Win a copy of The Paper House

Anna is a young Afrikaans woman, still figuring out who she is, how she fits in and what she believes.

Her parents are divorced and she has two dads…

Her eccentric dads are the type of ‘free spirits’ who raise eyebrows amoung conventional Afrikaans families.

They drink too much, tell stories late into the night and give their pets biblical names.

This rather unusual setup forms the backdrop of the first novel by South African author Dalena Theron, The Paper House.

Set in a small seaside town (not unlike the small town of Mtunzini where Theron spent much of her childhood) this is a beautifully crafted, touching story about growing up.

Theron is able to provide a window into what is both a uniquely South African story, and a universal one, looking at the real people behind homosexuality, alcoholism, and divorce.

The subjects sound heavy but the book is anything but depressing, neither does it try to give pat, tidy solutions.

Anna the child struggles with a faith that condemns her father’s choices and adults who treat her differently as a result.

The honesty of the novel is balanced by its gentle humour and the vibrant larger then life characters who will make you want to laugh and cry.

Indeed with an undeniable charm Theron captures the messy beauty of the complicated relationships that are fostered in South Africa.

I look forward to her next offering!

Win!

Win a copy of The Paper House on the Courier Facebook page.

Just tag a friend who would also enjoy the novel and share the competition post.

The competition will run until 9am on Monday, November 23.

The winner must be able to collect the prize from the Courier offices in Ballito.