the year the gypsies came

this book the result of a flying visit to a second-hand bookshop
one book about to end and a train journey about to start
a few minutes available to ensure book-reading continuity
this title is from 2006 and met the current selection criteria
a story of people in another place and in another time
therefore in line with other recently read and enjoyed titles
the book is set in a well-off white household in 1960's johannesburg
bob and lily iris have teenage daughters named sarah and emily
he runs and works hard at a successful chocolate import business
she plays the dutiful wife though most happy spending the cash
for there are imported fashions, cosmetics, records to be bought
to complete the picture of self-absorption she is having an affair
her oblivious husband allows a transient family to take up residence
parking their land-rover and caravan on their sprawling property
jock is an australian wildlife photographer married to peg
their 2 sons otis and streak are uneducated, clumsy and ill-mannered
having endured their gypsy lifestyle for all of their lives
also living on the property are 2 blacks on minimal wages and long hours
lettie is the housekeeper and the elderly zulu buza is their security guard
the youngest daughter emily has a great rapport with both of them
so while her parents indulge themselves in their shallow and insular lives
their daughters are exposed to and absorb stories and experiences of the land
buza is one very wise old man and foretells trouble with the gypsies
his foreboding is justified and soon unchecked teenage testosterone makes its mark
a lid is briefly kept on the results of this problem that sees the gypsies scarper
but tensions run high and before long the truth escapes explosively
at this point in the book i was totally absorbed with the story
in a short amount of time a lot of issues had been touched on
family relationships, abandoned lifestyles, apartheid, puberty, spiritualism
even politics in the form of nelson mandela are included in the story
the book is written in the first person from emily's point of view
adding another dimension as she struggles with all that surrounds her
but thankfully buza is there as her companion, mentor and guiding light
he passes on stories and expressions from his own life and ancestry
providing the reader with a expose to zulu customs and language
their relationship is the strength and truth in this wonderful story
showing that the wisdom of indigenous people is a powerful force
able to help anyone who is prepared to listen - even a 12 year-old girl
the final chapter reveals emily now as a grown woman with her own child
still in contact with buza now close to death in his zulu homeland
a beautiful, moving, gut-wrenching, unforgettable story
based on the upbringing of author linzi glass
surely a film is following