What do you think?
Rate this book
Buffoon
This is a tale of redemption after a descent into the ether – set against a primal African backdrop; it purports to be a good read but also to have redeeming social value by providing insight into the solution of a fatal and universal malady – by turns humorous, dark, historically informative and, just possibly, uplifting. The story, given in monologue by an ‘anti-hero’, begins in eastern Zimbabwe with ‘the drinking night that had everything’, including a brush with death amid the general pandemonium. It sets the tragicomic theme of a life gone off the rails in a setting that is luxurious, exotic and violent. The narrative maintains momentum throughout and connects the disparateness of crime, killing, genius and saintliness through a sequence of travel to all corners of the world. There is a strong metaphysical overprint to this journey and readers will come out the other side able to identify, at some level, with the text, somewhat refreshed, energized and made stronger in their life’s affirmation. In essence, this is the purpose of Buffoon and the basis of its claim to be one of a kind.
602 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2014
About the author
John
913 books5 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 7, 2022
This is a very insightful story of a young man (John) who grows up in a well-off home in the then Rhodesia. In his young days he has endless drinking parties which at times also include drug usage.
To try and escape from his hedonistic lifestyle he signs up for his national service with the Rhodesian army fighting the Rhodesian Bush War.
After the war his drinking continues, and he also manages to qualify as a chartered accountant. He moves to London and the heavy drinking and womanizing continues unabated. Down and out, he attends an AA meeting. From here on his life and circumstances improve.
This autobiography of his life going off the rails and then leading to redemption is told in a candid and honest narrative.
This is also a story of Zimbabwe, his marriage, his impressions of his stay in America and other counties that he gets to visit.
This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time.
To try and escape from his hedonistic lifestyle he signs up for his national service with the Rhodesian army fighting the Rhodesian Bush War.
After the war his drinking continues, and he also manages to qualify as a chartered accountant. He moves to London and the heavy drinking and womanizing continues unabated. Down and out, he attends an AA meeting. From here on his life and circumstances improve.
This autobiography of his life going off the rails and then leading to redemption is told in a candid and honest narrative.
This is also a story of Zimbabwe, his marriage, his impressions of his stay in America and other counties that he gets to visit.
This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time.
Displaying 1 of 1 review