Litnet

The 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 theory of flight is a beautifully told narrative, memorable and innovative, and a skilfully structured novel."

"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."

"I loved this autobiography of the legendary Sir Elton John!"

"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."

Die 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.

Read the commendations of all the books on the shortlist – and the announcement of the winner!

Read the commendations of all the books on the shortlist – and the announcement of the winner!

Lees die commendatio’s van al die boeke op die kortlys – en ook die aankondiging van die wenner.

Read the commendations of the books on this shortlist – and the announcement of the winner!

Lees die aanbevelings vir hierdie kortlys – en ook die aankondiging van die wenner!

Hier is die aanbevelings op hierdie kortlys – en die aankondiging van die wenner.

Hier is die commendatio’s van al die boeke op hierdie kortlys, en die wenaankondiging.

"I do not typically 'score' books, but since this is a book about a sporting legend, I decided that I would have to give the book 5 out of 10."

"Racial inequalities are afforded fresh insight, and with the current resurgence of movements like #BlackLivesMatter, books such as Ives’s seem to call louder each day. What better way to delve into South Africa’s socio-political underbelly than with a cup of tea?"

"The idea of whites in colonial Africa conjures up images of pith helmets and khaki shorts, rural landscapes and vast estates, madams and masters parked on verandas alternately sipping gin and barking orders at African servants. Such stereotypes present whites as a uniformly wealthy and homogenous group, secure atop a binary power structure." Duncan Money and Danelle van Zyl-Hermann, editors of Rethinking white societies in southern Africa, 1930s–1990s. 

Judges praise winning stories "that are striking for their lateral leaps, their use of language, voice and subversion – and their sheer courage".

"We mourn with him and feel his helplessness when patients, friends and colleagues commit suicide. But then, he squares his shoulders and soldiers on, dispassionately analysing the circumstances."

"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."

Penguin Random House and The Reading List invite you to the launch of Grown ups by bestselling author Marian Keyes. Keyes will be in conversation with another bestselling author, Paige Nick. The launch will take place on 3 June (18h00) on Facebook Live in a video stream on The Reading List’s Facebook page.