BOOK REVIEWS LOVE, SIMON: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Film Tie-In Edition)
Becky Albertalli | Penguin | 9780241330135 | R175 Straight people should have to come out too. And the more awkward it is, the better. Simon Spier is sixteen and trying to work out who he is – and what he’s looking for. But when one of his emails to the very distracting Blue falls into the wrong hands, things get all kinds of complicated. Because, for Simon, falling for Blue is a big deal… It’s a holy freaking huge awesome deal.
THE LAST ROMEO
Justin Meyers | Piatkus Books | 9780349416939 | R285 James is 34 and fed up. His six-year relationship with Adam has imploded, he hates his job making up celebrity gossip, and his best friend Bella has just announced she’s moving to Russia. Adrift and single in loved-up London, James needs to break out of his lonely, drunken comfort zone. Encouraged by Bella, he throws himself headlong into online dating, blogging each encounter anonymously as the mysterious Romeo. After meeting a succession of hot/weird/gross men, James has fans and the validation he’s always craved. But when his wild night with a closeted Olympian goes viral and sends his Twitter-fame through the roof, James realises, maybe in the search for happy-ever-after, some things are better left un-shared. From Justin Myers, author of sensational blog The Guyliner, this razor-sharp and cringingly candid account of one man’s quest for The One is as sad, fearless and funny as dating itself.
COALITION COUNTRY – South Africa after the ANC
Leon Schreiber | Tafelberg | 9780624083948 | R285 We are on the cusp of a momentous change. The ANC has governed South Africa for more than two decades, but its iron grip is slipping. For the first time since 1994 there is no guarantee that it will retain power. If ANC support drops below 50% in the 2019 elections, the political landscape will be transformed dramatically. Will Mmusi Maimane and Julius Malema be in charge? Or will the ANC and the EFF join forces? What will this mean for our nation?
IF THIS BE TREASON
Helen Joseph | Kwela Books | 9780795708176 | R192 In this personal account, Joseph writes about enduring the Treason Trial – one of the longest and most important trials in South African history, where she stood accused along with Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu. With disarming honesty, she shares stories of the women’s prison, the behind-the-scenes discussions with their defence team, the constant daily humiliations, but also their perseverance and small triumphs. This book, originally banned and not available for decades, adds a vital dimension to our understanding of South African history.
‘N LUIPERD IN MY BED
Annelize Slabbert | Tafelberg | 9780624082354 | R260 Annelize Slabbert was ’n joernalis in Johannesburg en haar man, Gerard, ’n apteker. Stedelinge. Toe word hulle moeg vir die lewe in die stad, die spitsverkeer, die gebrek aan stilte en sterre. En hulle volg die krom wandelpad na Die Droom van ’n landelike idille met skape en groen gras. Tot, uiteindelik, in die son en sand van die Sentraal-Kalahari in Botswana waar hulle ’n viersterlodge bestuur. Wat kan dan nou verkeerd loop? ‘n Ware verhaal, uitstekend vertel, skreeusnaaks en aangrypend.
KATELKNAAP
Leon van Nierop | Penguin Random House SA | 9781485903550 | R220 In Katelknaap kry die leser ’n blik op die vroue wat die enigmatiese Tristan Hansen gevorm het en van genot geleer het. Veral saam met een vrou, ver weg in Positano, ’n dorpie in Italië, kon hy hom loswikkel van die beklemming van sy konserwatiewe ma wat hom ná sy pa se selfmoord alleen grootmaak. Maar dit was ook nie die laaste beklemming nie. Op die vooraand van Tristan se 27ste verjaardag vind ons Tristan in sy luukse dakwoonstel in Maboneng, onrustig ná ’n vreemde foonoproep vol dreigende stilte. Terwyl hy kan voel hoe hy deur ’n verkyker dopgehou word en dat die afloerder met iets anders as begeerte na hom kyk, reik sy herinneringe terug na gelukkiger dae in Positano, en na sy opleiding in die kuns van liefdemaak. Also available in English as Toy Boy, ISBN: 9781485903284. 56
