It has been
said that township life (in the case of South Africa here) can only be vividly
and convincingly presented by an insider, a denizen of the locale for many
years. Certainly the author of this novel, Mr Rampai, succeeds in spades here!
He depicts township life very well, including a collection of certain
characters who form an integral part of the society here.
Hence the
lively descriptions of various nooks and crannies where the main character, Danny,
ekes out his life are quite powerful and moving. We can see a society in motion
with the good, bad, ugly and beautiful. Danny certainly loves beautiful women!
Pundits have stressed this aspect enough, and the details of passionate
love-making between Danny and some ladies add to the colour and vibrancy of
this novel. There is also plenty of melodrama which might well be an ingredient of this society.
This is also
a very good work of detective or mystery novel. What might have seemed strange
or out of place during the narrative are all brilliantly explained at the end,
with virtually all the loose ends tied up. In many ways, this book is a
triumph, and Mr Rampai can hold his head up high as a very good writer of
fiction.
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