num_pages: 288
description: When Julie Summers' car breaks down in a sleazy street, a young Arab garage mechanic comes to her rescue. Out of this meeting develops a friendship that turns to love. But soon, despite his attempts to make the most of Julie's wealthy connections, Abdu is deported from South Africa and Julie insists on going too - but the couple must marry to make the relationship legitimate in the traditional village which is to be their home. Here, whilst Abdu is dedicated to escaping back to the life he has discovered, Julie finds herself slowly drawn in by the charm of her surroundings and new family, creating an unexpected gulf between them ...'As gripping as a thriller and as felt as a love song' IRISH TIMES
language: English
title: The Pickup
titlecomplete: The Pickup
characters: Julie Summers
genres: Nobel Prize, South Africa, African Literature, Novels, Africa, Romance, Literature, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Fiction
ratings_count: 3606
places: South Africa
awards: awardedAt: 978336000000
name: Booker Prize
category: Longlist, awardedAt: 1009872000000
name: Commonwealth Writers' Prize
category: Best Book in Africa
publisher: Bloomsbury