BOOK: WHAT HAPPENS IN HANKAROO

AUTHOR: MARUPING PHEPHENG

PUBLISHER: THE INKSWORD

Pastors and Prostitutes, Corruption and Bribery, under-hand dealings, Love and Betrayal, Life and Death, this is what Maruping’s debut, “What happens in Hankaroo…”has to offer the reader. The story takes place in and around the small town called Hankaroo, where the youth has had enough of the empty promises of job opportunity and service delivery. The relentless pursuit for riches keeps BK Logaba focused on his plan to bribe the powers that be for land on which to mine as this seems the only way to get rich quick. The story has heart-warming friendships being taken through ups and downs, loving relationships, purported in ways some readers will relate to.

“What happens in Hankaroo…” makes for an interesting read with nuances of a Post-Apartheid South African town.

Maruping Phepheng’s fresh and new voice in “What Happens in Hankaroo” sounds very well like that of a seasoned writer. His characters have depth and carry the story well until it ends. Though the story is set in a fictitious town, the setting has all the elements of a real town just as the characters are well-rounded, thus making the story realistic and believable. The setting bears many characteristics of a South African town. One can imagine that many readers will identify with the story since the issues explored are common in the post-apartheid South Africa. What is also quite interesting is how Phepheng has managed to explore issues of public interest while delving in his characters’ private spaces. Phepheng’s way with words is admirable, especially if one considers that this is his literary debut.

The book will be launched in Christiana (phepheng’s home town) end of June and in Kimberley end of July.

By Ntombikayise Mhlanga
See more at: http://www.nctimes.co.za
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews