Gail Msika-Antonio

Johannesburg Airport - A Novel. In an instant one woman's life and family are forever changed by a heartless act of crime. When you first start to read the story of Palesa you shun her privilege and status in life and even doubt if there are people who actually live like that. Her lifestyle is grand. She becomes very human so quickly as she realises that privilege has limits. Crime affects all in South Africa, famous, rich, poor and all races. Will she become cynical, jaded and bitter. Half way through the book you will be dying to meet her children. Where will her hope come from? Will this woman live again. The book ends as south africa is about to host its first ever soccer world cup. Leaving hope for the future for a young country like South Africa. The truths and the true stories that run through this book make it hard to take away or remove anything from it as weak. It is hard to criticise truths. The conversations in this book are interesting, captivating and contemporary. When you say goodbye to Palesa you are not only in shock, but you want to know more of what is going to happen to her. This book is about loss, love, pain and family in the context of a new South Africa the Rainbow Nation. Do people move on from pain? Is pain an illusion or reality? I loved reading this book. Well done, this book is tragic, funny, intriguing and shifts paradigms and stereotypes.