Book Review: Willem Poprok
High school pupil finds a new love for the Afrikaans language in Willem Poprok.
BEFORE I begin I must admit something, I hated learning Afrikaans in school.
The root cause of my problem is that with my very English family, I am completely unable to pronounce half the words. Though my Afrikaans teachers always were very encouraging to me and said not to worry that I merely sounded Dutch, I never enjoyed my second language. Until matric, this year, which brings me to my literary review of Willem Poprok.
Willem Poprock, written Derick van der Walt, has to be one of the most brilliant books I have ever had the pleasure of reading and the fact that it was set by a teacher, just makes it even more enjoyable.
High school has been built up on years of Shakespeare and sixteenth century romances as far as English is concerned and timeless Afrikaans classics such as Fiela se Kind.
Unfortunately, all of them were, for the most part, a chore to read, this is where Willem Poprok stands out.
This award-winning book written in 2010 tells the story of 8th grader, Willem Van Vuuren and his family.
Set in Pretoria, Willem leads a fairly normal life with his two older brothers, little sister and his parents.
Subtle skill
He faces the same dilemmas as any other teenager with a bad maths grade, too many commitments between life and school and, of course, teenage, heartbreak.
Derick van der Walt not only accomplishes in telling a story that is completely relatable to teenagers, but also provide a fun and thoughtprovoking description of growing up in the New South Africa.
The subtle skill that introduces the darker aspects of life such as crime, drugs and racism is impressive.
Life is not easy, in the 20 years of democracy South Africa has not become an easy place to live, but Willem Poprok proves that life in our country is amazing and adventurous no matter
how much our president spends on his house.
Entertaining, refreshing and relevant, these are just some of the praises I can offer Willem Poprock and yet it remains deep and informative.
If every book set by schools was half as brilliant as Willem Poprok teachers would never have to worry about students not doing their work.
I cannot agree with your analysis of this book. Willem Poprok showcases a cast of unmemorable and shallow characters who display no development or growth throughout the story. The plot consists of an odd collection of seemingly random and often irrelevant scenes. Beyond mere errors in storytelling, Willem Poprok fails to capture the spirit of growing up in South Africa as a born-free, showing no examples of the wry humour and self-criticism which have blossomed in both the media and public discussion. To make a direct reference to your review, the satire and humour which distinguishes the ‘President’s house’ debacle is exactly what characterises life in this country. Instead, the book drags out a cliched and uninteresting narrative, failing to deliver the necessary punch at the right times to give a sense of rising and falling action.
*…my Afrikaans teachers were always…
*…Willem van Vuuren and his family…
*Willem Poprok, by Derick van der Walt…
*…and, of course, teenage heartbreak…
I think I agree with the previous comment. I’ve also read Willem as part of my Afrikaans matric work. It’s awful. You call this stuff relatable? Let’s be serious, it’s about a grade 8 boy who doesn’t like rugby and works at a slaghuis. How many South African matric boys and girls do you think relate to that? I know I don’t.
This whole review sounds like IEB propaganda. No sane First Additional Language speaker would say such things. The IEB is watching us.
Hmmm…methinks that ‘WillemPoprok’, ‘WillemP’ and ‘WillemPie’ are the same disgruntled commenter trying to be heard. As to the review, I think that if every book set by schools was half as good as Willem Poprok, the people who publish the huge study guides would be able to make even more money off of us. Oh…wait….
You summed it up perfectly with the phrase ‘Willem leads a fairly normal life’.
Ja, that’s what we want to read about. So much for ‘wanneer jou lewe jou rollercoaster is’. Can someone explain how this book won awards? Is South African literature than bad? Oh christ.
Siobahn, I hope your teachers gave you a ton of extra credit for this.
derekvanjaarsberger – Ek stem saam met jou oor hierdie krisis van Suid-Afrikanse literatuur. Dit is skokkend, om die minste te se. As ‘n “born free” kan ek glad nie hierdie onrealistiese boek verstaan nie. Ons lewens is nie soos Willem Poprok s’n, nie naastenby nie. Om eerlik te wees, sal ek verkies om Zuma se Staat van die Nasie tien keer te kyk as om hierdie boek weer te lees. (Oh, Zuma se SN is altyd op 7de Laan tyd. Dit maak my naar)Totsiens, plebs. Bly weg van hierdie blatante leuens.
The “darker aspects of life such as crime, drugs and racism” (as you put it) are the harsh reality of the world we temporarily inhabit. I’m not glad the author touched on it with “subtlety”. Instead we should shout out to the world that life in the new South Africa is…well…Not nearly as great as you put across. It’s called reality. I’m glad you found comfort in this novel. Truly. But I challenge you to think. Just think. Figure it all out. The truth I mean, not authority. Remember, set works are, like any part of school, oppressing you. But even those who fight oppression are oppressed. I know. Good luck.
Willem Poprok seems to shy away from any mention of religion. I feel the story could be greatly improved by including our saviour Jesus Christ(derekvanjaarsberger, blasphemy is a dire sin indeed). After all, many of the problems facing today’s youth can be solved through prayer.
If I might ask, why does this review begin with something that sounds like a corny tabloid heading? ‘High school pupil finds a new love for the Afrikaans language in Willem Poprok’
Is that breaking news or something?
I feel bad for making a comment which isn’t actually about the book, but it had to be done.
hiprev. Too true brother, too true. Yeah guys, please keep this clean. Some of us are deeply pious. Thanks guys! And thanks so much Sibohan for sharing your thoughts. I totally agree. Willem Poprok is such a great Afrikaans book. Although, yes, Jesus does help me navigate the harsh reality Misnthrometheus mentioned. He should be more involved in Willem’s life. Amen x
@Sue. It’s good to hear words spoken through the holy spirit. If only Christ was involved in all our lives, the way he helped me through both of my divorces.
Why Does everything have to become a religion based conversation? Believe it or not religion does not have to be in every aspect of life. If you choose to be religious, sure fine; but don’t criticise a bad book for not spewing religion on the young minds of children. We should bring up our youth to have a voice and be able to choose and find their own religious path if they choose so. Your Christian comments are not what the new South Africa stands for let alone the world we live in today.
Hiprev! Oh my gosh! (See, I don’t use the lord’s name in vain…) Tell me about your pain. Let me bear some for you on this rough journey called life that He gave us. And concerned atheist, I’ll pray for you that you find God once more. We are all his children: Willem, Hiprev, me, David Cameron, Juju, and yes. Even you. Even when you’ve strayed.
@Concerned Atheist. It deeply saddens me that you have lost the path of righteousness. If you feel you need to talk to someone about faith, I am here for you.
@hiprev. Dude, I don’t know why you’re exposing this deep stuff about divorces and jesus, but it’s creepy and weird.
Who are you people? This is a book review comment section, not your own personal social networking site.
Thank you Sue, you sound like a kindred spirit. Perhaps a kindred ‘holy’ spirit? *wink* derekvanjaarsberger, I like to think of the internet as my congregation, my flock, and I am their shepherd. I do not try to hide my personal troubles from my children.
@derp, we are an independent and sovereign interweb nation. And with that said, I declare Concerned Reader our King for life, being the first commenter.
I concur! All hail Concerned Reader.
Oh my god (sorry hiprev), this is so weird.
Oh my, what an honour. I’ve never been declared king for life of anything before. I wouldn’t really know where to start, honestly.
What is your first royal decree?
Well, I assume I’ll need some kind of government to be appointed, with myself at the top. Here goes nothing. Head of Secret Grammar Police: grammarnazi42. Chief Cardinals: Sue and hiprev. Advisors to the king for life: Vino18, Daddy Cool and derekvanjaarsberger. Chief Heathen: Concerned Atheist. Peasants: derp and NSAiswatchingyou, because ye dared to insult the monarchy.
*advisers
When you said that we’re ‘advisors to the king for life’, does that mean we’re being appointed as advisors for life or advisors to you, who is the king for life? Or both.
*advisers…*advisers
Both.
Okay, I have a question. What is this comment page (not a feudal kingdom) going to do about new immigrants?
Quiet peasant, go plow some fields.
What is life if not a field to be plowed?
Careful derp, you might be promoted to Philosopher to the Crown if you keep that up.
Concerned Reader. I’ll be perfectly happy to be under you as chief cardinal. But.. You have to understand that you are not the king for life. That would be Jesus, and you will NOT replace him. We can refer to you as a king. Not the king, and certainly not the king for life. Hiprev. If I had 5 loaves and 2 fishes, I would give them all to you. ;)
I propose burning Sue at the stake as a witch. And hiprev too. All in favour?
Thank you Sue. When I hear such eloquent and righteous praise, my heart catches fire like a burning bush; my knees feel like water (turning to wine). Do you have a spare Bible for me? I can’t seem to find mine.
Don’t worry Sue, since I’m only the king for life, and not the king for life-and-the-afterlife-too, Jesus’ title is safe.
Sorry Concerned Atheist, but as the chief heathen, I think your powers only extend as far as burning peasants. With logic, of course.
I’m calling an official inquisition into the legitimacy of using the word ‘fishes’ as the plural of ‘fish’.
Oh Hiprev. You always say such lovely things. But remember guys, even though the miracle of water turning to wine is a beautiful thing, alcohol is an evil. Except for at communion, that’s blood. I wonder if that’s where the blood drive blood goes to..? But more importantly, stay away from alcohol – an evil temptation of the devil. And also, Hiprev, I think we should totally go on a date to youth sometime. (*cue giggling!*)
you guys are the reason religion has a bad name.
I am both astounded and amazed that an article I wrote in the midst of doing Afrikaans homework has turned into such a religious debate. Glad it was actually read. Oh and the IEB is watching us. So be careful.