Books and writers
Information about the latest books and the people behind them
Open Book Festival 2013: Programme
2013-08-27 Open Book Festival 2013 takes place from 7 to 11 September 2013 at The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town. See the full programme here.
African Library: The Forbidden Woman
2013-08-27 "Indeed, the entire text could be read as exhortation and inspiration; the contribution of an Algerian woman who left her country physically, but remains passionately committed to her country and to those of her compatriots who share her passion for freedom."
Invitation: The launch of Call it Dog by Marli Roode.
2013-08-27 Penguin Books and Love Books take pleasure in inviting you to the launch of Call it Dog by Marli Roode.
Sefika Awards dinner: Photos of the event
2013-08-16 At the annual Sefika Awards dinner, which was held recently, outstanding service to the publishing and bookselling industry was celebrated. Izak de Vries took photos at the event.
Lady Limbo by Consuelo Roland: A subversive, subverting love story
2013-08-15 "Playing with the tropes of erotic fiction, Roland gives us the striptease and the sex ..."
Cape Town launch: In Love's Place by Etienne van Heerden
2013-08-13 Penguin Books and The Book Lounge take pleasure in inviting you to the Cape Town launch of In Love's Place by Etienne van Heerden.
Book launch: Pilgrim
2013-07-16"Pieter Cilliers’s autobiography, first published in South Africa in 1997, is the story of a gay pastor’s struggle to come to terms with his homosexuality. Izak de Vries took photos at the Central Methodist Church book launch in Cape Town."
Flat Water Tuesday: What sport does not prepare you for
2013-07-15 "'Make peace with the past.' For the protagonist of Ron Irwin's Flat Water Tuesday, Rob Carrey, this past is outwardly that of his experience of challenge and triumph as a member of the celebrated four-man rowing team of The Fenton School in Connecticut, the God Four."
Contrary – Critical Responses to the Novels of André Brink
2013-07-10 "Inderdaad 'n belangrike werk vir die Afrikaanse literêre argief en vir die lesers van Brink se werk."
Book launch: Apocalypse Now Now by Charlie Human
2013-07-02 Umuzi and The Book Lounge invite you to the launch of Apocalypse Now Now by Charlie Human
A history of violence – and bullfighting
2013-06-28 "South African writer John M Coetzee’s public appeal to Spain’s Cultural Committee contemplating the decision of whether or not to legally protect bullfighting as a 'cultural pastime' essentially pleads with the country’s lawmakers ... to be 'nicer' to unaware and unfortunate bulls."
African Library: Tropical Fish
2013-06-26 "Yet mostly it vividly depicts how young Africans in our time are learning about life; making many mistakes, but also developing life skills and professional expertise."
Book launch: Shadows by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
2013-06-18 Kwela Books & The Book Lounge invite you to join Lynda Gilfillan in conversation with Novuyo Rosa Tshuma about her new book Shadows.
Book launch: Risk by Jason Staggie
2013-06-12 UMUZI and The Book Lounge invite you to the launch of Risk by Jason Staggie
Bringing history to life for younger readers: Q & A with Taryn Hayes
2013-06-05 In her debut youth novel, Seekers of the Lost Boy, Taryn Hayes offers a thoughtful look at the legacy of apartheid, the impact of human connection, and the power of redemption.
Rachel Zadok: An interview
2013-06-05 "With my second book, Sister-Sister, I was thinking about themes right from the get go. I knew what I wanted to say. It was much harder to write, perhaps because it was more conscious."
FLF 2013: What do publishers want?
2013-05-24 "On the fiction side the publishing house looks specifically for the 'wow' factor, something that will make people sit up and take note of the author or the script."
Flat water Tuesday – an interview with Ron Irwin
2013-05-23 Flat Water Tuesday is available in South Africa at all bookstores and releases worldwide on June 4. Joan Hambidge, a buddy and colleague of author Ron Irwin, asked him a few questions over a glass of whisky.
FLF 2013: The Happy World Of Alexander McCall Smith
2013-05-22 "Alexander McCall Smith has written over 100 books and sold 45 million copies worldwide. This revelation, by Jenny Crwys-Williams of Talk Radio 702, had the audience clapping and cheering enthusiastically on the first day of the Franschhoek Literary Festival."