If you are South African, from the North Eastern suburbs of Johannesburg, and were born before 1985, this is the book for you. Actually, if the first two apply, this book is for you no matter how young you are. In fact, coming right down to it, only the first condition is really necessary.
The JoBurg buses [the few that actually arrive] are still the same colour as those in Romain's memory, Maryvale College is still going strong and so is the Maryvale Catholic Church, and neither Louis Botha Avenue or Orange Grove has been renamed.
Putco buses, lucky packets, Punch washing powder, Personality magazine, Charles Fortune's cricket commentaries, army call up papers - there's something here to appeal to all South Africans regardless of where they live. A beautifully drawn and wonderfully evocative look at the 'bad old days' by Trevor Roman, for whom they were not so bad after all. ( )