Year of the turnip

When Year Of The Gherkin was released in 2012, Jason Brydon quickly established himself as quite probably the least likeable protagonist of South African fiction since… forever. And yet his diary of extreme narcissism, grand delusions and ongoing calamity also turned him into one of the funniest. Now The Jasonator is back! Not that his friends, or pretty much anyone in Cape Town, have missed him since his job-loss-imposed banishment to his folks’ place in the godforsaken Eastern Cape, where’s he’s been biding his time serving the soaks – mostly his dad – at the Port Alfred Country Club… Anyway, point is Jason Brydon is back and this time he’s gonna crush it. He’s definitely on track to land himself a top job and a hot chick (or ten!) because he’s grown as a human being since 2010. Yes, you better believe it. Now he’s a father (admittedly a reluctant one), a surprising exemplar of racial inclusiveness (well, briefly) and a trusted (in his own mind) house-sitter. I mean, what can go wrong when you’ve got a Tamboerskloof mansion to look after (along with some French bulldogs, which basically take care of themselves, right?) and an Audi Q7 to drive (though technically you were asked not to)…? Only good things, china! Is this the year that Jason redeems himself as a human being? Will he attend the lesbian wedding of his sister (to female Bakkies Botha)? Will he land himself an actual girlfriend (even though what he really wants is a ‘banker’ who he ‘can sext at 2am’)? Will his tummy stop bulging more than his wallet? An important question, that, because he reckons he has a shot at being one of Cosmo’s most eligible bachelors, and even though he’s a player’s player and chicks dig him he’s got to keep on his game… Whatever it is, it’s the Year Of The Turnip.