Christine Hartmann's mother valued control above all else, yet one event appeared beyond her command: the timing of her own death. Not to be denied there either, two decades in advance Irmgard Hartmann chose the date on which to end her life. And her next step was to tell her daughter all about it. For twenty years, Irmgard maintained an unwavering goal, to commit suicide at age seventy. She managed her chronic hypertension, stayed healthy and active, and lived life to the fullest. Meanwhile, Christine fought desperately against the decision. When Irmgard wouldn't listen, the only way to remain part of her life was for Christine to swallow her mother's plans--hook, line, and sinker.

Christine's father, as it turned out, prepared too slowly for old age. Before he had made any decision, fate disabled him through a series of strokes. Confined to a nursing home, severely impaired by dementia and frustrated by his circumstances, his life epitomized the predicament her mother wanted to avoid.

"So Far Away" gives us an intimate view of a person interacting with and reacting to her parents at the ends of their lives. In a richly detailed, poignant story of family members' separate yet interwoven journeys, it underscores the complexities and opportunities that life presents each one of us.

Christine Hartmann's mother valued control above all else, yet one event appeared beyond her command: the timing of her own death. Not to be denied there either, two decades in advance Irmgard Hartmann chose the date on which to end her life. And her next step was to tell her daughter all about it. For twenty years, Irmgard maintained an unwavering goal, to commit suicide at age seventy. She managed her chronic hypertension, stayed healthy and active, and lived life to the fullest. Meanwhile, Christine fought desperately against the decision. When Irmgard wouldn't listen, the only way to remain part of her life was for Christine to swallow her mother's plans--hook, line, and sinker.

Christine's father, as it turned out, prepared too slowly for old age. Before he had made any decision, fate disabled him through a series of strokes. Confined to a nursing home, severely impaired by dementia and frustrated by his circumstances, his life epitomized the predicament her mother wanted to avoid.

"So Far Away" gives us an intimate view of a person interacting with and reacting to her parents at the ends of their lives. In a richly detailed, poignant story of family members' separate yet interwoven journeys, it underscores the complexities and opportunities that life presents each one of us.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma – a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories.

Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate.

This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language.

The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher’s Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma – a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories.

Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate.

This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language.

The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher’s Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma – a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories.

Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate.

This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language.

The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher’s Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma – a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories.

Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate.

This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language.

The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher’s Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma – a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher’s Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma – a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher’s Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.

Vuma - a truly South African reading instruction programme created to inspire a love of reading in children through lively and entertaining stories. Vuma provides comprehensive teacher support and guidance, making it a complete solution for teaching and assessing reading. Fun, age-appropriate stories centre around a diverse group of loveable characters to whom all South African children can relate. This finely levelled reading instruction programme has been specifically developed for teaching and assessing reading in the Foundation Phase. Each story has been individually developed around the structure and vocabulary of the language for which it was written. The Vuma Reading Instruction Programme has a number of different resources that work together to offer a comprehensive reading solution. Vuma is currently available for English First Additional Language, and Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sepedi Home Language. The core resources are: Finely levelled Readers with stories that will delight boys and girls.; Engaging Workbooks with activities to entrench reading and comprehension skills; and Comprehensive Teacher's Guides with detailed guidance, lesson plans and assessments.