What is the theme in Bitter Fruit by Achmat Dangor?

The disintegration of a family is another theme in the book. Bitter Fruit traces the disintegration of the Ali family as they each try to deal with the past. As the novel begins, the family is already somewhat fragile and brittle. Silas and Lydia have long tried to avoid the subject of her rape and Lydia avoids telling Silas the truth about Mikey. The two have grown apart during their marriage as Lydia often retreats into music and reading. They have become in some ways strangers to each other.