By Any Means

by Kurt Ellis

Kyle, Captain and Jimmy are three teenage cousins growing up in Sydenham, Durban. A world where drugs, alcohol and violence are an everyday occurrence. By Any Means tells the story of how these three youngsters try and navigate this environment in order to achieve their dreams. And how, in this gritty, dirty world - love, friendship and brotherhood can still grow.

"None of us grew up wanting to be gangsters and thugs. We wanted to be astronauts, and lawyers, and doctors. But your dreams die quickly in the sections, don't they, ous?"

Genres: Africa

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2014

About the author

Kurt Ellis was born in 1983 in Sydenham, Durban. He escaped into the world of fiction from an early age. After he matriculated Kurt moved to Johannesburg to study English Literature. He won the Harry Oppenheimer Creative Writing award at Wits in his first year, before pursuing a career in sales.
His debut novel was published by Human and Rousseau in 2014. By Any Means went on to be long listed in the Etisalat Literary Award and was included in many lists for the best African books of 2014.
His second novel, In the Midst of Wolves will be published by Penguin Random House. It will be on sale from 1 October 2019.
Kurt currently resides in Johannesburg with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Kirsty Hoggons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a part of a Goodreads giveaway.

I was very excited to start reading this book because I am South African and I know that we have lot of talent here; I was not disappointed. This book is incredibly easy to read and everything flows so well. It is very descriptive and very realistic. I love Kyle and I feel as though he is just a part of unfortunate circumstances. I feel sorry for Captain; he's just trying to do right for his family. I felt sad while reading when it seems as though Captain doesn't think that he can be somebody worthwhile. Everyone should feel like they can amount to something! Jimmy is a loveable character but it's sad that he just wants to join The Godfather's because he admires Captain so much. This book made me laugh, it made me smile and it made me ridiculously proud of the talent we have in our country. This is honestly one of the best books that I have ever read! I couldn't out it down and read it in a day! An absolutely brilliant read that I would recommend to everyone!

I know that this book depicts situations that are very real in SOuth Africa and I think that is what made it hit home even more.

If this book ever gets made into a movie I want to be involved in some way. No words can accurately describe how powerful this book is.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. I finished this novel in less than a day. This is not a novel that will be remembered for its great literary style, its prose or its complex themes. It will be remembered because it resonates with a community of people and because it reminds us how our environment has a massive impact on how our lives turn out. I grew up in Sydenham and walked the same streets. I lived in Rafferty Crescent and Disney Heights. I went to Bechet Senior Scondary for a year before moving to another school. This novel took me back to those incredible days living in Sydenham and being part of that community during Apartheid. But, this novel will not only appeal to anyone who lived in Sydenham, because it addresses universal themes of adversity, environment and the deleterious effect of economic deprivation on the trajectory of our lives. And, we develop a strong empathic connection with the characters. I loved it.

[Alain Barbeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read.Being Colored knowing the area in which this book was set and having schooled with the author made this an extra special read for me,Honest,fast paced,gripping,sad,reality are just a few words that come to mind.Once again well done Kurt Ellis on ur debut novel.Cant wait for ur next one.

[Melanie Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me laugh, cry and ask why, why, why! Really an awesome book for a South African first-time author

[Jessica Robak · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Any Means is a truly fantastic novel. Kurt Ellis has managed to capture a world we often tend to pretend doesn’t exist, in a raw yet intelligent manner. This book took my through every emotion conceivable. I bonded with each character and felt what they were going through. Ellis writes with a passion that many authors today do not seem to have and I absolutely could not put the book down. It’s a strange concept to try mesh Shakespeare, love, football, gangs and Sydenham into one book; yet each component assists in rounding it off. I believe that everyone should read this tragedy as it is a true eye opener into the real gritty world that somehow drags everyone in its community in. The desperate need to break that cycle “By Any Means”. I cannot wait for the authors second novel.

[Penny de Vries · Rating 3 out of 5]

Opposing youth gangs in the Coloured community in Sydenham seek dominance over each other and even those that would like to stay out of it are sucked in.

The action is mesmerising, driven by the dialogue and situations which will have you on the edge of your seat. Despite the inevitable tragedy that unfolds, the trajectory of events is far from predictable.

One cannot help but compare this novel to What Will People Say by Rehana Rossouw because they both deal with gangsterism and drugs in the Coloured communities. They are nevertheless very different as By Any Means adopts the perspective of the gangsters themselves and is set in Durban in 2000’s while What Will People Say explores the issue from a parental perspective in the eighties. Read both.

[Amone Redelinghuys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. From the first paragraph to the last sentence it is a captivating page-turner. What I enjoyed most about this book is the fact that the author paints such accurate pictures. Kurt Ellis, sets the scene perfectly for something that was completely outside of my frame of reference yet a everyday reality for many South Africans. A must read for anyone interested in understanding the unique South African context.

[Etienne Delport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as a Goodreads giveaway.

A great read. Love books where I can relate to the people. More than once I thought, know that man. One of those books that I wish would become compulsory reading at school. Far to many people unaware of the struggles their neighbours face.

[Clarissa Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best reads ever.

[Younger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's books like this, that I wish were part of the school syllabus.