Books and writers
Information about the latest books and the people behind them
The Midlands Literary Festival 2019 in pictures
2019-10-02The tenth Midlands Literary Festival took place from 30 August to 1 September 2019. Izak de Vries attended and shared some of his photographs and insights.
Book review: Triangulum by Masande Ntshanga
2019-09-30"Thematically, Triangulum is a compelling work that explores ideologies that are often at odds with one another, but which Ntshanga brings to an uneasy kind of integration while not leaving the reader with a clear, comfortable sense of resolution."
Book launch: Betrayal: The secret lives of apartheid spies by Jonathan Ancer
2019-09-19The book launch of Betrayal: The secret lives of apartheid spies by Jonathan Ancer will take place on Thursday 19 September 2019 at The Book Lounge in Cape Town.
Book launch: Yellow and Confused by Ming-Cheau Lin
2019-09-18The book launch of Ming-Cheau Lin’s biography, Yellow and Confused, will take place on Wednesday 18 September 2019 at 17:30 at The Book Lounge in Cape Town.
Book review: Verwoerd: My journey through family betrayals by Wilhelm Verwoerd
2019-09-18"Ultimately, it is about coming to terms with being the grandson of Hendrik Verwoerd."
Writers Terry Kurgan and Siphiwe Ndlovu celebrated at the 2019 Sunday Times Literary Awards
2019-09-10Book launch: Death on the Limpopo by Sally Andrew
2019-09-05The book launch of Sally Andrew’s Death on the Limpopo will take place on Saturday 14 September 2019 at Protea Bookshop in Stellenbosch.
And after many days by Jowhor Ile: African Library
2019-09-03"And after many days contains a terrible and beautiful narrative of enduring family love, principled conduct and horrific power abuse and the greed it permits to destroy lives. Quietly told, it is a story that will linger in the mind of any reader, long after they have closed its back cover."
Book review: The echo of a noise: A memoir of then and now by Pieter-Dirk Uys
2019-09-03"When Pieter-Dirk Uys appeared on a lonely stage at the 2017 Woordfees in Stellenbosch, dressed in black and discernible only by a white face, white hands and the words 'Almost famous' dancing white on his chest, I was in the audience. For over 90 minutes, I was mesmerised."
Worlds come alive from page to stage at #cocreatePOETICA (Open Book Festival)
2019-09-02Press release: Worlds come alive from page to stage at #cocreatePOETICA, a celebration of rap, poetry and the spoken word at Open Book Festival (Cape Town). We look forward to welcoming Dutch poets Simone Atangana Bekono and Radna Fabias. Join The Book Lounge and The Fugard Theatre for the ninth Open Book Festival which takes place from 4 to 8 September 2019.
Press release: What the Water Remembers at the Open Book Festival
2019-09-02Why did it refuse to rain for 2 years? What might happen if we don’t listen to the water? What the Water Remembers is a multilingual poetry production that explores our personal, historical, socio-economic and spiritual relationships to water in the Mother City. What the Water Remembers will debut at the Open Book Festival on Wednesday 4 September at 18:00 in the Fugard Studio.
The Midlands Literary Festival is ten years old
2019-08-21"The tenth Midlands Literary Festival will take place from 31 August to 1 September 2019 at the Fern Hill Hotel in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal. Here is the programme."
Reader impression: Where do you go to by Jean Cerfontaine
2019-08-21"Despite the occasional punctuation blunder many a self-published book is guilty of, Where do you go to is a lovely and unforgettable read, and a fitting tribute to Sarstedt’s song; and, although one expects a feel-good ending culminating in Marie-Claire learning more about the first few years of her life, the revelation still comes as a surprise."
Press release: Open Book 2019 programme is now live!
2019-08-05The Open Book Festival will take place between 4 and 8 September 2019 in Cape Town. The programme is now live and features many brilliant authors!
Breaking a rainbow, building a nation by Rekgotsofetse Chikane: reader impression
2019-08-04"Breaking a rainbow, building a nation is painful reading. The book documents the disillusionment of young people with South Africa."
Karavan Press: an interview with Karina Szczurek
2019-08-04"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."
Review: Remnants restante reste by Annette Snyckers
2019-07-30"Writing in English, Afrikaans and German, Snyckers explores the possibilities of translation and creative expansion."
Bettina Wyngaard oor die Elgin-Grabouw Krimifees | Elgin Grabouw CrimeFest
2019-07-23"Vir hierdie eerste fees het ons woordsmede wat in die Wes-Kaap woon, genooi om deel te neem. Dis 'n lekker wye verskeidenheid van interessante mense: Deon Meyer, Rudie van Rensburg, Karin Brynard, Chanette Paul, Irna van Zyl, Julian Jansen, Sally Andrew, Joanne Hichens, Michéle Rowe en veel meer."
Press release: Winners of the 2019 Sunday Times Literary Awards announced
2019-07-22The Sunday Times Literary Awards shortlists for the Alan Paton Award for non-fiction, and the Barry Ronge Fiction Prize, have been announced.
Reader impression: A captain's journey by Neil Tovey
2019-07-18"A captain’s journey details a fascinating time in the history of South African soccer, with the sport making the shift from semi-professional to professional."