Litnet

You are invited to the launch of You have to be gay to know God on 26 June in Johannesburg.

"The aim is to fund the research and writing of an original work of nonfiction on a subject of importance in the South African context, irrespective of genre. The closing date for entries is 31 July 2018."

"I forecast that it will take just one steadfast learner, backed by a half-decent legal team, to expose the dress and conduct code for what it is: a discriminatory house of cards that will tumble once subjected to serious scrutiny."

"Out of all the great accomplishments in De Villiers’s career that reached universal proportions, the historical medical aspects of the South African Anglo-Boer War stand out as some of the supreme achievements of this genius and intellectual giant."

You are invited to the launch of The Coroner's Wife on 20 June in Newlands, where Joan Hambidge will be in conversation with the publisher, Michèle Betty. The Coroner's Wife is a selection of the poems of Joan Hambidge in translation.

"Reading a biography such as Petrovna Metelerkamp’s Ingrid Jonker: ’n biografie provides a fine example of what I am talking about. This is a nice fat book, chock-full of stories and reported data about the enigma that is Ingrid Jonker. Apart from anything else, it is clear that Metelerkamp’s 437-page tome is the product of many years of unstinting work ..."

"It’s a beautifully shot, warm and fuzzy love letter to Joburg. Joburg is, as a matter of fact, the strongest and most interesting character in the movie. The rest pale in comparison, unfortunately."

You are invited to the launch of Who will rule in 2019? on 2 June in Stellenbosch, where the author, Jan-Jan Joubert, will be in conversation with Tony Leon.

Read a poem by Heidi Henning.

"Everything is spiraling, feathery"

Colour me yellow by Thuli Nhlapo was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Alan Paton award 2018. Join the celebration on 2 June in Newtown, Johannesburg.

"Following a geographical point of departure, Afrikaans is an African language that originated here and reflects the name of the continent (the only language in Africa having this characteristic)."

"Instead of exploring new ideas, new fertile ground, the familiar Star wars concepts were simply reused."

"As well as being open to entries translated into English from any language, it is the only literary prize in the world where entries can be submitted in Bengali, Chinese, Malay, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, and Tamil."

A discourse about this book will take place at the Stellenbosch University Museum on 31 May 2018. 

"He feels the warmth of the old man’s arm around his shoulders, and then the pat on his back. 'I know. The world can be a terrible place. We won’t be able to change that. But, you are prepared for it – as much as anyone can be. You will be okay if you use what you have to make it better.'"

Sindiswa Busuku-Mathese’s debut collection of poetry, Loud and yellow laughter, published by Botsotso, is the winner of the 2018 Ingrid Jonker prize for poetry. The Ingrid Jonker Prize is awarded in alternate years to the best debut collection in English or Afrikaans.

"The shortlist for the 2018 Caine Prize for African Writing has been announced, showcasing a diversity of themes and a wealth of literary talent."

Here is the six-strong shortlist for the 2018 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, Best Published Novel.

"The project, aimed at increasing access to books, is the second in a series of planned free miniature libraries across Johannesburg to promote reading and improve literacy."