The Magic World of Fiction

Tired of your daily diet of news? Want to escape into the world of fantasy? Hamilton Wende’s Arabella, The Moon and the Magic Mongongo Nut and Arabella, The Secret King and the Amulet from Timbuktu are just the right books for you to do that. Wende has created a unique South African tale about a little girl called Arabella who lives both in the real world and in the magic one.

In Arabella, The Moon and the Magic Mongongo Nut Arabella’s happy home life in Johannesburg is tragically altered by the death of her father to cancer. At around the same time Arabella meets some unusual characters who teach her how to enter the world of magic. Wonder of wonders Arabella turns into a butterfly, learns to fly and befriends a bunch of insects in her garden. But even in the magic world there are difficulties and Arabella, together with her insect friends, is called upon to use her newfound powers to defeat a dark enemy intent on taking over the world.

Wende cleverly intersects Arabella’s real world with her magic one, making both worlds credible. In the two realities Arabella is required to learn, grow, be brave, make good choices and deal with adversity. Her adventures in magic are a delightful vehicle for young readers to grapple with their own struggles. The story is full of tongue-in-cheek humour, too. The fearful foe is a hadeda called Ozymandias (after the character in a Percy Bysshe Shelley poem), and one of Arabella’s insect friends is none other than – the normally vilified – Parktown Prawn!

In the second book, Arabella, The Secret King and the Amulet from Timbuktu Arabella’s adventures take her to Knysna where she meets some clacking oysters, slow-swimming seahorses and noble elephants. Wende’s use of animals big and small in his tales has the effect of placing his protagonist in the larger web of life.

In this story, as in book one, Arabella lives in two worlds. Her problems at school and with friends grow steadily worse. At the same time she is desperately needed in the magic realm to defeat a terrible monster called Krakobek. Apart from this crocodile-cum-hyena-cum-scorpion beast, most of the characters in book two exhibit both good and bad traits. In other words, they are relatable to readers.

What is special about the Arabella stories is that they are ‘very consciously South African and non-racial’. Wende uses names and characters that reflect a range of South African characters, and give a deep humanity to all.

‘I had a deep desire to reflect the good things in South Africa,’ said Wende when I interviewed him. I think he has done just that in these two Arabella stories. I’m delighted, as will be fans of the well-received books, that Wende is busy on book three. ‘I owe it to myself to make it a trilogy,’ he said.

Hooray! I look forward to Arabella three, Hamilton Wende! The Arabella books are suitable for tweens, retail at R170 each and can be purchased at all good book stores or online at www.clockworkbooks.co.za.

 

 

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South African novel The Keeper is almost a keeper

A review by Brenda Daniels

The Keeper is written by South African author Marguerite Poland. It tells the story of Hannes Harker, a lighthouse keeper who worked in the 1950s before automation takes over. Extremely efficient, Hannes is totally dedicated to his job and jumps at the chance to take up a remote posting on an island off the southern Cape coast.

Accompanied by his morose wife Aletta, the two arrive on an island inhabited largely by workers who collect and make compost from the abundance of available bird faeces. The place is also full of memories for Hannes. Hannes’s father was a lighthouse keeper and his mother, who lived with him, died mysteriously when Hannes was just a boy.

Deeply affected by the trauma of his childhood, Hannes is startled one day to find a special memento made by his mother. In his shock he stumbles and falls, badly injuring himself. He has to be taken to the mainland and spends a long time recuperating in hospital.

Much of the book is written from the viewpoint of Hannes relating his story to a wise, patient nurse, Sister Rika. As he tries to understand his past, Rika, in a sense, becomes his keeper.

The Keeper is a lonely, depressing story, something I didn’t enjoy. It is saved from complete morbidity, however, by the underlying theme of relationship. It is also beautifully and simply written, contains deep meanings that require some reflection to be appreciated, and is a welcome South African novel.

Photo supplied by Penguin.

Photo supplied by Penguin.