When I first picked up this book and went through the blurb on the backside cover; my immediate reaction was the plot seems bit weird but might be wonderful. And yes, I can now summarise that my initial guess was correct – quite a charming but weird tale with multiple whacky characters.

So, the story and our main protagonist moves from South Africa to Sweden with an Atomic Bomb in tow; meeting presidents and kings on the way. Sounds quite interesting? Glad to confirm that yes, it is.

The story begins in Soweto, South Africa of 1961. A girl born in poverty and doomed surroundings; without her father or any future for that matter. Orphaned early on in the life; she doesn’t have any option but to grow, be self dependent. Her early years are spent like anyone else in her surroundings- collecting waste, living in a ramshackle house, fending unwarranted sympathisers. The only thing sets her apart from the rest of them is her intellect mixed with ever present quick wit.

That helps her in landing on her own two feet early on the life; from being the youngest supervisor in the waste collecting agency to learning to read, discovering the world of books and few stolen diamonds in between. The last ones propel her journey into the big world outside of Soweto.

Then the story is full of one or other coincidences, such as her ending up in Pelindaba or meeting the Chinese official (who will play crucial role in our story, but may be later), her dealing the trump card with Mossad agents till about her landing in Sweden and meeting Holger & Holger almost immediately.

The plot line starts to get twisted from this point onwards. Specially it doesn’t help if you have too many characters with their backstories (with additional people!!) to keep track of. Slowly and surely, the pieces fall into place like the purpose of 3 Chinese sisters or the lonely American soldier drifted from the Vietnam war. So, we gather along the way that few of these characters are to teach our charming Nombeko few essential things while others help to save life of her beloved Holger 2.

Touted as funny and amusing story; the plot hardly gave me any hearty laughs. Although those were few and far between, what the plot certainly guaranteed were few chuckles here and there. Not so surprisingly, the funniest characters of this book happens to be Holger 1 and his ever angry girlfriend.

Having said all of this, still the book is recommended as a good fun read. It will certainly be liked by people who are fond of easygoing humorous fictions.