Niq Mhlongo

This is a fast read, but there's not all that much to it. The characters tend to be either unthinking or one dimensional, and the writing is a bit amateurish as well. I would say it's an easy read to escape with for an afternoon, but one aspect ruined even the entertainment value for me---bits of African are scattered throughout the text, and while there is a glossary at the end of the book, it only includes certain words. I don't know the rhyme or the reason to it, but when I did care enough to look up the word, it was a word that was never included in the glossary. In the end, this isn't a big deal, but it did become something of a frustration as I was reading. Of course, this annoyance may just be a symptom of how little I was engaged with the book as a whole. In general, it was something to pass the time with, but it's certainly nothing I would really see any need to recommend.… (mer)

A story about Bafana, a college kid from Soweto, who fails out of the University of Cape Town's law school, and is forced to move back with his uncle in Chi, Soweto. Embarrassed and ashamed of his failure, Bafana doesn't tell his family and his friends the truth, but tells them UCT is withholding his school records until he can pay a fictitious debt of over 20 000 Rand. This lie sets off humorous events where Bafana has to continue to lie to the people around him to protect himself. The story culminates with all the lies coming back to haunt him in the end.

Although their is some humorous moments, the story is rather scattered, with the author spending time discussing certain topics and incidents for a few pages, only for them to never come back into the discussion. For example, there is a portion of the book where one of Bafana's uncle's best friend is arrested for a bar fight. Bafana has to defend him in court. He quickly gets the man out of jail on bail. Celebrations ensue in the Chi, because of the victory... What victory? His is only out on jail on bail. Their was another court date set. One could assume the issue wasn't resolved, yet in the story, it is never discussed again.

Further, As I read this story, I felt that the book didn't really have a fully developed plot. Yes, Bafana is kicked out of school; yes he has to move in with his Uncle. Yes, his mother is trying to sell the Uncle's house so they can make money to pay his non-existent school fees., and eventually, about half way through the book, the house is sold. Bafana takes the money and opens his own law office with a fake degree certificate he purchased from a Nigerian. Soon, he becomes a popular, though not-affluent, lawyer in the township. He's happy; His mom is happy; everyone seems to be happy. Problem solved with about 80 pages left. A bunch of different problems pop up in the last 80 pages (he sleeps with an in-law, nearly has a fraudulent marriage with a Zim, his uncle dies, he gets beat up for his wallet and clothes, etc), but non really connect to the next.

Finally, the book abruptly ends, with him getting busted for all his errors with a couple pages left. His mom and the sister in law he is sleeping with storm into the court room where he is attempting to marry the Zim, and tells him she knows all about the lies. He then moves to Durban, and doesn't speak to them again. This all happens in the last two pages!! Overall, not a great effort.… (mer)

A humorous and raucous story about a black college student in post apartheid South Africa trying to make his way through college during a very turbulent time in South Africa's history. Dog Eat Dog similar to Urban Lit in the USA in that it follows an impoverished youth through the underbelly of society (the townships in this case), but different because it follows the student as he tries to get ahead at school in anyway possible.

Though I felt the book was good, though not great, I will note that this book probably will resonate with the "kwaito generation" much more than with a white man living in the United States.… (mer)