2012-10 - The Bangbang Club, by Greg Marinovich and Joao Silva

10 - The Bangbang Club, by Greg Marinovich and Joao Silva, Perseus Books, 225 pages, 2000
WHY I PICKED IT:  Really enjoyed the movie
ELAPSED TIME: 3 days
RATING: Very Good

This is one of the most gripping war experiences I have ever read.  Written from the perspective of Greg, although including Joao's memories as well, this tells the tale of these two war photographers along with Ken Oosterbroek and Kevin Carter during the final days of South African Apartheid.  These friends would go into the Townships and photograph the conflict between the government-supported Zulu / Inkatha and the ANC, and as the conflict rises between the white renegades, the white army, and the ANC.

The emotional trauma of watching but not engaging, of worrying about the photograph first, and the humanitarian situation second takes a toll on all of them... especially as Ken loses his life in the last day of the conflict and Kevin commits suicide a few months later.

Greg and Joao do a fantastic job of balancing the historical context of the conflicts and the adrenalin of the job itself.  I'm more aware now of the nuanced differences between the groups (why the Zulu would accept white apartheid government support) ... and am more aware of the challenges of the job they undertook.

I highly recommend this book.