This review is from: The Emergency Bouzouki Player (Kindle Edition)
Impressive debut. By H.K.SMIT
Many of the books written about South Africa since the apartheid era that have appeared since its demise have been burdened by the monotony of lamentation. Andrew Brel¹s "The Emergency Bouzouki Player" presents a refreshingly robust and forthright take on some of the events of those times, the historical tributaries that fed them and the figures that drifted across that landscape. In the course of describing the life and times of a hard smoking guitar playing teenaged military conscript, Brel addresses many of the issues with which every thinking person is sooner or later confronted including war, patriotism, faith, loyalty and conscience.
Articulate, informative and slyly funny "The Emergency Bouzouki Player" is also iconoclastic in a way that few examples of post-Mandela South African writing have risked so far. Though vigorously opposed for well stated reasons to the corrupt, hypocritical and murderous apartheid regime, it is also clear though succinctly put that Brel holds no brief either for the all too frequently grasping and mendacious proponents of liberation politics.
Such confidence and fluency are rare and commendable in a first-time author. The Emergency Bouzouki Player is addressed not only to people who have undergone the 'white South African' experience but also to anyone opposed to the imbecilic tyranny of self-righteousness and the gratuitous victimisation of the undeserving.
The subject of religious zealotry is a recurrent theme in this book and Brel's put-down of the hapless and commination-prone Gerald will surely delight anyone who has ever been targeted by those who imagine they are sinning by not saving souls. The clarity with which so many scenes in this true story are described (for example the writer's realisation that he was being offered marijuana by a teenaged soldier from a pouch made from a human scrotum) will hold the readers attention until the final full stop.
Inspiring. By Caro Orme
This review is from: The Emergency Bouzouki Player (Hardcover)
Well-written and engaging, Andrews account of his life as a conscript keeps you captive to the end. Moreover, it is an inspiration for anyone suffering oppression from anyone else. Andrew's ability to see the lighter side while refusing to give way to the tyranny and bigotry that surrounds him in camp is a true example of courage and tenacity from which we could all learn. The political landscape in which Andrew's story unfolds is described easily in a way that will engage all; you do not have to have a special interest in either South Africa or politics to enjoy this book. The humour throughout pulls the story together and makes for compulsive reading - I couldn't put it down. There are also plenty of tips for the aspiring musician here. This is a book that smiles in the face of adversity and proves you should hang onto your dreams and beliefs come what may.
The Emergency Bouzouki Player review in The South African by Rachel Millard.
'An absorbing, witty and thoughtful book, parts fly-on-the-wall account, coming-of-age tale, history and anti-war polemic."
A South African Eye Opener. By BlondeBookWorm
This review is from: The Emergency Bouzouki Player (Kindle Edition)
I started reading this morning and just finished it - couldn't put it down. I could hear the author's voice throughout and was completely drawn into those few incredible years of his life. I was particularly struck by his religious discussions with Gerald and thoroughly enjoyed his birthday gift to him.
The book leaves me with many questions - I want to know what happened next - I want to know more about South African history as the book highlighted my ignorance of this period - I want to know more about the author's interest in Islam and I want to hear him play the Bouzouki.
The style of writing is easy to engage with and draws the reader in to become an accomplice in the narrative, I hope the author intends to write more of the adventures of the Emergency Bouzouki Player!
The Emergency Bouzouki Player. By Mike Popham
This review is from: The Emergency Bouzouki Player (Kindle Edition)
This is the story of how Andrew Brel, an aspiring teenage musician of Greek origin, who had dropped out of medical school in Johannesburg, managed to survive two traumatic years as an unwilling conscript in the South African army at the end of the 1970s. After his father's premature death, Andrew's mother contacted the authorities who enlisted him to serve in the South African army which, at the time, was fighting a vicious "border war" in the north of South West Africa(now Namibia) and southern Angola.
Andrew hated being trained to kill in the service of the apartheid war machine in the wake of the Soweto riots in 1976 and, a year later, the death in police custody of the black consciousness leader Steve Biko. With a helping hand from an unlikely friend of his mother's, Andrew, through his musical talent on the guitar, managed to talk his way into the South African army's Entertainment Corps as an emergency bouzouki player.
The highlight of the book is the scene where Andrew insults Prime Minister P.W.Botha by changing the lyrics while singing for him at an official function in Pretoria.
Impelling from first to last.
By L. M. Hayes (England)
This review is from: The Emergency Bouzouki Player (Hardcover)
I absolutely loved this book. Andrew Brel has a strong voice which makes itself heard right from the start. The Emergency Bouzouki Player is a warm and atmospheric tale that is both very funny and edgy. As a musician, I connected with this author.
An awesome read!
Emergency Bouzouki player. By Radfordsky
This review is from: The Emergency Bouzouki Player (Hardcover)
I first met the author in 1984 in South Africa and the book vividly reminded me of those times again. The book is well written and flows well with just the right balance of humour, story and horror to keep the reader engrossed.
The Afrikaner historical context was a good addition as it details the struggle that the Afrikaner nation always had in pursuit of its common goal of self determination against the evil empire of the time.
I would recommend this book to all as it appeals on a number of different levels.
Enlightening and enlivening. By Kritikos
This review is from: The Emergency Bouzouki Player (Hardcover)
As resourceful as Odysseus, Andrew Brel undermines the bigoted fortress of South African National Service with, not so much a Trojan Horse, but his Cretan wits, Camel cigarettes and sundry herbal supplements. Scarcely anyone deserving of criticism escapes it from this child of the Samarian Gorge. |
