Books: THE TRINITY SERIES by Fiona Snyckers

Title: Trinity Rising  &  Trinity On Air
Author: Fiona Snyckers                      
Genre: Fiction                                    
Published: 2009  &  2010

The first two books, in a series of three written by Fiona Snyckers were meant to be my holiday reading. I finished them in two days, before the Spring break. I could not put them down. They were hilarious. The protagonist Trinity Luhabe, is a young 'born free' South African about to begin her first first year at Rhodes University. Even though her father is a former Robben Island prisoner and anti-apartheid activist, and her mother a former activist and social worker,  "Trinity Luhabe is so over the whole Robben Island thing."

The book had just enough draw to keep me reading.  It's light-heated chick-lit, and I probably enjoyed it more because it is written in a South African context so much of it was all too familiar. In the first book, Trinity arrives at Rhodes University, majoring in English and Economics, but with no real intention of making a career in either. She is there to meet her future husband. Her choice in major, economics is a long-term strategy, because all the male economics students are all potential future CEOs, so she plans on meeting and knowing them before they become famous.
Her real ambition is to become a TV presenter of a talk show, or a Top Billing presenter. The book is a light-hearted read of Trinity as she makes new friends, meets her former nemesis from high school, falls in love with her tutor, while running her baby-sitting business and failing her courses.
The first book ends with Trinity having written her finals and now back home, while she waits for her exam results.

The second book picks up with a Trinity now armed with her Rhodes degree and job-hunting, while she holds down a job as the children's entertainer at a popular steak restaurant. She gets a job as a junior reporter at  a popular radio station and determined as ever sets about proving herself, with amusing results. Her adventures take her to the seedy world of Johannesburg night clubs, encounters with her Nigerian night club owner neighbour, more of her romance with her former tutor and boyfriend Farouk, and the same determined streak to break into the talk show world.
I have not read much chick-lit  by South African writers - because there is not that much published I think-  so this was a truly entertaining read.