Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch: A Memoir by Chris van Wyk
If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and think, you should read Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch by Chris van Wyk. This is a memoir that tells the story of a friendship between a young coloured boy and a Zulu woman in South Africa during the sixties and seventies. It is a book that celebrates the power of human connection, humour, and resilience in the face of oppression and injustice.
The Story of a Friendship Between a Coloured Boy and a Zulu Woman
The book is based on the author's childhood memories of growing up in Riverlea, a coloured township near Johannesburg. He recalls his special bond with Agnes, his Zulu housekeeper, who worked for his family for many years. Agnes was more than just an employee; she was a friend, a confidante, a teacher, and a surrogate mother to Chris.
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Chris and Agnes shared stories, jokes, secrets, dreams, fears, and hopes. They learned from each other's cultures, languages, histories, and experiences. They supported each other through hardships, challenges, joys, and sorrows. They defied the barriers of race, class, gender, and age that divided them in a society ruled by apartheid.
The book follows their friendship from Chris's early childhood to his adulthood. It shows how they influenced each other's lives in profound ways. It also shows how their friendship was tested by external forces such as violence, poverty, politics, family issues, and personal tragedies.
The Setting: Riverlea and Soweto in the Sixties and Seventies
The book is set in two contrasting locations: Riverlea and Soweto. Riverlea was a coloured township that was created by the apartheid government as part of its policy of racial segregation. It was a place where coloured people were forced to live in cramped houses with poor facilities and services. It was also a place where coloured people faced discrimination, oppression, exploitation, and abuse from the white authorities.
Soweto was a black township that was also created by the apartheid government as part of its policy of racial segregation. It was a place where black people were forced to live in shacks with no electricity or water. It was also a place where black people faced brutality, violence, repression, and resistance from the white regime. It was also a place where black people fought for their rights, dignity, and freedom with courage, solidarity, and creativity.
Chris visited Soweto regularly with Agnes, who lived there with her family. He witnessed the contrast between Riverlea and Soweto, and the similarities between coloured and black people. He learned about the history, culture, and struggles of the black community. He also experienced the dangers, tensions, and conflicts that erupted in Soweto, especially during the 1976 uprising.
Eggs to Lay Chickens to Hatch by Chris van Wyk
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Eggs to Lay Chickens to Hatch Open Library edition
Eggs to Lay Chickens to Hatch ISBN 9781770101739
Eggs to Lay Chickens to Hatch OCLC 573397556
Eggs to Lay Chickens to Hatch Library of Congress PR9369.3.V343 Z46 2010
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The book portrays the setting of Riverlea and Soweto in a vivid and realistic way. It shows how the setting shaped the lives, identities, and relationships of the characters. It also shows how the setting reflected the social and political situation of South Africa at the time.
The Characters: Chris, Agnes, and Others
The book is full of memorable and relatable characters that enrich the story. The main characters are Chris and Agnes, who are the narrators and protagonists of the book. They are both complex and dynamic characters who grow and change throughout the book.
Chris is a curious, intelligent, and sensitive boy who loves reading, writing, and learning. He is also a mischievous, rebellious, and adventurous boy who likes to explore, experiment, and have fun. He is often conflicted between his loyalty to his family and his friendship with Agnes. He is also often confused by his identity as a coloured person in a racist society. He faces many challenges and dilemmas as he grows up in Riverlea and Soweto.
Agnes is a wise, kind, and generous woman who cares for Chris and his family. She is also a strong, independent, and courageous woman who stands up for herself and her people. She has a rich cultural heritage and a deep spiritual faith that guide her through life. She has a great sense of humour and a sharp wit that make her a joy to be around. She faces many hardships and tragedies as she works in Riverlea and lives in Soweto.
The secondary characters include Chris's family members, such as his parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and nephews. They also include Agnes's family members, such as her husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, and in-laws. They also include other people that Chris and Agnes encounter in Riverlea and Soweto, such as neighbours, friends, teachers, students, employers, colleagues, customers, police, soldiers, activists, and others. They are all diverse and interesting characters who have their own stories, personalities, and roles in the book.
The Style: Humour, Wit, and Wisdom
The book is written in a style that is humorous, witty, and wise. The author uses a conversational tone that makes the reader feel like he is talking to them directly. He uses informal language, personal pronouns, simple words, rhetorical questions, and analogies and metaphors to engage the reader. He also uses the active voice, brief sentences, and clear paragraphs to keep the reader's attention.
The author also uses humour as a powerful tool to convey his message and cope with his situation. He makes fun of himself, his family, his friends, his enemies, and his society. He uses irony, sarcasm, exaggeration, understatement, and wordplay to make the reader laugh and think. He also uses humour to deal with the pain, anger, sadness, and fear that he feels.
The author also uses wit as a way to express his intelligence and creativity. He shows his knowledge of various topics, such as literature, history, politics, culture, religion, and science. He also shows his skill in writing, storytelling, poetry, and journalism. He uses wit to challenge the status quo, question the authority, expose the hypocrisy, and inspire the change.
The author also uses wisdom as a source of guidance and inspiration. He shares his insights, lessons, values, and beliefs that he learned from his life experiences. He also shares the wisdom of Agnes and other people who influenced him. He uses wisdom to understand himself, others, and and the world. He uses wisdom to find meaning, purpose, and hope in his life.
The Meaning of the Title: Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch
The title of the book is a phrase that Agnes often used to say to Chris. It means that there are always things to do, problems to solve, and challenges to overcome in life. It also means that there are always consequences, results, and rewards for one's actions in life.
The title reflects the theme and message of the book, which is about the journey of life and the choices that one makes along the way. It is about the eggs that one lays, which are the decisions, actions, and goals that one pursues in life. It is also about the chickens that one hatches, which are the outcomes, effects, and achievements that one obtains in life.
The title also relates to the personal stories of Chris and Agnes, who both had eggs to lay and chickens to hatch in their lives. They both had dreams, aspirations, and ambitions that they wanted to achieve. They also had difficulties, obstacles, and risks that they had to face. They both had successes, failures, and surprises that they had to deal with. They both had lessons, growth, and transformation that they had to undergo.
The Reception and Impact of the Book
The book was published in 2010 by Pan Macmillan South Africa. It received positive reviews from critics and readers alike. It was praised for its honesty, humour, emotion, and insight. It was also commended for its relevance, importance, and contribution to South African literature and history.
The book won several awards and nominations, such as the South African Literary Award for Creative Non-fiction in 2011, the M-Net Literary Award for English Non-fiction in 2012, and the Alan Paton Award for Non-fiction Shortlist in 2011. It was also selected as one of the 100 Must-Read Books of 2010 by The Sunday Times.
The book had a significant impact on other writers and readers who were inspired by its story and style. It influenced other memoirs and biographies that explored similar themes and topics. It also influenced other genres and forms of writing that used humour and wit as effective tools of expression. It also influenced other people who related to its message and learned from its wisdom.
The Author: Chris van Wyk
Chris van Wyk was a South African writer, poet, journalist, and editor. He was born in 1957 in Riverlea. He started writing at a young age and published his first poem when he was 15 years old. He studied at the University of the Witwatersrand and worked as a teacher, journalist, editor, and publisher. He wrote several books, poems, stories, and articles for children and adults. He was best known for his memoirs Shirley, Goodness and Mercy and Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch. He also wrote the children's version of Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. He won many awards and accolades for his work, such as the Maskew Miller Longman Award for Children's Literature in 1996 and the Exclusive Books IBBY South Africa Award in 2009. He died in 2014 at the age of 57.
Conclusion: Why You Should Read This Book
Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch is a book that will make you laugh, cry, and think. It is a book that will teach you about the history, culture, and politics of South Africa. It is a book that will inspire you with the stories of friendship, humour, and resilience. It is a book that will challenge you with the questions of identity, choice, and change.
If you are looking for a book that is entertaining, informative, and meaningful, you should read Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch by Chris van Wyk. You will not regret it.
FAQs About Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch
Here are some frequently asked questions about the book, with brief answers:
Where can I buy or download the book?
You can buy or download the book from various online platforms, such as Amazon, Google Play Books, Apple Books, Kobo, and others. You can also find the book in your local library or bookstore.
Is the book suitable for children or young adults?
The book is suitable for older children and young adults who can handle mature themes and topics, such as racism, violence, death, and sexuality. The book is also suitable for adults who enjoy memoirs and humour.
Is the book available in other languages?
The book is available in English and Afrikaans. It has not been translated into other languages yet.
Is the book based on a true story?
The book is based on the author's personal experiences and memories of growing up in South Africa during the sixties and seventies. However, some details and events may have been changed or fictionalized for literary purposes.
Are there any other books by Chris van Wyk that I should read?
If you enjoyed this book, you should also read his other memoirs, such as Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, which tells the story of his childhood in Riverlea before he met Agnes. You should also read his children's books, such as The Year of the Tapeworm, which is a funny and scary story about a boy who swallows a tapeworm. You should also read his poems, stories, and articles that cover various topics and genres.
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