Serpent Crescent, Vivian De Klerk, Penguin Random House, ISBN: 9781770107496
DON’T be fooled by the bright cover of Vivian De Klerk’s Serpent Crescent. It is by far one of the darkest and grimmest books I have ever read. However, the book captured my attention from the minute I read the unusual plot, and it did not disappoint.
It definitely won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, as there were moments that left me horrified and uncomfortable. But, I just could not stop turning the pages.
Between the South African-born author’s writing style, which is nothing short of superb, and her razor-sharp wit, I was enthralled.
The novel centres around the lives of a small group of people living in a decaying cul-de sac – the Serpent Crescent – located in a small rural South African town.
However, the story is narrated by two women: Megan Merton, a retired English teacher and self-diagnosed sociopath, who has – for years – taken it upon herself to dish out punishment to the wicked in her community, and her neighbour, Elizabeth Cardew, a renowned classical studies professor who has just suffered a violent stroke.
Megan’s perverse curiosity prompts a visit to her debilitated neighbour, and soon, to the surprise of both women, a platonic friendship begins to blossom between them.
As Elizabeth embarks on her painfully slow recovery at the local (and poorly run) care facility, Megan begins to chronicle all her vigilantism, and as the chapters rotate between Megan and Elizabeth, we are slowly introduced to the other neighbours and their secrets which have been hidden behind closed doors.
In my opinion, Megan is the novel’s pièce de résistance. De Klerk managed to weave this incredibly complex character who is both unimaginable yet somehow relatable at certain times. Throughout the book, she does some unforgivable things, and while you ought to despise her, you find yourself empathising with her.
Megan’s stories were also so beyond belief that I often wondered what, if anything, she was revealing to the reader was actually true.
The book is an enigma that will leave you reeling for days after you’ve finished it. The ending is also a poignant masterpiece that’ll stir a flurry of emotions. 5/5 stars. – Mariclair Smit
