A few days ago I finished reading Acid Alex, by Al Lovejoy.
TheChiz has a great review, and an interview with the man himself.
Dave Chislett (The Chiz) says that In terms of popular culture and understanding a couple of generations of white South Africans, this is the most important book ever written about South Africa.
I think he’s right. It may be tricky for foreigners to understand (or South Africans unfamiliar with the particular subculture) – it probably compares to Trainspotting in that regard, but there’s a glossary at the back, so don’t let that stop you.
Apparently some sanctimoniusly moronic bookstores refused to stock it. I’d love to know which ones. I got my copy from Exclusives, and it’s available on Kalahari (it even got 3 reviews!).
But stop wasting time, go read the book.
Technorati tags: Acid Alex Al Lovejoy
OK, so I ordered it from Kalahari. I’ll let you know what I think.
I’m feeling the pressure now.
This book is mad and wonderful!
It should be a prescribed book for High School kids!!
I enjoyed the book. I did find some of the jargon/slang created a distance between me and the text, and to keep looking at the glossary disrupts narrative flow. But, it’s wonderfully descriptive and honest.I also enjoyed how he is politically dislocated from traditional understanding of left/right politics!There is also a strong anti-hero theme in the book which resonated with the rebel in me. I would love to meet him!
OK, I ordered it from Kalahari, and it arrived in sunny Scotland 2 days ago. I started reading yesterday, and couldn’t put it down. I tried to go to bed, and had to get up in the middle of the night to finish it because I couldn’t leave it alone. Brilliant. Let’s hope it gets international exposure.
I’m about two thirds through and I’m daydreaming about escaping from work all day so I can go finish it. It is brilliantly written.
that was hectic,wanna my best book i read,iknew alot of the characters in the book and still do,most of them bettered there lives and some havent…