Books and writers
Information about the latest books and the people behind them
The fall: an interview with Jen Thorpe
2020-07-24"I think the way we think about and talk about protests and why they happen has the ability to shape our receptiveness to listening, and I wanted to explore this idea in The fall."
Reader impression: The body: A guide for occupants by Bill Bryson
2020-07-21"This is a book that is really worth the read; I am even considering rereading it sometime, which is something that I very rarely do with books."
Sea star summer: an interview with Sally Partridge
2020-07-15"It was during a morning beach walk on one of these trips that he pointed out all the 'sea stars' in a rock pool. I was already writing the book, and that scene automatically made it in."
Press release: Ingrid Jonker Prize 2020 goes to a poignant collection of poems distinguished by a photographer’s instinct
2020-07-14The winner of the Ingrid Jonker Prize for a debut volume of poetry in English published in 2018 and 2019 has been announced.
Inter-review with Helen Moffett about her novel Charlotte
2020-07-13"Please could Helen Moffett write the ending to my life story? Listening to Helen’s delightful Charlotte as an audiobook had me weeping in delight as I learned how things turned out in the end for the unobtrusive Charlotte Lucas, one of Elizabeth Bennet’s closest friends in Pride and prejudice."
The South African Writers’ Circle: An interview with the chairperson
2020-07-08"Writing is a solitary occupation, and writers enjoy being able to exchange ideas with other writers. The Circle provides them with this opportunity."
Reader impression: Talking to strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
2020-07-03"Talking to strangers made me realise yet again that one cannot separate one field of study from the other. History and psychology go hand in hand."
Ingrid Jonker Prize: Shortlist 2020
2020-07-03The shortlist for the Ingrid Jonker Prize for debut volumes of poetry in English published in 2018 and 2019 has been announced. The prize is alternately awarded on an annual basis to a first volume of poetry in Afrikaans or English – the two languages in which Ingrid Jonker herself wrote.
The African Library: The theory of flight by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu
2020-06-26"The theory of flight is a beautifully told narrative, memorable and innovative, and a skilfully structured novel."
Reader impression: 21 Lessons for the 21st century by Yuval Noah Harari
2020-06-24"21 Lessons for the 21st century was such an insightful read that I gained great respect for the author of this book. I tried to keep notes, as I typically do, but the number of quotations that I loved from this book became so many, that I accepted that I would not be able to use them all in one impression."
Reader impression: Me by Elton John
2020-06-23"I loved this autobiography of the legendary Sir Elton John!"
Racism by the book
2020-06-22"Is Niq saying what I think he is saying? That white judges will choose white winners? And, by implication, black judges will choose black winners? How else is one to interpret his quote, 'But when the judges are white, the people who win will be white'? The judging process is, at the best of times, a highly subjective act, and is not swayed by the race of judges."
Media24 Boeke Literêre Pryse vir 2020 bekend
2020-06-18Die wenners van die Media24 Boeke Literêre Pryse vir 2020 is vanaand (Donderdag 18 Junie 2020) bekend gemaak. Meer as 80 boeke wat in 2019 by Media24-uitgewerye verskyn het, is vanjaar ingeskryf in ses kategorieë met prysgeld van altesaam R210 000.
2020 Media24 Books Literary Prizes: Herman Charles Bosman Prize for English fiction
2020-06-18Read the commendations of all the books on the shortlist – and the announcement of the winner!
2020 Media24 Books Literary prizes: MER Prize for Youth Novels
2020-06-18Read the commendations of all the books on the shortlist – and the announcement of the winner!
Media24 Boeke Literêre Pryse: WA Hofmeyrprys vir Afrikaanse fiksie
2020-06-18Lees die commendatio’s van al die boeke op die kortlys – en ook die aankondiging van die wenner.
2020 Media24 Books Literary Prize: Recht Malan Prize for Nonfiction
2020-06-18Read the commendations of the books on this shortlist – and the announcement of the winner!
Media24 Boeke Literêre Pryse 2020: Elisabeth Eybersprys vir Afrikaanse en Engelse Poësie
2020-06-18Lees die aanbevelings vir hierdie kortlys – en ook die aankondiging van die wenner!
Media24 Boeke Literêre Pryse 2020: MER-prys vir geïllustreerde kinderboeke
2020-06-18Hier is die aanbevelings op hierdie kortlys – en die aankondiging van die wenner.
Media24 Boeke Literêre Pryse 2020: MER-prys vir geïllustreerde kinderboeke – commendatio’s
2020-06-18Hier is die commendatio’s van al die boeke op hierdie kortlys, en die wenaankondiging.