| Dice of Life Contributor(s): Stevens, Pat (Author) |
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ISBN: 1512242594 ISBN-13: 9781512242591 Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform OUR PRICE: $14.25 Product Type: Paperback Published: May 2015 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Fiction | Coming Of Age |
| Physical Information: 0.67" H x 5" W x 8" (0.70 lbs) 320 pages |
| Themes: - Topical - Adolescence/Coming of Age |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Dice of Life is a coming of age novel set in South Africa of the seventies, written from the perspective of a boy leaving childhood, the story revolves around a group of apprentices and deals with the complexity of a racist society. Although not overly political in style, the book examines apartheid South Africa through the eyes of protagonist Harry Cheals, counterpointing his concerns against the easy attitude of his friends. They are the privileged white elite who enjoy life to its fullest, but Harry senses the dice of life will roll a payback someday, and he tries to warn his carefree friends.Because the ugly but cute Warthog is concerned only with getting laid, while Wilfred is ashamed to be an apartheid Afrikaner so he adopts an English accent, quotes English poetry and calls himself a liberal. Warthog and Wilfred are oblivious to the ills of South Africa, for both concentrate on their individual needs, and despite his ugliness Warthog is surprisingly successful with women. For Warthog has personality and is a good dancer, whereas Wilfred's personality is clumsier than his dancing, so he adopts English mannerisms to make himself more attractive to women.Harry Cheals is friendly with them but also dismissive, he is aware of the worldwide revulsion for apartheid, but is convinced nothing can be done so he grows a cynical shell. Which hardens as Harry turns even more sceptical, after his betrayal by beautiful but promiscuous Liza, which drives heartbroken Harry to drunkenness and wild behaviour. Then he meets a wise Afrikaner Seer, who teaches that life is not a random throw of dice, but a course chosen through free will. The Seer also predicts the coming of a liberal system, more repressive than apartheid and this motivates Harry Cheals, to reform his life and attempt to prevent this from happening. |