Trinity Rising

by Fiona Snyckers

"If I hear the word "Struggle" one more time, I swear I'm going to scream". Trinity Luhabe is so OVER the whole Robben Island thing. Sure, her dad was one of the last activists to be imprisoned there, but he's now a billionaire mining magnate. We all have to move on, right? And Trinity is moving on with a vengeance. She's just passed Matric at an exclusive private school, and is all set to take Rhodes University by storm. She's got the looks. She's got the brains (sort of). She's a girl with a plan. Okay, it's not a plan she's prepared to share with just anyone -- especially not her feminist, do-gooder mother. Delightfully ditty, but with an inner core of strength, Trinity parties her way through life. That is, until she discovers that life bites back. And then there's her arch-enemy -- the deliciously wicked Sophie Agincourt, who definitely has something evil up her sleeve. Will Sandton's favourite daughter ever find true love, straighten out her priorities, and make it to lectures on time? Or will her career be over before it's begun? Find out as you follow her along the path of true love, self-discovery, and eBay handbags in the first book of the beguiling 'Trinity Luhabe' series.

Genres: Young Adult

250 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2008

About the author

Fiona Snyckers is the author of the "Trinity" series of novels and the "Sisterz" series of mobile novels. She has also published various short stories.

She was educated at Rhodes University and the University of the Witwatersrand. She lives in Johannesburg with her husband, three children, and four cats.

Fiona loves to interact with fellow readers and writers about the writing process, books in general, family life, and of course cats.

Reviews

[Blue Berries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book! Love Trinity as a person but not as a student 😂

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

really fun read with enough substance to keep you wanting more! onto Trinity On Air already!

[Frieda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, Trinity just annoyed me no end, yet she is a good person. The character is so well written that I expect to bump into her as a real person. The story is well weaved and reads like a true story.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this laugh out loud novel. Highly recommend.

[Nontshisekelo Shange · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it when I was 14. I love it at 28.

[Leabiloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two books, in a series of three written by Fiona Snyckers were meant to be my holiday reading. I finished them in two days, before the Spring break. I could not put them down. They were hilarious. The protagonist Trinity Luhabe, is a young 'born free' South African about to begin her first first year at Rhodes University. Even though her father is a former Robben Island prisoner and anti-apartheid activist, and her mother a former activist and social worker, "Trinity Luhabe is so over the whole Robben Island thing."


The book had just enough draw to keep me reading. It's light-heated chick-lit, and I probably enjoyed it more because it is written in a South African context hence much of it was all too familiar. In the first book, Trinity arrives at Rhodes University, majoring in English and Economics, but with no real intention of making a career in either. She is there to meet her future husband. Her choice in major, economics is a long-term strategy, because all the male economics students are all potential future CEOs, so she plans on meeting and knowing them before they become famous.
Her real ambition is to become a TV presenter of a talk show, or a Top Billing presenter. The book is a light-hearted read of Trinity as she makes new friends, meets her former nemesis from high school, falls in love with her tutor, while running her baby-sitting business and failing her courses.
The first book ends with Trinity having written her finals and now back home, while she waits for her exam results.

The second book picks up with a Trinity now armed with her Rhodes degree and job-hunting, while she holds down a job as the children's entertainer at a popular steak restaurant. She gets a job as a junior reporter at a popular radio station and determined as ever sets about proving herself, with amusing results. Her adventures take her to the seedy world of Johannesburg night clubs, encounters with her Nigerian night club owner neighbour, more of her romance with her former tutor and boyfriend Farouk, and the same determined streak to break into the talk show world.
I have not read much chick-lit by South African writers - because there is not that much published I think- so this was a truly entertaining read.

[Fiction Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is embarrassing.
As a Rhodes student during the time period when this is supposed to be set I can honestly say that the author knows nothing about her subject.
Seriously? Not once did I ever met a student obsessed with designer labels, nor did I ever come across an "arch enemy" who goes to the extremes of lying to the university administration about an alleged student affair. The author under estimates the depth, complexity and richness of the born free generation. Grahamstown is an ideal location for a story line of this caliber and the author failed it. She should refer to Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld for a benchmark on student dynamics. She should also refer to Margaret Poland who was able to capture the essence of Grahamstown so beautifully even a century earlier with better clarity.
Her narrative was bland, the plot insulting and the themes out of touch with reality. It seems the author wrote the book based on how she imagines young adults to behave today, probably influenced by cheap tv soap operas.

[Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and engaging, Trinity initially appears as a petty airhead interested only in fashion, high school rivalries and of course, boys. But this book moves along like Clueless or Legally Blond, where Trinity turns out to be only superficially superficial. Trinity Rising sticks to the tried-and-true style of "chick lit" -- though I wish we had a better term for that -- but the story is also an interesting reflection on how South Africa's born-free generation handles the heavy legacy of their past.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is just as good, if not better, than any other chick-lit book I've read. And the fact that it actually takes place in a country and cities I know makes it that much better. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a sparking story of a spoilt sweet university student dealing with the real world for the first time.

[Jude · Rating 2 out of 5]

It might be mildly amusing and some teenagers might relate to it. But Trinity is such a terrible role-model. I got irritated by all the clichés and stereotypes. Does any girl actually go to university to find a husband these days? And does she think about nothing but clothes and shoes? Maybe I am missing something as I see most of the reviews are very positive.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is South Africa's answer to Marian Keyes! I may be biased as the author is a good friend of mine, but for her first published novel I think she has done herself proud.
I can't wait to see what Trinity gets up to in the 2nd book.

[Tiah]

Fun.

[Lianne Lipschitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant - another to add to you South African book list

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was an awesome book all romantic and full of supspence. perfect for me as a teenager. the ending was briliant, im wanting to read the next boook. there was a lot of fun humour mix in in it.