Sundowners [Hardcover]

Lesley Lokko (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2004

Diamond heiress Rianne de Zoete is shocked when she's dumped at an English boarding school by her aunt. The girls who have to share a room with Rianne are just as unimpressed; the haughty, beautiful newcomer appears to have no intention of fitting in with them. Gabby, Charmaine and Nathalie are appalled at Rianne's arrogance and her racism. Riitho Modise, the handsome, black student at the local boys' school has even more reason to dislike Rianne. His father is a political prisoner in South Africa, where the de Zoete millions are all-powerful. They may be from the same country, but Riitho and Rianne are from different worlds. They loathe each other. Despite a turbulent beginning, a friendship sparks between the four girls which binds them together. Gabby heads to Oxford and a law degree, while Nathalie puts her business brain to creating a highly successful lingerie company in London. Charmaine finds herself on a slippery slope - a new boyfriend, LA sunshine and a heady mix of cocaine and alcohol prove a dangerous combination, while Rianne, effortlessly as ever, slips into modelling. Then the unthinkable happens.Rianne glimpses a face from her past, a face she's never really forgotten. The chance encounter shakes her world and challenges everything she's ever believed in. Times are changing and for Rianne and her friends, nothing is going to be the same again...Sweeping from London to Los Angeles, Johannesburg to Martinique, SUNDOWNERS is a glittering tale from a striking new voice in women's fiction.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A very 21st-century blockbuster, this has all the classic elements - nail-biting narrative, absorbing relationships, glamorous locations - with an extra shot of intelligence...Much more than a coming-of-age tale, this creates a glamorous and exciting world that is so contemporary and convincing you'll feel like a special fifth member of their group' COSMOPOLITAN 'With its Tequila Sunrise-coloured cover, this seems to promise some sort of antidote to the misery of dark winter evenings. It is best described as a sort of Blockbuster Plus - in this case, plus a little bit more intelligence and social and political grip than is normal...Agreeably glamorous and pageturning' DAILY MAIL 'Tremendous fun and scarily readable' THE BOOKSELLER 'In this big-hearted women's read, four women forge friendships across continents' -- Andrea Henry DAILY MIRROR 'This is an absolute treat of a read set in the uber-chic worlds of modelling, politics and international corporations and set against the glamorous backdrops of London, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and Martinque. If this sexy and intelligent debut is anything to go by, Lesley Lokko is set to be a big thing in contemporary lit' DAILY RECORD 'This bumper tale with a political spin tells the story of four very different women who met while at boarding school, and the friendship that binds them together' 3-Stars WOMAN'S OWN 'Four girls meet at boarding school, forming a bond that lasts into adulthood. With glamorous characters this blockbuster is a bit trashy, but its a juicy read' HEAT 'I enjoyed it hugely, not only because it is a rattling good read but because it's so refreshingly wonderfully unpretentious...I'm looking forward to her next one already' -- Wendy Holden SUNDAY EXPRESS 'Make way Jackie Collins - there's an exciting new writer on the block. (Sundowners) has glamour, forbidden love and exotic locations. What more could you ask for?' BELLA 'Lesley Lokko's debut novel is a tumultous mix; romance meets rites of passage drama meets political incursion' THE LIST (Glasgow & Edinburgh) 'Are you fed up with contemporary commercial fiction? Do you yearn for those '80s sex and shopping blockbusters, featuring the super rich bitch? If so, you'll love 'Sundowners', a first novel from Lesley Lokko..an entertaining read with a dollop of intellect' -- Sue Leonard IRISH EXAMINER

About the Author

Lesley Lokko was born in Scotland in 1964 of mixed Ghanaian-Scots parentage. She grew up in Ghana, and was educated in Ghana, the US and the UK. She trained as an architect and currently lives in Ghana.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing (January 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075285741X
• ISBN-13: 978-0752857411
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,733,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars absolute favorite, October 16, 2005

By 

G. Lane - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sundowners (Hardcover)

This book will make you cry, laugh, scream, but most of all it leaves you begging for more even after its 800 or so pages. Its like a great traveling primetime show. By far my favorite book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sweeping Saga of the Lives of Four Friends, July 18, 2006

By 

Alisa Gomez (Trinidad, West Indies) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sundowners (Hardcover)

This is the best novel I have read for a long time. The book is an account of the lives of four friends, intertwining and diverging, and an honest telling of the trials that come with living. A theme that weaves throughout most of the book is that of the psychological crutches that remain with us beyond childhood, into our adult lives and relationships. Charmaine, Nathalie, Gabrielle and Rianne all struggle to develop beyond the narrow confines of their upbringing.
Of course, the most compelling theme is love, and its most fascinating development occurs between Rianne and Riitho. What an incredible story, set among the trappings of South African apartheid-era mindsets, though burgeoning in foreign locales like England and Paris. What a powerful man! The Riitho character is a trademark of Lokko, however, as I had first read her later book "Saffron Skies", where there is a similarly striking, strong, independent black man who attracts women like a magnet. That doesn't make him any less appealing!
"Sundowners" is a great read.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED IT, March 4, 2006

By 

jess.m (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sundowners (Paperback)

LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT, favourite book of the moment by far (fell in love with riitho in about 2 seconds :D). an amazing read with just the right amount of everything; innocence, love, friendship and my fav HISTORY, great for if u no nothing on the apartheid and u wanna learn a little history and not be bored out of your brains while doing so!!!