Johan van der Merwe

Dear Son Johan van der Merwe

Growing pains seem to be more intense when growing up without a father. In his letters to his son, the author (who lost his dad when he was a young boy) shares the lessons life taught him, in an attempt to make life a bit easier for his son and every other 'son' who is willing to learn from the mistakes of others. 'Dear Son' should be a perfect gift to any teenager ... preferably before he/she sets out to go and change the world. This epistolary novel is NOT based on the truth ... it IS the truth. Ample humour and interesting facts were added to the mix to tenderize the unforgiving harshness of real life. ... It was a perfect recipe for disaster. Both drivers were equally intoxicated and equally determined to be victorious. Each driver was escorted by his girlfriend as a good-luck mascot ...' ... Leaving the gang, he has to pay his way out ... again with blood. This time the departing gang member is not ordered to do something dangerous, but the rest of the gang is ordered to something very dangerous to the departing member and often this type of member 'departs' in more that one way'.