The Reading List

Find and share the best in books – daily!

Wednesday – 6th December 2023

Can you ever truly wash away your past? Read an excerpt from John Boyne’s haunting new novel Water

Penguin Random House has shared an excerpt from Water by internationally bestselling author John Boyne.

Out now! The Life of Birds – a fully updated new edition of David Attenborough’s bestselling classic

David Attenborough has been watching and learning all his life. His classic book, The Life of Birds, now fully updated with the latest discoveries in ornithology, is a brilliant introduction to bird behaviours worldwide: what they do and why they do it.

Tuesday – 5th December 2023

Don’t miss the launch of Innards by Magogodi oaMphela Makhene at Book Circle Capital in Melville (7 Dec)

Jonathan Ball Publishers and Book Circle Capital invite you to the launch of Innards by Magogodi oaMphela Makhene.

Don’t miss Zanele van Zyl at Exclusive Books Galleria Mall and get your copy of Senidlile Kodwa? signed! (10 Dec)

Penguin Random House and Exclusive Books invite you to a book signing of Senidlile Kodwa? Have You Eaten Yet? by Zanele van Zyl.

Monday – 4th December 2023

Win limited edition signed copies, Penguin merch and more!

Unwrap the joy of reading this festive season with Penguin Random House SA!

Listen to the Pagecast festive special! Top picks for holiday reading and gift recommendations

This week’s episode of Pagecast, brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers, is a Holiday Roundup with Exclusive Books Cavendish!

Thursday – 30th November 2023

‘I once went to kill a man’ – Read an excerpt from The Year of the Locust, the terrifying and eagerly awaited new thriller by Terry Hayes

Penguin Random House SA has shared an excerpt from The Year of the Locust, the highly anticipated second novel from Terry Hayes, author of the global bestseller I Am Pilgrim.

‘Sometimes you get an idea, and it won’t leave you alone’ – Val McDermid introduces her new DCI Karen Pirie novel Past Lying

The Queen of Crime Val McDermid is at the top of her game in her most gripping and fiendishly clever case yet!

Monday – 27th November 2023

Terry Hayes fans, enter now to win a copy of both his masterpieces, The Year of The Locust and I Am Pilgrim!

Penguin Random House is giving away copies of Terry Hayes’ highly anticipated new novel The Year of The Locust and his previous masterpiece I Am Pilgrim.

In the latest episode of Pagecast, Mary Beard, author of Emperor of Rome, is in conversation with Batya Bricker

In the latest episode of Pagecast, Batya Bricker engages in a fascinating conversation with world-renowned classicist Professor Mary Beard about her new book, Emperor of Rome.

Friday – 24th November 2023

Happy Indoor Garden – a practical guide for happy plants, a happy home and happy humans!

Happy Indoor Garden: Easy Plant Guide for Each Room of Your Home by Miranda Janatka, and illustrated by Georgie McAusland, is out now from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Read an extract from the pulse-pounding new Jack Reacher thriller The Secret

Penguin Random House has shared an excerpt from The Secret – the new high-octane rollercoaster ride of a novel from Lee Child and Andrew Child.

Footnotes, November 2023: Book links from around the web

At The Reading List, we’re trainspotters when it comes to interesting book links, and here are a number that caught our eye.

Thursday – 23rd November 2023

Jojo – Strictly star Johannes Radebe’s uplifting memoir about overcoming struggles and finding joy

Jojo celebrates the incredible journey that Johannes Radebe has been on so far – out now from Jonathan Ball Publishers!

Now a major TV series! A new edition of Catch Me a Killer by South Africa’s first-ever profiler Micki Pistorius

Delve into the gripping world of criminal profiling with psychologist Micki Pistorius – the trailblazer who became South Africa’s first-ever profiler.

Wednesday – 22nd November 2023

The new episode of Pagecast is out now! Jenny Crwys-Williams chats to Beverley Roos-Muller about her extraordinary book Bullet in the Heart: Four Brothers Ride to War

In today’s episode of Pagecast, join legendary broadcaster Jenny Crwys-Williams as she interviews Beverley Roos-Muller about her book Bullet in the Heart: Four Brothers Ride to War 1899–1902.

Join Matthew Blackman and Nick Dall for the Stellenbosch launch of Legends: People Who Changed South Africa for the Better (30 Nov)

Penguin Random House and the Stellenbosch University Centre for Social Justice invite you to the launch of Legends: People Who Changed South Africa for the Better by Matthew Blackman and Nick Dall.