BOOK REVIEW OF LONDON CAPE TOWN JOBURG

 When you’ve kept an autographed book on your shelf for almost ten years, with regular polishing of the covers and dusting between the pages, is it time to give it away, or do you pick it up and finally read it? I chose to pick it up and read it; ‘London Cape Town Joburg,’ a novel written by the effervescent and literary Zukiswa Wanner, a South African author, who blends charm and difficult truths, in her writing. 

From the first line of this courageous novel, when we read of Zuko Spencer-O‘Malley committing suicide, I keep asking myself why I have taken this long to read this book. 

Even if you have travelled to these intriguing cities, after which the novel is named, you will not be prepared for the richness of characters, complexity of themes and the simplicity of everyday life from choosing what to wear, being gas-lit and growing in self-awareness. Zukiswa has cleverly woven a story of such enormous strength that the history of these places does not interfere with the actual story of the people.

As a reader, I find that the strength of the novel is in the character interactions, their believable traits, ambitions and weaknesses and how they unfold in a larger city and country. The story is clever, in that the flashbacks remind us of a past of political upheaval that we should be happy to overcome and at the same time, the realities of political overtures.

Falling in love is a beautiful experience. When the protagonists who tell this story, Germain Spencer and Martin O’Malley fall in love, it is an experience which many readers will wish they could experience too, if they haven’t. They do not fall into it; instead they grow into it, from the first primal nudge and remain unstuck in a natural way.

The reader becomes so attached and remains as a spectator cheering on this couple whose love makes all things possible, including managing unbearable in-laws, narcissistic acquaintances and cultural strongholds. And it is the cultural differences, their ability to blend and compromise while still growing as individuals, that brings with it the greatest test of all.

After keeping this book for ten years, when I picked it up I was able to complete it in two days because of the unravelling of new mysteries, pleasant surprises and experiences which I am familiar with.

There are parts of the dialogue that appear as if they are over-written and I kept rolling my eyes, doubtful that people actually spoke like that. I am reminded though, that this book traverses three large cities, complex careers and generations of families. 

Many thanks to Zukiswa for writing such a fine novel. 

London Cape Town Joburg was published in 2014, by Kwela Books. 

Note to self: Read a book as soon as possible, especially if it is autographed.

Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva