Customer Reviews

Portrait with Keys: The City of Johannesburg Unlocked

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I selected PORTRAIT WITH KEYS: The City of Johannesburg Unlocked by Ivan Vladislavic to read because I have an interest in other countries, cities and cultures. PORTRAIT WITH KEYS: The City of Johannesburg Unlocked is not the typical tourist book, rather it is an account of a white Johannesburg citizen and his view on the city and its current status with historical references.

Vladislavic is painstakingly honest with his portrayal of Jo'burg, often consider the Venice of the South. He highlights most scenery to be man-made; planted forests which are mine dumps covered with grass and plastic ducks within the stream at Montecasino. Jo'burg is a landlocked city with forced, man-made lakes.

The author further illustrates a myriad of social ills amongst the residents such as unemployment and under-employment, poverty, racism, rampant crime and disrespect. As he navigates through the streets of Jo'burg, he paints them, its landmarks and its inhabitants as ugly.

Written in detail, but often labored, a large amount of time is spent exhibiting the measures taken for protection and how crime and racism are intertwined with the infamous Gorilla lock. He also emphasizes the historical reference of the black man and the gorilla and the ever-present fear of its citizens.

PORTRAIT WITH KEYS: The City of Johannesburg Unlocked does not paint a neat and pretty picture of Johannesburg rather a contrasting account of one man's version of his native homeland.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

This is a strange book. However, what I appreciated most about it was its ability to explore themes such decay and growth, loss and gain in a mature and almost haunting way. This is a book that has as much to do with Johannesburg as it has to do with Baltimore, Newark, or Hartford.

the author was recommended to me through a friend still living in South Africa & i found this choice most enjoyable, even though it does draw a gloomy picture for a person who has lived in South Africa for as long as i have & realizing the changes that took place over the past 15 years, high unemployment, high crime rate & security measures i had to confirm with friends if they are really as described in some of the chapters. persons who have lived in South Africa will find the picture portrayed here equally interesting in my estimation.