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Loading... Zulu (edition 2010)by Caryl Ferey (Auteur)
Work InformationZulu by Caryl Ferey
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Unbelievably violent, amazingly confrontational, searingly honest and profoundly emotional, ZULU is one of those books that you may have to read through spread fingers, but it is almost impossible to put this book down until it screeches to an ending that will make you shudder. This is noir, critical, brutal writing at it's absolute best. The "Zulu" of the title refers not so much to the tribe as a whole, but to Cape Town homicide captain Ali Neuman. Heading up the investigation into the death of a young woman whose body is found with a crushed skull, Neuman accepts that his job must sometimes mean that he's put in difficult situations. His profound belief in the job he does comes from his childhood - when he was a young boy he was forced to watch the ritualised murders of his father and brother. He grew up with an overwhelming desire to put an end to the lawlessness that plagues his country. Regardless of other people's reactions to him or the colour of his skin. There's nothing particularly uncommon about the idea that a central protagonist is fighting his own demons, or even battling against unsympathetic or antagonist authorities. What is different in the portrayal of these elements in ZULU is the context. Neuman's demons are the violent murders of his brother and father; the political complications of South African society; the appalling violence and disadvantage of the townships; attacks on his elderly mother. Murder rates that are simply breathtaking; AIDS; desperation; the disregard for life - it's all laid bare, raw and yet, there's also some sense of poignancy. There's love, affection, regard and concern for others. There's even humour and acceptance. Put all of that into a book that is written with a cynical, forthright style that is absolutely no holds barred. Then add more ways of killing and maiming and hurting people than even in your worst moments you couldn't have dreamed up and build the action and the reader's interest into a really interesting and likeable central protagonist. Then tear the rule book up and add a twist at the end that will just blow some readers out of the water, and what you've got is an intelligent, thought-provoking, frightening, fascinating and unputdownable book about a society that is still dealing with the impacts of Apartheid and profound societal upheaval. ZULU isn't a book that is going to do much for the South African tourism industry, but it is a book that simply took my breath away. Another outstanding police procedural out of South Africa. The title may be misleading, because this is not, as might be expected, a novel about the Zulu tribe itself, but features a captain of Homicide in Cape Town, Ali Neuman, who is Zulu. Neuman heads up the investigation of the brutal murder of Nicole Weiss, whose body is found with her skull crushed, in a botanical garden. Her father is Afrikaaner, prominent in Cape Town sports and a member of the Afrikaaner elite. Under heavy pressure, Neuman’s investigation leads to evidence of the distribution of dangerous new drugs and a chilling conspiracy. This is a grim novel, a noir, but one of the best I’ve read in a long, long time. The writing is excellent, the characters well-developed--and there are fascinating parallels with the Cape Town of Deon Meyer; Kayelitsha is familiar as are some of the Cape Town landmarks, from his novels. As in Meyer’s books, the relationships between and within the races are explored in what appears to be an objective description of the South Africa of today and the impact of the outside world on Africa. Highly recommended. no reviews | add a review
When the mutilated corpse of a young white woman is found in Cape Town's botanical gardens, seemingly the victim of a ritual sacrifice, troubled homicide detective Ali Neuman is called to the scene. He is chasing one false lead after another when a second corpse, again that of a white woman, is found. This time, the body bears signs of a Zulu ritual. A new evil has insinuated itself into this recently integrated city, and a new drug No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)843.92Literature French and related languages French fiction Modern Period 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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Ferey digs deep and really brings home social criticism of the post-apartheid landscape, a place still very much heaving with violence, drug lords and overall corruption. Seriously, after reading this, I would be horrified to visit Cape Town. Ferey has done such an amazing job showing the underbelly of the playground for the rich and the shocking destitution of the shanty townships. Ferey wrote this story in real time - against the looming backdrop of the 2010 World Cup that would take place in 2 years time, post publication. The South African apartheid was both political and racial. This story focuses on the multicultural nature of South Africa and the myriad of opportunists that flooded the region, morals be damned. I can totally see why this one was the 2008 winner of the French Grand Prix for Best Crime Novel. A worthy win, IMO. ( )