Reviews
‘Dis asof jy aan hulle kan raak of hul hoor gesels’: Louise Viljoen resenseer Die Anglo-Boereoorlog in kleur deur Tinus le Roux
Louise Viljoen het onlangs ’n resensie geskryf oor Die Anglo-Boereoorlog in kleur deur Tinus le Roux – die heel eerste boek oor die oorlog wat in volkleur verskyn het!
Shirmoney Rhode resenseer Lang pad onnetoe deur Jason Reynolds, vertaal deur Nathan Trantraal
Lees wat sê die skrywer en digter Shirmoney Rhode oor Jason Reynolds se roman Long way down, wat deur die digter Nathan Trantraal na Afrikaans vertaal is.
‘The Tsafendas portrayed in The Man Who Killed Apartheid is an absolute treasure’ – Percy Zvomuya
Percy Zvomuya has reviewed The Man Who Killed Apartheid: The Life of Dimitri Tsafendas for New Frame.
Jacob Dlamini reviews The List in The Johannesburg Review of Books
The List, the debut novel by former anti-apartheid activist and uMkhonto weSizwe member Barry Gilder, is a meditation about betrayal, faith, loss and trust, writes Jacob Dlamini.
‘I definitely think you should buy it’ – Eusebius McKaiser reviews Nthikeng Mohlele’s Illumination
Eusebius McKaiser reviewed Nthikeng Mohlele’s new novel, Illumination, which will be out from Pan Macmillan in February.
David Kenvyn reviews Barry Gilder’s novel The List
‘If anyone is going to write a novel based on the South African security services during apartheid and since the first democratic elections in 1994, Barry Gilder is a very good candidate.’
Pippa Green reviews Barry Gilder’s novel The List
One of the more intriguing aspects of Barry Gilder’s gripping spy novel comes in the Author’s Note. In Songs & Secrets, his non-fiction account of his life in exile, from where he returned to senior positions in government, he was ‘invariably asked: Why are there not more secrets’ in the book. The ‘Songs’ reflect another part of Gilder’s identity as an accomplished musician.
‘It’s a very useful book’ – Eusebius McKaiser reviews Jan-Jan Joubert’s Who Will Rule in 2019?
There’s something in this book for a range of folks: political reporters; commentators and analysts; academics working in various areas of contemporary South African politics; and the general reader keen to beef up their understanding of some of the dynamics in our body politic especially as we head to a general election in 2019.
A gentle delight to read in this modern world of violence, racism and lack of friendship
Oh, what a pleasure! Light animal anecdotes, told originally by Alice Kirk about the very mixed family on her farm in the KZN Midlands, recalled and retold by her granddaughter.
Moving, authentic, compelling: Marcus Low contemplates the Karoo in 2022 in his debut novel Asylum
Marcus Low’s book is timely and important as it presents a human story behind untreatable infectious disease. Low places incarcerated people who have the dimmest hopes for the future and little consolation at the story’s center. Low movingly describes the mental state of Barry James in a way that seems entirely authentic. A compelling read!
A flamboyant and moving debut novel: Olumide Popoola’s When We Speak of Nothing
When We Speak of Nothing tells the story of friends Karl and Abu, both 17, who live near Kings Cross. Its 2011 and racial tensions are set to explode across London. Abu is infatuated with gorgeous classmate Nalini but dares not speak to her. Meanwhile, Karl is grappling with gender identity, and becomes the target of the local ‘wannabe’ thugs just for being different.
‘What is the acceptable amount of blood for good literature?’ Arundhati Roy’s new novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness reviewed
In the latest issue of the newly launched Johannesburg Review of Books, Panashe Chigumadzi reviews Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness.
Bill Gates reviews Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime
Trevor Noah’s career continues to grow from strength to strength, with the news that Bill Gates has reviewed his memoir Born a Crime for Time magazine.
The complicated life of podcaster in the spotlight in Steven Boykey Sidley’s new novel Free Association
Bruce Dennill has written a review of Steven Boykey Sidley’s new book Free Association for The Times.
‘Unputdownable’ – Karina M Szczurek reviews Asylum, a new spec-fic thriller by Marcus Low
Karina M Szczurek has written a glowing review of Asylum, a new post-apocalyptic thriller by Marcus Low, for the Cape Times.
Alan Muller reviews Dan Wylie’s The Wisdom of Adders
This is a review of Dan Wylie’s recent post-apocalyptic speculative fiction novella. It was featured on Aerodrome on 25 April 2017.
Rebecca Davis reviews Mamphela Ramphele’s Dreams, Betrayal and Hope
Mamphela Ramphele’s latest book is called Dreams, Betrayal and Hope. If the order of the “hope” and “betrayal” were swapped, it might be an apt description of the journey of many Agang voters.
Review of Sean Christie’s Under Nelson Mandela Boulevard
Gareth Langdon lauds Sean Christie’s excellent account of stowaways living on the margins of a quickly gentrifying Cape Town.