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ON OUR BOOKSHELF
HIKING CAPE TOWN Evelyn John Holtzhausen I Struik Nature
With its famous mountains and lush forests, Cape Town is a hiker’s paradise, and this helpful guide includes excursions suitable for both experienced hikers and newcomers. It covers 35 different routes throughout the Cape Peninsula and beyond, including memorable trails along the coast, through nature reserves, and more. Included with the full-colour maps and helpful descriptions are sections covering hiking gear advice, mountain safety, and tips for emergency situations.
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SACRED NATURE Angela Scott & Jonathan Scott I HPH Publishing South Africa
The Scotts have created a stunning wildlife photography book that aims to support the conservation of the planet and its wild places. The gift-worthy coffee table compilation showcases unique and captivating images of the planet and its untamed regions, and includes an overarching message that humanity should do everything within its power to protect these habitats before they cease to exist.
ON THE ROCKS Thando Pato I NB Publishers
Everything is not what it appears to be in Thando Pato’s life. From the outside, it seems as if she has it all together - an amazing job, a beautiful apartment, and a fancy car. But on the inside, she is falling apart thanks to a deep denial of her destructive drinking habits. From convincing herself that the ‘bottle or two’ a night are simply to help her ‘unwind’ to facing the reality of her alcoholism, On the Rocks charts the path of addiction recovery with candour and compassion. Personifying the universal challenges of midlife, the novel’s protagonist embarks on a threemonth sabbatical from marriage and motherhood. On her journey through the Australian bush, she is joined by other women who - after some awkward initial challenges - join her in releasing powerful emotions and sharing insights on the mysteries of midlife, monogamy, motherhood, and more.
In this fascinating novel, protagonist Esme’s father is one of the men tasked with compiling the Oxford English Dictionary. Esme discovers that a word has been excluded - ‘bondmaid’, which refers to a young woman who is bound to serve until her death. She goes on to find a host of other discarded words, which she uses to create her own manuscript - Women’s Words, and their Meanings. Central to the book is the question of whether words mean different things to men and women and - if they do - what is lost in the process of defining them.
FERTILITY SOS Daminda Senekal-Griessel I Daminda Senekal-Griessel
Fertility coach Daminda SenekalGriessel offers a holistic resource and approach for couples struggling to conceive by focusing on the root causes of infertility and helping readers to better understand their general health. She outlines the reasons couples may be facing difficulty conceiving, and includes possible solutions to help them fall pregnant naturally. The gentle, step-bystep approach aims to help alleviate the psychological and financial pressures that often face couples struggling with fertility. A helpful companion, it includes resources and tracking charts for essential factors such as the menstrual cycle, PCOS, PH, and body temperature plus discussion points to bring up during doctors’ visits. It also includes a list of natural supplements for both men and women that may assist with fertility.
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A refreshing take on the usual memoir format, this memorable book begins with the author in her mother’s womb. The reader is transported through her world and included in all the hard life lessons she experiences. Her unstable relationship with her mother is explored, as well as the dynamics between the incompatible love interests she encounters in her quest for connection as a result of her early experiences. In a highly relatable fashion, the author seeks to develop her selfawareness from all her failings, eventually experiencing a moving awakening that allows her to accept her vulnerability and build the life she has always envisioned for herself.
CHASING MARIAN Amy Heydenrych, Qarnita Loxton, Pamela Power & Gail Schimmel I Pan Macmillan
This feel-good South African novel is sure to get you giggling! The authors have collaborated to offer a delightful account of four strangers who have just one thing in common – they’re each avid fans of bestselling Irish author, Marian Keyes. After their chance encounter online, they hear about her imminent arrival in South Africa, which calls for frenzied plans to get the chance to meet her. Heartfelt, humorous and easy to read, Chasing Marian recounts the fantastic follies of friendship.
EASY ONE POT WITHOUT THE CALORIES Justine Pattison I Orion Publishing Co
One pot meals are so hot right now - especially if it’s as simple as chopping it up and chucking it in! This accessible recipe collection is perfect for those looking for easy solutions to quick, tasty meals that also support a weight loss or maintenance journey. Highlights include a fried pan chicken pie, a beef curry, and a traditional (yet simplified) cassoulet.
SHE DOWN THERE Lyton Francois Burger I Penguin Random House SA
Claire is a half woman, half sea creature who swims out beyond the waves to be with all the magical sea animals. She descends from Canada’s native Haida people, and ocean water runs through her veins. A tragedy causes her to stumble south, where she finds herself in Mozambique’s warm waters. Here, she fights to protect the region’s coral reefs and meets Klaas Afrikaaner - a navy diver on an undercover military mission to rise to his calling by fighting against the shark fin trade. The two are united by their mutual love for the ocean and their need to keep it safe. The fantastical novel is as much a piece of ecological advocacy as it is a love story, and it aims to educate readers on the world’s oceans, the creatures living in them, and what can be done to save them.
