The Pickup
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The Pickup (2001) is a novel by South African writer Nadine Gordimer.
The novel opens with a woman whose car has broken down in the middle of a busy South African street. This event leads to this woman (Julie) to meet Abdu, the car mechanic. Through their relationship, motifs such as race, culture, expectation, identity, new versus old South Africa, and others are explored.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
[edit] Plot Points
- Julie meets Abdu (in an unnamed city in South Africa)
- Abdu turns out to be an illegal immigrant, and is scheduled to leave the country
- Julie decides to accompany Abdu
- Julie and Abdu marry before departing
- The couple lives at the place of Abdu's parents (in Saudi Arabia)
- Abdu tries to get legal asylum in other countries
- Abdu fails
- Abdu declines the offer of his uncle to become partner in his car repair shop
- Julie and Abdu finally get granted an immigration visa to the United States
- Julie decides to stay behind as Abdu departs.
[edit] Subplot
- Julie's uncle Archie, a gynecologist, is charged for sexual harassment by one of his patients
- The allegations turn out to be lies by a psychically deranged personality
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