Review: Dystopia

by James Siddall (MF Books)

I KNEW the author of the autobiographical tale Dystopia, James Siddall, during his incarnation as the funny, good-looking charmer Grant Siddall, who came to my 21st get-together years ago.

Said hottie was a minor celeb at that old South African institution, Scope magazine, while I grafted upstairs on the less celebrated title Farmer’s Weekly.

We crossed paths regularly.

As such, it was interesting to hear, some years later, that he’d been in rehab and was a recovering alcoholic with a new name.

I resolved to read Dystopia as soon as I could lay my hands on a copy.

And what surprises were in store.

The book gives a simple, amusing answer for his name change.

But while the cover blurb describes the work as “achingly tragic in parts, outrageously funny in others”, I was too shocked at his double life to fully appreciate the humour.

This book makes me want him to come and recount his life story to my teenagers: a cautionary tale of what lies ahead if they are not careful.

It is one sad story that needs to be heard.