This was exctly the right book for me! It's about Dinah, a girl growing up in South Africa in the 50s. A perfect mixture of Dinah's personal history and the history of South Africa of the time (with apartheid and everything). As for the titel Frankie & Stankie: It really is pretty random. It refers to an Italien song that Dinah missunderstood in her childhood. Can it get more random? Or maybe there is a point. Dinah thought that the song was about two clowns named Frankie and Stankie. Life is funny, life is random. That might be something. At least it suits the atmosphere of the book. I really liked this book! And I dare say I learned something too. If u wanna read about South Africa, choose this book, and not People Like Ourselves by Pamela Jooste.
Interesting characters set in South Africa during the 1960s. Not being very familiar with the history, besides what is read fro newsprint and TV, I am glad I did read it. Barbara's experiences are well told through her main character Didi. I can't imagine growing up in such a racist atmosphere. Where colour differences never existed, were forced onto those people who made the land and belonged there yet had to live like animals. Religion and politics are always at the source of negative impact and this book describes it well.
What do You think about Frankie And Stankie (2004)?
How have I not read this author before? Quirky captivating characters with enough historical context (50s South Africa) to inform but not bog you down. I preferred the earlier years describing schooldays and the various Best Friends. So clearly written it must surely be part autobiographical? I wish there was another volume about the next chapter of Dinah's life in England.I'm off to rummage through boxes to find some of Trapido's other novels I'm sure I remember having somewhere! If not, it's off to Amazon I go!
—Sophie
