The Secrets We Keep—Spilling the Beans is a powerful South African memoir tracing one woman’s journey from childhood tragedy to self-empowerment across decades and continents. Set largely in the suburbs of Durban during the 1960s to 1990s, it offers a richly textured glimpse into South African life—its joys, dysfunctions, and deep silences.At its heart is the author’s grappling with a defining trauma: the sudden, shocking death of her sibling. The family cloaks the horror in denial. That silence sets the tone for a childhood shaped by emotional repression, unspoken grief, and the crushing weight of unmet expectations. With remarkable clarity and honesty, the author recounts her ...