'Reflection'

So far the narrative’s main character has lead me on an intriguing journey and his intelligence astounds me and I find that I can relate to this character. ‘Peekay’, being his progressed name, was not like the other kids of his age, the way he interprets things that come by him and his vocabulary and knowledge, all contribute to his ‘different’ personality. Judge me if you like, but in the novel, (to be referred to as a bildungsroman) I actually like the whole topic of the incongruity between the black and white or otherwise referred to in this book as Kaffirs and Rooineks.

The first seven chapters tell the audience about  him being moved into a camp and then moving to his grandpa’s house via a train, both of these elements in the book contain a considerable amount of detail, enough to make one ‘draw’ up their own imagination and scenery of  what is written. When I started reading it, I knew right there and then that if the book could capture my attention by the first line, then I knew it’s going to be a good and inspiring book.

The adaptation of Peekay’s move shows how courageous the young boy was. A child’s morals and values are still somewhat intact at that age and I believe that it forced him to not believe the worst or even the best in others, but to see the truth. He was neither naive nor mature, but he became brave. I expect toward the end of the novel that he will have not only grown in age and maturity, but also become sound in mind and realise his potential for greater things. His drive and courage display a sense of adventure and therefore makes this book an interesting read.

What captivates me as a reader is the segregation between the races in South Africa. During these years, Peekay would have endured derisive mockery and i believe that as a person, he would have become stronger. I think we can all take a lesson from this novel; that we must stand up for what we believe in, face the consequences in all situations and refuse to segregate others just because they are different to what we are.