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The Pavement Bookworm by Philani Dladla
Publisher: BlackBird Books
3/5
Set in the cold, dangerous and often very dark streets of Johannesburg, this book tells the true story of the journey travelled by a young abused boy.
Philani Dladla is armed with his love for reading and a bag of books, yet he lacks a sense of belonging and love, which results in him seeking approval in all the wrong places.
The consequences of this shapes the way his life pans out.
The book delves deep into the life lived by homeless people in Johannesburg. Their lives are filled with drugs, crime, begging and sexual abuse.
After a series of relapses and a short stay at a psychiatric hospital, Dladla is able to overcome all these challenging obstacles and change the lives of hundreds of children by establishing several book clubs, specifically in poorer communities.
Unfortunately, the last few pages are rather boring as the author becomes very preachy.
There’s also a hectic slippery slope regarding the issue of prostitution and HIV/Aids. Hectic, but okay.
Nevertheless, I loved the book. It’s a very good read that gives insight into one of the biggest social issues in our country.
