Review - Memoirs of a Play-White by Helene Louiesa Mynhardt

By Carmen, 20 November 2018
Book Cover

Year Published: 2018

Genre: Autobiography; Memoir

Blurb:

Louiesa, an impoverished child, was raised by her unemployed single mother. She was employed part time as a student, earning a lucrative salary. The reason was unclear to her until she was confronted by a furious co-worker. The author explains how siblings from the exact same parents were classified differently and gives details about how children with a darker complexion were abandoned by fair-skinned parents. The author further explains in great detail, deep rooted segregation not previously exposed to the world during apartheid: how racial classification destroyed family unity and friendships. Forceful resettlement according to race destroyed family life and friendships. Journey with the author while experiencing her personal encounters: death penalty, gang violence, teenage pregnancies, alcoholism and starvation. This is truly an inspirational story of hope and transformation. Readers are invited to journey through the remarkable life of the author who dreamt of freedom from poverty barriers, worked hard towards it with dogged determination and succeeded. The author takes the reader on a journey into the lives of the coloured race during apartheid, sparing no detail.

About the Author:

Helene Louiesa Mynhardt is a self-made entrepreneur who is a founding member and Managing Director of Sterling Debt Recoveries Johannesburg South Africa. Sterling is a leading collection agency, founded in November 1998. She has a 40% shareholding in this business. The business provides efficient, large scale services on a commission basis to large credit-granting institutions. This is her first attempt at writing. Her autobiography is written as a trilogy. The first 2 parts are published.

Helene was born in Kliptown, Johannesburg on 30 December 1957 and is married to Harold Thomas who is the assistant director at Sterling Debt Recoveries. They have two daughters: Maxine, aged twenty-two and Hayley, aged eighteen. Maxine is studying her fifth year Medicine at Semmelweiss University, Hungary while Hayley is studying at Azusa Pacific University California, United States majoring Accountancy in her second year.

Helene enjoys traveling with her family.

Connect with the Author:

Goodreads: Helene Louiesa Mynhardt Goodreads

Buy the Book:

Amazon: Amazon Purchase Link

My Take on the Book:

This book actually ended up surprising me a little bit. At the beginning of the book, I felt that there was a little bit too much explanation; though after that, the book was a pleasant narrative except with the last chapter – which I thought jumped a little bit all over the place, especially time-line and topic wise. One thing I admired was how Louiesa worked her way to the top, despite difficulties. I ended up giving this book a four star rating and got a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Last Word:

Now that I know what this author is capable of, I most certainly am excited to read the next book in the series.

Enjoy,
Carmen