SA reads discussion

What are you reading at present and what books do you enjoy

I am currently reading Frame 232. It's not South African but is a fascinating work of historical fiction speculating on the identity of the mysterious "Babushka Lady" seen in the Zapruder footage of the President Kennedy assassination. Fascinating reading! Along with historical fiction, I enjoy general fiction, mysteries, thrillers, memoirs and biographies, and of course the classics.

I'm trying to educate myself regarding the history of US foreign policy. I'm reading , , and . I'm about ready to take a break.

I am reading Wuthering Height along with the English lit group (my first time for WH) as well as a book called The dragon queen by Alice Borchardt, sister of Anne Rice. Its a spin on the legend of Kind Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin and Guinevere set in midevil pagan Britain. Its my second time with The Dragon Queen and I am looking forward to its sequel, The raven warrior.

Juggling. Wuthering Heights, North and South plus A Room with a View. And the usual amount of comics.

I am rereading 'The Day The Swallows Spoke' (Brug van die Esels) by Dalene Matthee as an October group challenge.

I love historical fiction most of all, but also read a wide variety of other genres as well.

Glad you are joining the group read Margitte. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

Two things going right now: Elegy for Eddie which is #9 in the Maisie Dobbs series (excellent IMHO historical fiction mystery). For my Africa read: The Boy who harnessed the wind which is set in Malawi.

I am writings some biography on Jane Austen. OOps that should have said reading not writing. Haha. I am not sure I am skill enough to do a biography on Jane Austen.

Brilliant!

I am reading or should I say crying my way through 'I have life, Alison's Journey'. This is a book I have been wanting to read for ages and was another bargain basement find. To make it even more special it has been signed by Alison. What an amazing young woman!

That was a harrowing story! But she's an incredible person.

I have just purchased on kindle SA author Dianne Browne's first book, The Sabi. Am looking forward to her first hand account of growing up in apartheid SA.
Also reading an old, lesser known, book by Marge Piercy: Woman on the Edge of Time. A woman friend of mine said it was the most life-changing book she ever read as a young adult back in the seventies.
As you can see, I'm a busy boy!

I didn't know where else to post this. I see that Rian Malan's My Traitor's Heart is a $1.99 daily deal on Amazon (USA) today. I think I'll read it after I finish A Dry White Season.

I have just finished The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, an historical novel about the three days in 1863 of the Battle of Gettysburg, the turning point in the American Civil War.

It has nothing to do with South Africa (well so far) but I am reading by A.L. Kennedy. It is a collection of short stories.

I am finishing off The Sabi, by Diane Malaika Brown. I am also reading a wonderful piece of non-fiction by John Reader, entitled: Africa, A Biography of the Continent. It won the Alan Paton Award in 1998, and at over 700 pages will keep me busy for quite a while. I like reading this kind of non-fiction at the same time as novels - I can take as long as I like by fitting in a chapter or two at odd times. Unlike fiction, there is no story thread to lose in reading non-fiction.

I am also currently reading The Sabi by Diane Brown but for the third time since I bought it back in August, going along with Diane on her Journey is quite an emotional one that I have to keep going on sort of in disbelief. I am also reading Down Second Avenue. I intend on spending my weekend indoors with some books any suggestions for South African auto-biography type books after reading The Sabi would love to read more of this type of book.

It's good to hear that Chantal! A book that everyone I work with was recommending was Conversations with my Sons and Daughters. Sadly I have not read it yet.
I also saw a new biography about Winnie Madikizela Mandela in exclusive books.

I have started Vicki Wilson's HOW TO START LIVING OR DIE TRYING. It is interesting to pick up Vicki's trademark wry humour in her writing that I've come to enjoy so much in our group discussions.
At $2.99 on Amazon it's a bargain!

Vicki wrote: "Thank you John I think you'll sense a change as the book goes and what I love most is how my writing evolves the same as the character does. This I left in play on purposely because of the first p..."

Is the updated version a lot different? If so, I'd rather buy that one. $2.99 isn't going to break the bank.

Vicki wrote: "Not much, just some grammar issues and a few cringeworthy mistakes, so no don't bother getting the new version the feel is exactly the same, I will not compromise on the story or change the South A..."

Okay. Will forge ahead with that understanding. Enjoying it so far. I love the personal stuff. Scatterbrained emotion is good.

Vicki wrote: "Lisa can I start a thread so I can explain the finer aspects of women to John regarding my book How to start living or die trying? Please...."

No worries
This could be funny

Lisa wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Lisa can I start a thread so I can explain the finer aspects of women to John regarding my book How to start living or die trying? Please...."

No worries
This could be funny"

Finer aspects of women? Will there be pictures involved, Vicki?

I just joined the group today after it was recommended by a friend in the US, Jenna Le, who's friends with Lisa. I just finished reading Robert Berold's second and fourth poetry books. Now reading Mahmoud Darwish's last book.

Welcome Jim
Loved your seahorses

Hello, Jim. Are you still living in Cape Town?

Thanks, Lisa, John, and Vicki.

Yes, John. I'm supposed to do a reading on Monday. Terribly nervous.

Seriously? Where's the reading. And can the general public pitch?

Jim Pascual Agustin wrote: "Thanks, Lisa, John, and Vicki.

Yes, John. I'm supposed to do a reading on Monday. Terribly nervous."

Didn't realize you lived here!

Lisa, it's going to be in Observatory - at Touch of Madness restaurant. I think they have a short poetry reading every Monday night called Off the Wall.

Jim Pascual Agustin wrote: "Lisa, it's going to be in Observatory - at Touch of Madness restaurant. I think they have a short poetry reading every Monday night called Off the Wall."
Jim, I might just come and check you out. What are you going to read?

John, a few poems to fill 20 minutes max. Haven't decided which.

Jim Pascual Agustin wrote: "John, a few poems to fill 20 minutes max. Haven't decided which."

Twenty minutes is a lot of poetry! Hope you've got good drama skills to go with it.

Jim Pascual Agustin wrote: "John, a few poems to fill 20 minutes max. Haven't decided which."
Awesome
Goodluck

thanks, guys. I've only read one other time to a Cape Town audience - last December at the launch of the Sol Plaatje 3 anthology. That was fun.

Seahorses?

Adele wrote: "Seahorses?"

Jim's poem from another thread:
http://www.theaustraliatimes.com/emag...

Has anyone else seen the new Word Cloud Classics from Cantebury. Stunning embossed and foiled colorful covers. I buy one at Exclusive Books whenever I'm unsupervised (my supervision has strangely increased lately)

I love Thrillers and Romance the most, but alos read horror, non fiction and poems.what i dont like is fantasy and SciFi........At the moment i am reading "Broken" by Karin Slaughter my favorite female author :)

Jane Peskara / wrote: "I love Thrillers and Romance the most, but alos read horror, non fiction and poems.what i dont like is fantasy and SciFi........At the moment i am reading "Broken" by Karin Slaughter my favorite fe..."

Hello, Jane. Welcome to the group. We read a variety of genres here, but all with a South African theme or flavour.

Vicki wrote: "Jane Peskara / wrote: "I love Thrillers and Romance the most, but alos read horror, non fiction and poems.what i dont like is fantasy and SciFi........At the moment i am reading "Broken" by Karin S..."
aaaah coool :)

Hello and welcome Jane!

Jane Peskara / wrote: "I love Thrillers and Romance the most, but alos read horror, non fiction and poems.what i dont like is fantasy and SciFi........At the moment i am reading "Broken" by Karin Slaughter my favorite fe..."

Welcome Jane. I also love thrillers. Have ever read Karin Slaughter though.

Currently reading: 1Q84

The year is 1984 and the city is Tokyo.

A young woman named Aomame follows a taxi driver’s enigmatic suggestion and begins to notice puzzling discrepancies in the world around her. She has entered, she realizes, a parallel existence, which she calls 1Q84 —“Q is for ‘question mark.’ A world that bears a question.” Meanwhile, an aspiring writer named Tengo takes on a suspect ghostwriting project. He becomes so wrapped up with the work and its unusual author that, soon, his previously placid life begins to come unraveled.

As Aomame’s and Tengo’s narratives converge over the course of this single year, we learn of the profound and tangled connections that bind them ever closer: a beautiful, dyslexic teenage girl with a unique vision; a mysterious religious cult that instigated a shoot-out with the metropolitan police; a reclusive, wealthy dowager who runs a shelter for abused women; a hideously ugly private investigator; a mild-mannered yet ruthlessly efficient bodyguard; and a peculiarly insistent television-fee collector.

A love story, a mystery, a fantasy, a novel of self-discovery, a dystopia to rival George Orwell’s — 1Q84 is Haruki Murakami’s most ambitious undertaking yet: an instant best seller in his native Japan, and a tremendous feat of imagination from one of our most revered contemporary writers.

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life