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Reggie and Me
South Africa – 1976 to 1994. A time of turbulence as the struggle against apartheid reaches its zenith, pushing South Africa to the brink. But for a one small boy in the leafy northern suburbs of Johannesburg ... his beloved housekeeper is serving fish fingers for lunch. This is the tale of Hamish Charles Sutherland Fraser – chorister, horse rider, schoolboy actor and, in his dreams, 1st XV rugby star and young ladies’ delight. A boy who loves climbing trees in the spring and a girl named Reggie. An odd child growing up in a conflicted, scary, beautiful society. A young South African who hasn’t learnt the rules.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2020
25 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 23, 2020
Once in a while, a book will show up and demand to occupy two weeks of your life.
The story of Hamish spans 18 years, from his birth in 1976 to his matric year in 1994. Expert characterisation. I saw the mom in me in Caroline, the awkward teenager I was in Hamish and the young girl who struggled with so much in Reggie. The narrating spans 18 years but, it is not drawn out and every vignette adds so much to the bigger picture.
#reggie&me is a meticulously crafted story narrated beautifully with care in the growth of the characters and their little idiosyncrasies which appear with the passage of time. The narrative centres around Hamish, the boy born after 7 years of his parents' "procreation". Yes, James Hendry used some unusual words but, they made Hamish's story richer with a charm unique to Hamish the character. Hamish was not good at sports nor academically gifted but, he was a loyal and loving friend and a good human being. Not a great team-player but dependable. He struggled in class but, he soldiered on. His schooling career was not his best time but, he still showed up and he loved a girl called Reggie since he was a tween and his horse and riding. From page 310 you will get a sense that things are finally falling into place for 18 year-old Hamish but, the regalness with which he handles challenges and adversity will have you reaching for tissues. You will love the man Hamish grows into.
Hamish carries a torch for over 10 years for Reggie who is dealing with loss, displacement, heartache and is biding time till she can finally be free.
Great narrating and such a pleasure to read. I will treasure my "proof copy" forever. #jameshendry deserves a planet🔭 but, a telescope will do.
The story of Hamish spans 18 years, from his birth in 1976 to his matric year in 1994. Expert characterisation. I saw the mom in me in Caroline, the awkward teenager I was in Hamish and the young girl who struggled with so much in Reggie. The narrating spans 18 years but, it is not drawn out and every vignette adds so much to the bigger picture.
#reggie&me is a meticulously crafted story narrated beautifully with care in the growth of the characters and their little idiosyncrasies which appear with the passage of time. The narrative centres around Hamish, the boy born after 7 years of his parents' "procreation". Yes, James Hendry used some unusual words but, they made Hamish's story richer with a charm unique to Hamish the character. Hamish was not good at sports nor academically gifted but, he was a loyal and loving friend and a good human being. Not a great team-player but dependable. He struggled in class but, he soldiered on. His schooling career was not his best time but, he still showed up and he loved a girl called Reggie since he was a tween and his horse and riding. From page 310 you will get a sense that things are finally falling into place for 18 year-old Hamish but, the regalness with which he handles challenges and adversity will have you reaching for tissues. You will love the man Hamish grows into.
Hamish carries a torch for over 10 years for Reggie who is dealing with loss, displacement, heartache and is biding time till she can finally be free.
Great narrating and such a pleasure to read. I will treasure my "proof copy" forever. #jameshendry deserves a planet🔭 but, a telescope will do.
April 22, 2020
Fun to read.
I can't help but think that James is Hamish. I have been following James Hendry on WildEarth TV for many years and his humour that I have come to love comes through in the pages of this book.
I can't help but think that James is Hamish. I have been following James Hendry on WildEarth TV for many years and his humour that I have come to love comes through in the pages of this book.
February 13, 2022
3,5 stars.
March 29, 2022
H for Hendry
2022 alphabet-of-african-authors
Nothing goes just right for Hamish despite the familial and material privilege offered to him by his parents ... c'est la vie.
I'm unsure if it's a pity or an eye-opener to be reading this book while also reading Dawjee's SORRY, NOT SORRY. [I really must stop this nonsense of reading multiple books concurrently.] She rants in the opener about the entitlement of white men to write what they want without it having to be a story of struggle. It is a provocative point of view that drew distaste from me but that's her narrative which she is free to proclaim. My sole comment is that every person has a different story and are free to write what they want and how they want and if you're struggling to publish what you want to write, fight for that right. Pursue it as a never-ending ideal. Change the minds of readers so that their reading preferences change the minds of publishers.
That was tangential so back to my initial point.
A pity as it somewhat ruins the enjoyment of immersing oneself in a story of a quirky youngster growing up in the same years that I came of age.
An eye-opener as perhaps Dawjee has a point. But I'll save my commentary for the review I will write once I'm finished her collection of essays.
Returning to Reggie & Me. While I don't have a suggestion at hand, I do think the title to be lacking in relevance. Reggie is nothing but a dream that features so little.
I loved the final pages with Hamish singing and 'flashbacking' to the events of his life that are making him into a man. Stylistically beautiful but I did consider how on earth he kept the words and tune and notes straight while the memories of his life poured over him. I would stop and cry and laugh and walk off stage.
The story set against the back drop of an independent boys school (which is obviously St John's) brings to mind other South African male authors writing of their times at such schools. John van der Ruit and Craig Higginson, both schooled at Michaelhouse and penned books about their time there, come to mind. These institutions, barring the beauty and awe of their grounds and traditions, are cast in dark shadows of male dominance, racism, aggression and a myriad other negative descriptors by the authors. But I'm not going to soapbox it here. #justanobservation
The writing is decent and I'll pick up James Hendry's next offering when it's published in late 2022.
2022 alphabet-of-african-authors
Nothing goes just right for Hamish despite the familial and material privilege offered to him by his parents ... c'est la vie.
I'm unsure if it's a pity or an eye-opener to be reading this book while also reading Dawjee's SORRY, NOT SORRY. [I really must stop this nonsense of reading multiple books concurrently.] She rants in the opener about the entitlement of white men to write what they want without it having to be a story of struggle. It is a provocative point of view that drew distaste from me but that's her narrative which she is free to proclaim. My sole comment is that every person has a different story and are free to write what they want and how they want and if you're struggling to publish what you want to write, fight for that right. Pursue it as a never-ending ideal. Change the minds of readers so that their reading preferences change the minds of publishers.
That was tangential so back to my initial point.
A pity as it somewhat ruins the enjoyment of immersing oneself in a story of a quirky youngster growing up in the same years that I came of age.
An eye-opener as perhaps Dawjee has a point. But I'll save my commentary for the review I will write once I'm finished her collection of essays.
Returning to Reggie & Me. While I don't have a suggestion at hand, I do think the title to be lacking in relevance. Reggie is nothing but a dream that features so little.
I loved the final pages with Hamish singing and 'flashbacking' to the events of his life that are making him into a man. Stylistically beautiful but I did consider how on earth he kept the words and tune and notes straight while the memories of his life poured over him. I would stop and cry and laugh and walk off stage.
The story set against the back drop of an independent boys school (which is obviously St John's) brings to mind other South African male authors writing of their times at such schools. John van der Ruit and Craig Higginson, both schooled at Michaelhouse and penned books about their time there, come to mind. These institutions, barring the beauty and awe of their grounds and traditions, are cast in dark shadows of male dominance, racism, aggression and a myriad other negative descriptors by the authors. But I'm not going to soapbox it here. #justanobservation
The writing is decent and I'll pick up James Hendry's next offering when it's published in late 2022.
May 23, 2020
Superb Story Telling
Reggie and Me is the coming of age story of Hamish, his brother Roger and sister Julia, and the girl he befriends -Reggie, in South Africa on the verge of the fall of apartheid.
Hamish is an awkward tween when we first meet him. Someone who doesn’t fit into the expected stereotypes of a boy. Gruff, awkward, churlish, sarcastic, Hamish pulls the reader in, as one starts seeing the softer, more sensitive side of him. The first and possibly the only childhood bond he forms is with Reggie. When she moves away, he is thrown back into loneliness. He discovers horse riding and forms a bond with a horse that nobody could love. He also finds joy in rugby and singing. Music brings him into himself.
Finally, he meets Reggie again after years. And this time his teen heart throbs with more grown up feelings. What follows is bitter-sweet.
James is a great raconteur, as any WildEarth viewer would attest to. What is even more enjoyable is hearing him do accents. This book brims over with hilarious chaos juxtaposed with bitter-sweet moments and quiet contemplation. James love for nature - flora and fauna sets the atmosphere, whatever it be. An African sunset. A scene of chaos. A moment of sorrow.
My favourites however are his adjective-animal combinations. Almost always guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. Combine that with a masterful command of the English language and you have an eminently readable book.
Get the book. Read it.
Reggie and Me is the coming of age story of Hamish, his brother Roger and sister Julia, and the girl he befriends -Reggie, in South Africa on the verge of the fall of apartheid.
Hamish is an awkward tween when we first meet him. Someone who doesn’t fit into the expected stereotypes of a boy. Gruff, awkward, churlish, sarcastic, Hamish pulls the reader in, as one starts seeing the softer, more sensitive side of him. The first and possibly the only childhood bond he forms is with Reggie. When she moves away, he is thrown back into loneliness. He discovers horse riding and forms a bond with a horse that nobody could love. He also finds joy in rugby and singing. Music brings him into himself.
Finally, he meets Reggie again after years. And this time his teen heart throbs with more grown up feelings. What follows is bitter-sweet.
James is a great raconteur, as any WildEarth viewer would attest to. What is even more enjoyable is hearing him do accents. This book brims over with hilarious chaos juxtaposed with bitter-sweet moments and quiet contemplation. James love for nature - flora and fauna sets the atmosphere, whatever it be. An African sunset. A scene of chaos. A moment of sorrow.
My favourites however are his adjective-animal combinations. Almost always guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. Combine that with a masterful command of the English language and you have an eminently readable book.
Get the book. Read it.
February 11, 2020
Wonderfully written with heartwarming authenticity, this was a pleasure to read.
James writes with such feeling and honesty that it allows one to feel those feelings of growing up going straight to one’s own heart. His characters are so human and real. The story becomes so real and shows the love for the characters making for nonstop reading. Bravo James!
James writes with such feeling and honesty that it allows one to feel those feelings of growing up going straight to one’s own heart. His characters are so human and real. The story becomes so real and shows the love for the characters making for nonstop reading. Bravo James!
February 25, 2020
From the time I heard about this latest book from James Hendry, I was keen to read it. I even ordered it before it was available. The summary of the book captured my attention immediately. I was very eager to read more about the time of South Africa before 1994. Having visited the country since 1994, I wanted to be able to see the difference between apartheid South Africa and South Africa of today.
I believe the book gives a good description of how middle to upper middle class minority people lived, and interacted during that time. South Africa is a country of many ethnic groups so it is hard to generalise, but I would have liked to have seen those ethnic groups which were mentioned developed a bit further. Particularly how did their relationship with the main character and his family, change the direction of South Africa, if they did.
Do not get me wrong, the book is a good read. It is captivating from the start. One does not need pages or chapters to get into the book. The main character keeps one wondering what situation he will find himself in next.
I wanted to give this book 5 stars, but because of the comments I mentioned above, I rate it 4 stars. It is a good book of whimsical events that keeps one turning the pages until the very end.
I believe the book gives a good description of how middle to upper middle class minority people lived, and interacted during that time. South Africa is a country of many ethnic groups so it is hard to generalise, but I would have liked to have seen those ethnic groups which were mentioned developed a bit further. Particularly how did their relationship with the main character and his family, change the direction of South Africa, if they did.
Do not get me wrong, the book is a good read. It is captivating from the start. One does not need pages or chapters to get into the book. The main character keeps one wondering what situation he will find himself in next.
I wanted to give this book 5 stars, but because of the comments I mentioned above, I rate it 4 stars. It is a good book of whimsical events that keeps one turning the pages until the very end.
April 2, 2020
We meet Hamish Charles Sutherland Fraser – a boy who is slightly odd – and follow his life up until he turns 18. Growing up in South Africa caught in the dying throes of apartheid, you can easily identify with the angst Hamish experiences as a teenager, and the silent suffering of Reggie, the girl he meets at the age of four, and loves. Filled with a depth of honesty and feeling, you will want to put your arms around Hamish, and tell him that “everything will turn out okay."
This book is vastly different from the author's first two books – the entertaining Year In The Wild and Back In the Bush sequel – and showcases his ever-growing skill set. I'm a fan of his writing.
This book is vastly different from the author's first two books – the entertaining Year In The Wild and Back In the Bush sequel – and showcases his ever-growing skill set. I'm a fan of his writing.
October 11, 2020
This was such a fun novel. James Hendry doesn't dissapoint with his trademark humour. Set in SA this book captures a certain time frame (1976 - 1994 funnily enough my same schooling years...;-)) and writes about the changing times with alacrity and ease. If you enjoyed his previous books, you may enjoy this. The setting has changed from the wild of nature, to the wild of an all boys school. A few moments where he captures the heartbreaking reality of bullying, yet the strength of Hamish's character pulls him through.
December 12, 2020
A Sweet South African Tale
James Hendry is one of my favorite South Africans that I’ve never met. Although I prefer his writing about the Bush, this was a nice tale of a boy born in the 70s and growing up in Joburg. It was much more serious than his previous books — and less political for someone going to high school during the early 90s in SA (he is clearly privileged and insulated in this story). I did love his writing on the Inanda club — I can imagine it and the horses. And I wish I knew more about sports - equestrian shows and rugby terms!
James Hendry is one of my favorite South Africans that I’ve never met. Although I prefer his writing about the Bush, this was a nice tale of a boy born in the 70s and growing up in Joburg. It was much more serious than his previous books — and less political for someone going to high school during the early 90s in SA (he is clearly privileged and insulated in this story). I did love his writing on the Inanda club — I can imagine it and the horses. And I wish I knew more about sports - equestrian shows and rugby terms!
November 12, 2020
This is not a book about apartheid, but a semi autobiographical book about a little white boy growing up in South Africa. It just happens to happen during the end of apartheid. There are a few mentions of it, but the overall story is about a boy and his painful growing up years.
I liked it. Well written and good story. I had just expected more about the movement. If you take that expectation out, it’s a good book.
I liked it. Well written and good story. I had just expected more about the movement. If you take that expectation out, it’s a good book.
December 14, 2020
I first learned about James Hendry watching virtual safari on Wild Earth TV during the pandemic. He was one of my favorite guides. My husband bought me this book, and I learned that Mr. Hendry has just as much talent as an author as he does as a safari guide. Set in South Africa in the 80’s and 90’s, Reggie and Me tells a poignant story about a boy named Hamish, a chorister, horse rider, and schoolboy actor, who loves a girl named Reggie.
January 1, 2022
Wonderful
Thank you Mr James Henry for a lifting my spirits with this enchanting book. Having lived in Johannesburg, it was lovely to picture the various places mentioned in this coming of age yarn. I must also congratulate the author on his perfect Zulu. Being a Zulu speaker, it was so refreshing to read grammatically correct phrases. All that said, readers with no experience of South Africa would enjoy this book.
Thank you Mr James Henry for a lifting my spirits with this enchanting book. Having lived in Johannesburg, it was lovely to picture the various places mentioned in this coming of age yarn. I must also congratulate the author on his perfect Zulu. Being a Zulu speaker, it was so refreshing to read grammatically correct phrases. All that said, readers with no experience of South Africa would enjoy this book.
March 3, 2020
Wonderful!
If you know James, as you read this insightful book you'll say, "You're a great guy. Don't put yourself down." If you don't know him, you'll simply say, "What a wonderful book!"
If you know James, as you read this insightful book you'll say, "You're a great guy. Don't put yourself down." If you don't know him, you'll simply say, "What a wonderful book!"
July 14, 2021
Thank you James
James this was amazing. I could hear your voice in every word. I could understand the pain of being bullied and seen myself in so many sentences,. You are amazing, don't every forget you are loved by many you will never even meet.
James this was amazing. I could hear your voice in every word. I could understand the pain of being bullied and seen myself in so many sentences,. You are amazing, don't every forget you are loved by many you will never even meet.
February 19, 2020
Another brilliant book by James Hendry.
April 5, 2020
For all who love South Africa
Great read about a boy growing up and becoming an incredible young man. I can picture all his ups and downs
Great read about a boy growing up and becoming an incredible young man. I can picture all his ups and downs
June 3, 2020
Another great book by James, definitely worth reading.
The way he writes his stories makes you feel like you are part of the whole scenario which is amazing.
Looking forward to the next one....
The way he writes his stories makes you feel like you are part of the whole scenario which is amazing.
Looking forward to the next one....
August 5, 2020
Fabulous book
Such a beautifully written story with great character development and emotional depth .. Sometimes you laugh and cry at the same time
Such a beautifully written story with great character development and emotional depth .. Sometimes you laugh and cry at the same time
August 12, 2020
My heart ached for Hamlish. Growing up is tough sometimes. I enjoyed his story- the ending brought it all together beautifully.
July 2, 2021
I didn't want this book to end.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews