Litnet

The Philida Literary Award is awarded annually to a writer mid-career for an oeuvre of between three to five books of any genre. Here is the announcement of this year’s winner.

"The enthusiasm for the project from the local community, sponsors and writers is palpable. 'The goodwill of the community has been astounding, with the Simon’s Town Civic Association providing the start-up funding,' Attwell told me. And as his co-organiser, Darryl David, mentioned in his CapeTalk interview: 'Book festivals and scenery go hand in hand, and it doesn’t get better than Simon’s Town.'"

"There was something for every literary taste."

"We all have crocodiles to tame. Writing – and living, ageing, dying – does take courage. One day, we will all end up in 'the big library in the sky', to quote Deon Meyer. But before we do, we will continue raging in the service of The Story."

"Watching Ukrainian parents evacuate their children to safety while staying behind to fight for their future breaks my heart. I cannot imagine the levels of anxiety and distress this kind of separation causes for a family. These people will never fully recover from this, even if they survive."

"For the uninitiated, Cosmonauts do it in heaven might feel like an exploration of space itself, seemingly obscure and impenetrable at first, but the poetry is infused with a desire to take the great leap, to reach for the sky and to celebrate its wonders and 'mysteries,/ solved & sensuous' ('First light')."

"What I remember most is the silent communication, between researcher and librarian, between researcher and the past – in my case literary."

"What will stay with me for a long time after reading this multilayered collection is the deep sense of curiosity which runs through A book of friends – it is an expression of care which the authors and artists share with the man they pay tribute to."

"Mzobe is a consummate storyteller, and it is easy to lose oneself in the tales he shares so compellingly. My hope is that we won’t have to wait another decade for his next book to hit our bookshelves and hearts."

"It offers fascinating insight into a dying art – editing – and the industry that is killing it instead of treasuring it for what it can contribute to the wealth of our knowledge and the joys of our entertainment."

"To me, the anthology was a revelation. It achieves precisely the goal it sets out to: it consoles, enlightens, nourishes the grieving soul."

"It is a beautifully produced book that will surprise and enlighten even the most devoted Coetzee readers, but might also be an intriguing entry point for those yet unfamiliar with the Nobel Prize winner's work."

"The individual contributions focus on a fascinating and relevant selection of primary sources, mostly novels and short stories, reaching as far back as Sol Plaatje’s Mhudi (1930) and incorporating contemporary texts into the diverse readings of the South African literary canon."

"Bekker has a fascinating voice and she is not afraid to experiment with the short form."

"I did not buy a caravan; but I realised that a book is like a caravan, a home away from home, taking you to unexpected places. It seemed only natural to name the publishing house I was dreaming of Caravan Books. My friend, Alex Smith, recommended 'Press' instead of 'Books', and the 'K' was my own idea."