The Grass Is Singing by D.K. Hood is not about Hobbits living underground but rather the story of an ordinary woman named Mary Mhlaba who struggles through life's challenges.

Set in 1940s Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), The Grass Is Singer follows Mary as she copes with her difficult circumstances, which include a violent husband and limited resources to survive. Despite these hardships, Mary finds solace in nature, particularly the grass that grows abundantly around her homestead.

Through its vivid descriptions of the African landscape and characters like Mary, D.K. Hood creates an immersive atmosphere that draws readers into this gripping tale of survival against all odds.

Mary's journey is not easy; she faces numerous challenges as a black woman living in white-ruled Rhodesia during World War II. Her life becomes even more complicated when her husband goes off to fight, leaving Mary alone with their young son and nothing but the land around them for sustenance.

Throughout this heart-wrenching novel, D.K. Hood masterfully explores themes such as love, loss, hopelessness, despair – all set against a backdrop of war-torn Africa where life itself seems like an insurmountable task each day.

In contrast to Mary's struggles are the idyllic descriptions provided by author D.K. Hood about nature - 'The grass is singing...the earth was alive with its own secret music.' This dichotomy between hopelessness and beauty makes this story so compelling, leaving readers questioning whether there truly can be any peace in such a harsh world.

Overall, The Grass Is Singing is an emotional rollercoaster that will keep you guessing until the very end. With its strong female protagonist fighting against all odds to survive under impossible conditions combined with stunning descriptions of African landscapes makes this book hard not to finish once started!

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