to know who our predecessors are in order for us to know who we are?
What do you think of the scene Rosemary stumbles on when she enters Mthunzi’s house?
When Buang returns, Gal tries to speak to her. What do you think of Buang’s reaction?
Now that we have a bit more context, do you think Rosemary’s treatment of Moipone is fair? Considering that Moipone doesn’t have all the information that Rosemary does?
Although Rabe has an interest in Rosemary, what do you think of Moipone trying to win his heart? What do you think will happen to Rosemary and Moipone’s relationship if she does win Rabe over?
The party comes to a close as quickly as it seemed to start. While cleaning up, Moipone notices that something is wrong with Gal. What do you think of how Moipone handles the situation and what she also reveals to us?
Buang quickly realises that Gal is pregnant. First, Buang goes to Mthunzi. This is where Gal confesses that it is not his child. Second, Buang goes to Sbu’s house. Sbu says he will let his family know and pay the appropriate damages. Do you think he will go through with this? Do you think he will claim the child? From what we have read, he is a decent person.
When Gal tells her grandfather of her pregnancy he is very supportive. What do you think of his reaction in comparison to Buang’s reaction?
What do you think of Seun’s return and him forcing Moipone to return home?
7 responses to “Fabrics of Love – Day Two”
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1. My initial thought for the nausea was confirmed in later chapters
2. He sounds like a complex character.
3. My first thought was that he was lieing, but Im not really sure if he is because no matter how complex humans may be there is usually a personal line that they wont cross
4. Making decisions for herself rather than her mother.
5. yes, unless he is forced to deal with them
6. No, I like her straightforwardness
7. No, I dont. I think it mught help us to understand where we come from but not to determine who we are
8. It was a no from me! Why is she cleaning his floors?!
9. Over the top and dramatic. As mothers can tend to be when their children have not followed their expectations.
10. Probably not.
11. I don’t think anything will happen there because Rabe hasnt even noticed M. I don’t think the relationship will change much IMO.
12. I loved that scene. I thought she handled it beautifully as well as revealing more of her own back story.
13. Yes, I think and hope he will. He does come across as a decent person
14. I thought it was a strange reaction compared to her mother, but I was glad that it was opposite to what she was expecting
15. Bizarre, was my first reaction, and then I think Seun used it to his advantage to get her away from his famiily. -
1. Yes, Gal seems open but is clearly holding back, especially about her relationships. She appears to be in denial about who she truly wants to be with, ignoring red flags and avoiding facing difficult truths.
2. Mthunzi is described as a notorious rule-breaker and troublemaker, but now he wants to change and build a family after losing his own. I am looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds for him and Gal after this bomb was delivered!
3. Knowing Mthunzi’s past with hijacking and other shady activities, his behavior looks very suspicious. It seems likely he’s twisting the truth to protect himself rather than being fully honest with Gal.
4. Gal doesn’t regret rebelling against her mother or ignoring her rules. Her choice to pick Mthunzi over her mother shows how deeply she values her connection with him, even if it means going against the Ntoi family expectations.
5. Seun seems to be hiding a lot beneath the surface and isn’t fully in control of his life. Facing his demons is clearly a big struggle for him, so it’s possible he will keep running from his ghosts for a while longer.
6. Yes, Rosemary is quite harsh and quick to point out flaws, especially when it comes to Moipone. Her mean girl energy makes her unveiling of the truth feel even more biting and tough to accept.
7. Yes, 100%, to feel whole and understand our purpose in life, it’s important to know our roots and what shapes us. For Rosemary, she feels her mother owes her the truth about her father so she can fully understand herself and her place in the world. She can’t seem to understand why there is so much secret around the topic of her father.
8. Lol, this is shocking to me too! Firstly, why doesn’t Gal just go home? It’s surprising that Rosemary finds Gal casually cleaning the floors at Mthunzi’s place and that Gal isn’t telling him about Sbu. Gal’s situation is definitely stressing me out!
9. Buang’s feelings of responsibility suggest a complex and strained relationship with Gal. It seems she struggles between being accountable as a mother and dealing with disappointment, which makes their dynamic tense and difficult to fully understand.
10. This whole dynamic feels unfair to me. Rosemary’s treatment of Moipone isn’t fair, especially since Moipone doesn’t have all the information that Rosemary does. Rosemary’s attitude comes across as mean-spirited rather than understanding.
11. Moipone trying to win Rabe’s heart will likely deepen the strain between her and Rosemary. If Moipone succeeds, it could create even more tension and rivalry, potentially damaging their relationship further. I hope Rabe remains unaware of Moipone’s tactics to avoid making things worse.
12. Moipone handles the situation with care and openness, showing a deepening sisterhood by becoming a safe space for Gal. Her awareness of Gal’s pregnancy symptoms, even before Gal admits it, reveals Moipone’s surprising knowledge and sensitivity on such matters, adding richness to her character.
13. We can only hope Sbu is responsible enough to step up as a father, especially since Gal grew up without hers. I worry about where this is headed and, most of all, about Gal – she seems to have missed many red flags along the way.
14. Gal’s grandfather shows a lot of grace and support when she tells him about her pregnancy, likely because of the special bond they share. His reaction is much warmer and more understanding compared to Buang’s, who seems less accepting and harsher in her response.
15. Seun’s return feels sudden and confusing. It seems like he just wants to get Moipone away from Buang, but he doesn’t seem to care enough to understand why she doesn’t want to go back to living with Keke.
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1. No, because she actually did mention earlier that she’d been with Sbu only once. I think she’s downplaying it to herself more than to us.
2. I don’t think Mthunzi has changed at all. He’s such a complex character.
3. He’s twisting the truth to suit himself. Guys like him rarely change, though a part of me is hoping he’ll surprise us by the end of the book.
4. It’s hard to read about their relationship. I get it, many real-life relationships look like this, but it’s uncomfortable. Still, I believe her. She feels like the type who would always choose him, no matter what.
5. Seun is a coward, so yes. He’ll keep running. I do hope he stops eventually—running gets tiring. It’s always better to face things head-on.
6. No, she’s not harsh. She’s just blunt. That’s her way.
7. Not necessarily. You can build a future and find your identity all on your own. If someone chooses not to be part of your life, their absence doesn’t have to define who you are.
8. I honestly giggled. Gal doesn’t wake up early to do chores in her own home, yet she’s out here playing wife. She really needs to get a grip.
9. It felt like a normal parent reaction. Your child hasn’t been home in three days, you’re not just going to brush that off.
10. No, it’s wrong of her to put Moipone through that. But at the same time, I get that she sees Moipone as just another mouth for her mother to feed when she’s already struggling.
11. Rosemary doesn’t seem interested in Rabe, so I doubt she’ll care much.
12. She handled it with the wisdom of someone much older than her. For someone her age, she’s surprisingly experienced about life and people
13. He seems decent enough to do it. I believe he’ll keep his word.
14. Grandparents are always softer. It was heartwarming to read. He just cares about having a grandchild. Maybe he also trusts that Buang has already had the hard conversations with her.
15. Technically, he has a right as her father. But morally? No. A man who only shows up in December and barely provides doesn’t get to act like he’s in control. He doesn’t know what’s truly going on in her life. -
1. I had my suspicions as to what it may be, and it was revealed a bit later. I think she’s in a bit of denial.
2. Mmm, I think we will have to wait and see. He is handled with great complexity.
3. It seems a bit sus, but I think, as is the case with most of us, there is more to it than meets the eye.
4. She clearly has very strong feelings and convictions she wants to explore.
5. It seems almost inevitable.
6. I appreciated the honesty.
7. I think it helps in terms of our cultures and our upbringings, but I think it is entirely possible (and necessary) to be our own people outside of our families.
8. That was really strange to me. I was quite shocked. I mean, the floors?!
9. I think she is dealing with a lot of her own feelings toward the situation, and struggles to keep her composure. It comes across a bit dramatic!
10. Personally, no.
11. I think there is a possibility for more tension and rivalry between Moipone and Rosemary, which could compromise their relationship futrher.
12. I think she handled it really well and with exceptional empathy.
13. I hope so!
14. I was just chatting to someone about this recently, that as our elders age, they become more accepting of the trials life throws at them and they tend to become more passive as the years go on. This is a good example of that. One of those, ‘life is short’ moments.
15. Strange! -
1. She was either in denial or just plainly ignorant. But judging from how she reacted when Moipone brought it up, she definitely knew.
2. I knew that he was trouble. No green flags in sight, only red ones. Guys like Mthunzi scare me. As someone also from Soweto, growing up I made it my life’s mission to stay away from guys that were known to be criminals and liked younger girls.
3. He was honestly just using her. I think he wanted her to trust her so much that she would no longer saw any wrong in his actions.
4. Gal is a lover girl. She would do anything for love. And in this case I think it’s not love that she would do anything for its Mthunzi.
5. He will definitely keep running until he cannot run anymore.
6. I don’t think she is harsh after all it is the truth. I also love that it made them seem a lot more human knowing that they too had problems like other people.
7. I definitely think we need to know our roots. There’s so much trauma people inherit even without knowing.
8. Could never be me hey. I just feel like there’s never any benefit to overcompensating like that. If he loves you he will love you irrespective of what you do for him.
9. It was expected from a mother that is disappointed. I actually thought she would be even more upset.
10. Nope I still feel that Rosemary is just a mean girl and no matter what we go through I don’t think there’s anything that can justify being a mean person.
11. Rosemary doesn’t seem to care about Rabe so I don’t think it would be an issue.
12. Bless her heart. So behaved as a sister should and was very supportive.
13. Sbu definitely does seem like a good person but if presented with money or some incentive I think he would leave Gal and their child.
14. I’m not sure how to feel about the grandfather. He said they not of Ntoi blood earlier now he is picking names for his great grand children. He too seems like he has some things to work through from his past.
15. This was totally unexpected. I didn’t think he would come back. I also didn’t imagine that Moipone would give in so easily.
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1. At the beginning I was naive to her carefree attitude but now I think she holds more cards than she lets off.
2. There is an element of humanity in his character development as more of the story comes to light. He is still shady, but he has more nuance now that we get to read a bit more. Still not too comfortable with his behaviour.
3. I think he wants to believe he has changed or is changing but the reality is that he is still stuck in old ways and the cultural influence of his environment. Subconsciously he knows right from wrong and that there is more to life than what he has experienced but it’s difficult to suddenly turn over a new leaf.
4. Young, dumb, teenage love affair. I remember those days.
5. As long as they’re chasing him, he will always run.
6. Harsh to others, probably. It’s understandable but she’s young and doesn’t have the full backstory so her frustration and curiosity is showing up as outbursts.
7. I do think it extremely important for us to know our lineage and who we come from. It can inform a lot about who we are. It doesn’t have to determine our lives or who we choose to become but it really does have severe psychological impacts when there is missing information. We see it all around the world when people feel incomplete not knowing where or who they come from. For some, it’s more important than for others.
8. Rosemary is exhibiting similar judgements and standards as her mother. It’s something I thought about. The same level of disgust or disappointment her mother would have had is what she displayed. She’s also probably just trying to protect her sister. She is smart enough to know this is not what her sister deserves.
9. Buang is disappointed. I could only imagine what it would have been like if she arrived at the house rather than Rosemary. That’s a scene I would be enjoying with popcorn!
10. No, I still think her attitude is misguided. Context is important and understandable. But I still feel it is misguided. She will probably have a change of heart eventually (hopefully) but it still feels too abrasive.
11. I think whatever opinions Rosemary has of Moipone will be exponentially stronger. She will probably be so subconsciously hurt that she will drag Moipone through the mud and make her feel like a rural girl trying to play city princess. I’ve seen this dynamic before and it can sever a relationship.
12. Very intuitive and loving. She behaves in a way that a close sister might. She knew if she asked, Gal would have probably denied it. So making empathetic statements was a way of helping Gal put down her guard without feeling judged.
13. He does sound like a very respectful and decent person, but whether he will be true to his word is yet to be seen. The men are unpredictable in this book hahaha. I trust none of them.
14. Likewise with Mthunzi, we see another side to the grandfather. There is some nuance and depth to his character. Humans are complex beings. There is good and bad in everyone. This was a rare moment of softness and empathy displayed at a time that Gal really needed it. Especially from a parental figure. Her grandfather also spends a lot of time ridiculing his daughter and disapproving the status of his granddaughters, that this moment probably felt powerful for Gal. To be accepted in her most vulnerable state.
15. Master manipulator. His plan wasn’t working in his favour after all, so he pivots and gets rid of Moipone in the equation. That scene irritated me so much. How selfish of him! -
1. She’s in denial. We know what nausea means most times in books/movies.
2. He seems like someone who wants to change, but is stuck in too deep with his crime/notorious life.
3. He is twisting the truth, even if he is not the one personally taking the cars, he knows what he is doing and is thus complicit.
4. You can never tell a woman-in-love anything about her man, unfortunately lol. She clearly feels that she needs to be more loyal to him than her family.
5. He probably will, for as long as he can.
6. Yes she is, and it seems like that is her character
7. No, we can create and find our own identity. Sometimes we like to blame or place responsibility on the past, to avoid accountability and create excuses for our current decisions and choices. Don’t know if that makes sense.
8. Again, you can never tell a woman-in-love anything lol. She feels like it’s her responsibility, for whatever reason.
9. Expected, as any parent would if their child didn’t come home for days on end.
10. Nope – its not her place to treat Moipone like that. She is behaving like a spoilt brat.
11. She is being weird, no lie. Also, Rosemary seems like a spoilt brat and even though she is not interested in Rabe, just because Moipone is, she might decide to take huge offence to it.
12. Moipone is clearly observant and is wise beyond her years.
13. He seems like the type to take responsibility and step up.
14. I guess he is old, and he has more to worry about than a pregnancy. Or he is just a bit more forgiving because he is elderly. I don’t know- it seemed a bit strange especially the picking of the sames.
15. I dont know – he disappears and then wants to come back and act like a parent.
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