Litnet

Amazwi South African Museum of Literature is proud to announce the 2019 Eastern Cape Literature Festival, which will take place at the new Amazwi museum complex in Makhanda from 3-7 July 2019.

The Jacana Literary Foundation, in partnership with the Other Foundation, is proud to announce the 2019 recipient of the Gerald Kraak Prize. Congratulations to OluTimehin Adegbeye, whose essay, "Mothers and Men", made her this year’s worthy winner.

On Wednesday 22 May Ena Jansen’s book Like family was launched at the Book Lounge in Cape Town.  The book deals with the contact zone between the domestic worker and the family she works for. Jansen chose to share the stage with Sindiwe Magona and Myrtle Witbooi.

"We all want our books to sell well and to reach the widest possible audience. Being invited to Franschhoek is an invaluable leg-up for any writer’s career. May the festival continue to go from strength to strength."

Here is the programme of the 9th Schreiner Karoo Writers' Festival – which takes place in Cradock from the 6th to the 9th of June 2019.

The Franschhoek Literary Festival took place from 17 - 19 May 2019. Izak de Vries was the paparazzo on behalf of LitNet.

"I highly recommend this valuable text, the worth and interest of which I hope the above review has given some indication."

"A person my colour is by no means easy, but it is important. Apart from the ill-conceived introduction, which ought to have been a reflection at the end, the narrative is stylish and gripping."

"The book is by no means a hero-worshipping publication, and the oppression of black South Africans by the Union government forms an important part of the book. It is a fresh appraisal of Botha, but even this bold attempt will, I believe, not stir any long-term interest in the former prime minister."

"The Amazwi South African Museum of Literature's new identity and vision was unveiled by the National Department of Arts and Culture in Makhanda, at a ceremony which also marked the official opening of its new custom-built, state-of-the-art museum complex."

"It is quite a bold move on the part of the author to make claims such as the ones he makes. The book more than raises the eyebrows, as false claims would certainly land the author in hot water. However if there is any truth to these claims, it would mean that the ruling ANC is in really deep trouble as a party – and not only the ANC, but the country as a whole."

"Plate features a truly sublime collection of 86 appetising main courses with a continental influence. Divided into three chapters – on meat, poultry and seafood – the hand-picked recipes look every bit as scrumptious as they taste."

"Featherstream is a successful first novel. It is written with great care and attention to detail, and has an unusual and credible plot. It is a compelling and readable thriller which convincingly brings to life the Cape of 80 years ago."

Shaka Rising: A Legend of the Warrior Prince has been named a 2019 Honor Book by the Children’s Africana Book Awards. Luke Molver, the illustrator and co-author, will attend the award ceremony at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art in Washington, DC.

The book will be launched in Cape Town on 16 May and James-Brent Styan will be in conversation with the author.

"Carsten Rasch’s Between rock & a hard place is a worthy and immensely readable addition to the canon."

"Identity is explored racially, sexually, physically, culturally and linguistically. The reader observes how the major characters navigate these issues, as they respond to the events that challenge them and bring these issues to light."

The book will be launched in Johannesburg on 9 May and Peter Bruce will be in conversation with the author.

"It is a mature and impressive novel, and one which many readers are likely to revisit in their memories or by rereading the text."

"I would recommend reading it for your own understanding of how sexuality and sexual expression are not uniform across communities, and that it’s alright that we are not a homogeneous species."