Litnet

The launch of Of Motherhood and Melancholia by Lou-Marié Kruger took place on Thursday 27 February 2020 at The Book Lounge in Cape Town. Pierre de Vos was in conversation with Lou-Marié.

"This small gem of a novel, published in 2018, is its Zimbabwean author’s first."

This tween-ness complicates and perplexes. It threatens key conceptions we have about the histories, identities, and cultures of those who live on the continent.

"Van Onselen’s exposition of the night trains on the Eastern Main Line offers a clear and focused view of the circumstances surrounding the Mineral Revolution in South Africa."

You are invited to the launch of To the volcano and other stories by Elleke Boehmer in Stellenbosch on 4 March.

Nelson Mandela was scheduled for a medical operation, but all hell broke loose.

The first major exhibition of papers and artefacts from the JM Coetzee archives opened on the evening of 9 February to honour Coetzee on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Here is a photo gallery of the event.

“I think there are still many narratives that portray adoption in a very positive light, where the child is somehow saved by the parent, or, in this country, the black child is saved by the white parent.”

"These are the stories of real people. They’re the stories that we enjoy most, and are, from their reading, those that Gladwell relishes compassionately too."

"The music box treats its first half like a slow ascent up a steep rollercoaster, taking the time to show you the inner cogs of John’s thoughts, giving a carefully intimate look into the mind of a child in an abusive household."

Robin was interviewed by Ruben Richards.

Ming-Cheau was interviewed by author and journalist Sara-Jayne King.

"Bitter pill is a book built for speed. The chapters are short and the events fast paced."

"Stellenbosch Mafia is a pleasant piece of research supplying a good dose of quick facts and insight into the world of South Africa’s richest Afrikaners."

"In a still largely segregated and unequal South Africa, this book is a breath of fresh air to display difference and othering."

"And like most white children, I also had several 'nannies' who looked after me and seemed to care about me. I can never get over how strange and complex these relationships were in the context of apartheid."

"Social media – used properly – can be an important tool within any author’s marketing arsenal." Cliffordene Norton interviews Dave Henderson, founder of MyeBook.co.za.

What started out as a spur-of-the-moment decision turned into an award-winning career. Natasha Anders talks to Cliffordene Norton about what keeps her motivated, and her journey from self-published to traditionally published author.

"Even if these poems might not make for easy reading, I can only urge you to read them anyway. Read them slowly, and take long breaks to process what they reveal to you."

"Some readers might have formed a mistaken superficial impression of this impressive novel, based on brief reviews. Yewande Omotoso’s 2016 (second) novel is by no means a comforting or a sentimental “Rainbow Nation” or facile Truth and Reconciliation text; nor is it 'chick lit' for old ladies ..."