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Saturdays are Gold
Pierre Van Rooyen’s latest novel, Saturdays Are Gold, was nominated for The Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize 2011. Set in 1940s Johannesburg, it explores the innocence of childhood in an adult world of prohibition, superstition, sorcery, divination, child abduction and muti murder. Seven year old Maudie is kidnapped because she witnesses a muti murder and her brother, nine year Tadpole, is the only one who can rescue her.
Reminiscent of the memoirs of Alexandra Fuller, Pierre Van Rooyen’s writing is filled with adventure, hilarious antics and fun-filled characters from Babs, the children’s alcoholic half-aunt who drives the local breakdown lorry and parachutes from bi-planes, to Mr Sunshine, the suave African salesman who lugs around a suitcase big enough to stuff a child inside.
Reminiscent of the memoirs of Alexandra Fuller, Pierre Van Rooyen’s writing is filled with adventure, hilarious antics and fun-filled characters from Babs, the children’s alcoholic half-aunt who drives the local breakdown lorry and parachutes from bi-planes, to Mr Sunshine, the suave African salesman who lugs around a suitcase big enough to stuff a child inside.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Pierre Van Rooyen
12 books10 followersHusband and wife authors, Pierre and Faith Van Rooyen, work from their boat.
When their two children grew up and left home, Faith and Pierre decided to leave home too.
They didn't have much money, but sold everything they had and bought an old wreck of a sail boat.
It took them a thousand hours of work each over a year to fix the boat.
Then they went to sea and that's where they have been ever since. They live aboard.
Their adventures have taken them to such exotic places as Zanzibar, Tanga, Mombassa, Kilifi, Madagascar, Seychelles, Chagos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Borneo and Philippines.
Faith writes and illustrates her eight volume non-fiction Sailing With Senta series.
Pierre has written three novels, two of them adult novels featuring children.
He co-authors the non-fiction Sailing With Senta series but only in a secondary role.
When their two children grew up and left home, Faith and Pierre decided to leave home too.
They didn't have much money, but sold everything they had and bought an old wreck of a sail boat.
It took them a thousand hours of work each over a year to fix the boat.
Then they went to sea and that's where they have been ever since. They live aboard.
Their adventures have taken them to such exotic places as Zanzibar, Tanga, Mombassa, Kilifi, Madagascar, Seychelles, Chagos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Borneo and Philippines.
Faith writes and illustrates her eight volume non-fiction Sailing With Senta series.
Pierre has written three novels, two of them adult novels featuring children.
He co-authors the non-fiction Sailing With Senta series but only in a secondary role.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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February 17, 2016One of my favourite books ever. I have read and re-read this book many, many times and will be reading it and re-reading it for the rest of my life. Every time I read it again I find something new to enjoy. The individuals, the backdrop, the story, take me to a different world from my own. I have never been to South Africa but Saturdays Are Gold make me feel as if it is a familiar loved place. One day I hope to visit it for myself.
The other day a film started on tv - it was called Wah Wah and starred Richard E. Grant. As the first scenes rolled I recognised the scenery as South Africa - because I had seen the dusty roads and the bushes and the skyline already when I read Saturdays Are Gold!
Most importantly of all this book is a joy to read because you forget you are reading. I was right there walking the koppies, pottering on Rhodes Park Lake in the children's home-made boat and down in the caves where they had been expressly forbidden to go.
Saturdays Are Gold will be released on 25th June 2011 in hardback and ebook.
It gives you some measure of how much I love this book when I tell you that this was the reason my husband and I decided to start Endaxi Press two years ago, in the hope that one day we would be able to share this amazing piece of work with the world.
The other day a film started on tv - it was called Wah Wah and starred Richard E. Grant. As the first scenes rolled I recognised the scenery as South Africa - because I had seen the dusty roads and the bushes and the skyline already when I read Saturdays Are Gold!
Most importantly of all this book is a joy to read because you forget you are reading. I was right there walking the koppies, pottering on Rhodes Park Lake in the children's home-made boat and down in the caves where they had been expressly forbidden to go.
Saturdays Are Gold will be released on 25th June 2011 in hardback and ebook.
It gives you some measure of how much I love this book when I tell you that this was the reason my husband and I decided to start Endaxi Press two years ago, in the hope that one day we would be able to share this amazing piece of work with the world.
May 14, 2016
This was the best book I've read this year. I began it as a pre-reading for my son's schoolwork next year and got to the point where I would read nothing but this. I worried that it might be too scary or violent for my son, but on reflection, I think he'll love it.
I liked the setting, WWII South Africa, the family, the characters. It reminded me a lot of To Kill a Mockingbird at first, but I think it was better. (And btw, race is not a factor, really, in this book, it's just the situation and the precocity of the children that resembles.)
Lots of cool stuff in this book.
Second reading: my son did love it. I opted to read it too him to help him understand British-isms, and just to make sure he got through it. He loved it too and soaked up a lot of what life was like in South Africa in the 1940's.
I liked the setting, WWII South Africa, the family, the characters. It reminded me a lot of To Kill a Mockingbird at first, but I think it was better. (And btw, race is not a factor, really, in this book, it's just the situation and the precocity of the children that resembles.)
Lots of cool stuff in this book.
Second reading: my son did love it. I opted to read it too him to help him understand British-isms, and just to make sure he got through it. He loved it too and soaked up a lot of what life was like in South Africa in the 1940's.
September 30, 2011
I got the hardbound edition of this book as part of the First Reads program. Ths is a story in which the incredibly delightful narrative of relationship between a brother and sister, along with their relationships with various other people, is the core and gem of the book. At times, the setting in South Africa in the late 1940s was disconcerting, to the extent it may be at odds with what the current perspective in and of South Africa likely would be. During the time period covered by the book, they lose some of their innocence as they learn more about the perspectives and experiences of the adults around them. The story of missing and murdered children gives the kids' narratives a context, but is only part of the story in this book.
May 7, 2014
I'd describe this novel as a slice of life story with a sprinkle of paranormal and thriller elements.
It's about young siblings in 1940's South Africa. A child killer's on the loose and young Maudie has dreams about his victims. Her brother is witness to these dreams, but Maudie doesn't remember them upon wakening.
Mostly the book though is young children going on various adventures, many of them involving animals being injured in some way.
Reading the book, I was bored at times. On the other hand, the characters began to grow on me. I enjoyed spending time with these kids and I felt I was in South Africa with them. Books are a great way to travel.
It's about young siblings in 1940's South Africa. A child killer's on the loose and young Maudie has dreams about his victims. Her brother is witness to these dreams, but Maudie doesn't remember them upon wakening.
Mostly the book though is young children going on various adventures, many of them involving animals being injured in some way.
Reading the book, I was bored at times. On the other hand, the characters began to grow on me. I enjoyed spending time with these kids and I felt I was in South Africa with them. Books are a great way to travel.
September 7, 2011
This book is interesting but the cover description is a bit misleading. Although there is a child abductor is on the loose the story really concentrates on the two children's day to day lives and mischief. The abductor is just someone who is a problem at times during the story and I expected him to be a much greater part of the story.Oh and I forgot to mention that I won this book on goodreads first reads.
August 24, 2014
I enjoyed the childhood memoir of escapades and adventures more than the actual plot about muti murders. Novel is set in Kensington, Joburg, during mid-1940s. Very enjoyable.
January 3, 2016
Loved this book. Set in 1940s in Johannesburg and written by a South African Author. Sometimes funny but also very serious.
March 18, 2012
Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
July 19, 2013
I don't know how to feel about this book. It has its problems.
I was stuck in the last row of an airplane after a horrendous travel day. I read the first 200 pages of this book and really liked it. It was absorbing. But then I started wondering why the author needed an additional 180ish pages to finish the story.
Imagine you have a compelling story to tell about a situation that occurred over the summer, with key events that support the story happening several times over the next couple of months and the climax and resolution on Labor Day weekend. Then, imagine you tell this story by sharing your daily activities of the summer. That's what this book was like. In nonfiction, it would be like adding chapters and chapters of content that have nothing at all to do with your thesis. You can't help but wonder: "so what"?
Then, around page 269, there was a roll-your-eyes moment with awful dialog and bad writing. What should have been an interesting, spooky part of the book was laughable.
I became quite tired of people addressing each other in every sentence. Conversations don't happen that way. You're having a conversation with Mary; you don't stick her name in every sentence you utter to her. Bad writing.
Then, there were odd transitions between chapters and over time. A significant event happens where some important information is shared with officials. And then we hear nothing. Several months later, it's like an aside in the story. Oh, by the way, they did something about it.
This book is not good in several ways, but I enjoyed reading it. I liked the characters. I really am confused about why I liked it this much (4 stars) when it was weak in several areas. Ah, let it be a mystery, I guess.
I was stuck in the last row of an airplane after a horrendous travel day. I read the first 200 pages of this book and really liked it. It was absorbing. But then I started wondering why the author needed an additional 180ish pages to finish the story.
Imagine you have a compelling story to tell about a situation that occurred over the summer, with key events that support the story happening several times over the next couple of months and the climax and resolution on Labor Day weekend. Then, imagine you tell this story by sharing your daily activities of the summer. That's what this book was like. In nonfiction, it would be like adding chapters and chapters of content that have nothing at all to do with your thesis. You can't help but wonder: "so what"?
Then, around page 269, there was a roll-your-eyes moment with awful dialog and bad writing. What should have been an interesting, spooky part of the book was laughable.
I became quite tired of people addressing each other in every sentence. Conversations don't happen that way. You're having a conversation with Mary; you don't stick her name in every sentence you utter to her. Bad writing.
Then, there were odd transitions between chapters and over time. A significant event happens where some important information is shared with officials. And then we hear nothing. Several months later, it's like an aside in the story. Oh, by the way, they did something about it.
This book is not good in several ways, but I enjoyed reading it. I liked the characters. I really am confused about why I liked it this much (4 stars) when it was weak in several areas. Ah, let it be a mystery, I guess.
August 17, 2011
Saturdays are Gold grabs you from the first sentence, reels you in and doesn't let go even after you have read the last page.
You become involved with the characters who immediately come alive. The adventures of Maudie, her brother Tadpole, their friend Amos and their cousins Louis and Graham keep you amused and intrigued. In the background the threat of a muti murderer clouds the childrens' otherwise carefree existence.
This book about children appeals to all ages. The poignancy of Maudie and Tadpole discussing the merits of prayer brings tears to the eyes. The episode with a sangoma throwing bones and divining the children's future is vividly described. The python's attack on Amos and his brave escape from its coils, make your heart beat faster as you fear for his life.
The story runs effortlessly through the pages. There is always something interesting and exciting happening. The deceptively simple writing generates such strong images that they last in your mind long after you have finished reading this remarkable novel.
I enjoyed reading this book and it is top of my list of books to read again.
You become involved with the characters who immediately come alive. The adventures of Maudie, her brother Tadpole, their friend Amos and their cousins Louis and Graham keep you amused and intrigued. In the background the threat of a muti murderer clouds the childrens' otherwise carefree existence.
This book about children appeals to all ages. The poignancy of Maudie and Tadpole discussing the merits of prayer brings tears to the eyes. The episode with a sangoma throwing bones and divining the children's future is vividly described. The python's attack on Amos and his brave escape from its coils, make your heart beat faster as you fear for his life.
The story runs effortlessly through the pages. There is always something interesting and exciting happening. The deceptively simple writing generates such strong images that they last in your mind long after you have finished reading this remarkable novel.
I enjoyed reading this book and it is top of my list of books to read again.
July 29, 2012
Two children growing up in 1940s South Africa are told to stay away from lonely places because there is a child abductor on the loose. What could possibly go wrong?
Young Maudie doesn't realise she has a 'gift' that seems more like a curse to her brother Tadpole who is the only person aware of it.
If Roald Dahl, Gerald Durrell and Stephen King had teamed up to write a South African version of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' they might have produced something like this.
A moving, exciting, sometimes scary, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny adventure set against a South African backdrop so well described it is almost a character in its own right. DESCRIPTION FROM AMAZON
I really enjoyed this book. Set in a time when children had to use their imaginations to have fun rather than switching on a gadget/tv it somehow reminded me of the type of childhood I had myself. (Apart from the child abductor thankfully)
Young Maudie doesn't realise she has a 'gift' that seems more like a curse to her brother Tadpole who is the only person aware of it.
If Roald Dahl, Gerald Durrell and Stephen King had teamed up to write a South African version of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' they might have produced something like this.
A moving, exciting, sometimes scary, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny adventure set against a South African backdrop so well described it is almost a character in its own right. DESCRIPTION FROM AMAZON
I really enjoyed this book. Set in a time when children had to use their imaginations to have fun rather than switching on a gadget/tv it somehow reminded me of the type of childhood I had myself. (Apart from the child abductor thankfully)
June 29, 2011
I really loved reading this. Van Rooyen conveys such a vivid picture of two children growing up in South Africa, and effortlessly weaves in all the sights, colours and sounds of the time. Humour, emotion, adventure, sensitivity, curiosity, and a delicious undercurrent of sinister apprehension keep the reader avidly turning the pages. This novel is like nothing I have read before and I would heartily recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews