Good Books, Great Gifts

8/10/2019 Good Books, Great Gifts

1/11

The Sunday Times books team scans the shelves for the seasons best

reads to pile up by the pool lounger or wrap and have ready under the

tree. Whether you want to while away the days deep in a thriller or prop

up a new cookbook in your kitchen for inspiration, youll find what

y o ure looking for here. And remember, as the author Garrison Keillor

once remarked, A book is a gift you can open again and again.

Sunday Times

GOODBOOKS

GR E ATGIFTS

16 November - 25 December 2014

Behind the trial of the century

Reeva: A Mothers StoryJune Steenkamp (Sphere R279.90)Its absolutely heartbreaking from thevery first chapter, in which we see aletter that a loving mother wrote toher daughter on her 18th birthday.June, pictured, wants the world toknow who Reeva was not as themodel girlfriend who was shot byOscar Pistorius, but as a strong,independent woman who made a bad

decision: to try and make

a relationship work witha clearly disturbedindividual.

June says: Reeva was abeautiful and intelligentwoman. She was alwaysso much more than justsomeones girlfriend. She

devoted her life to helping peoplearound her and she believedpassionately in human rights. She wasset to make her mark on the world.That opportunity was taken from her.

This book is my way of makingsure she will not be forgotten. I haveto do the best for her now that shehas gone.

A story of gut-wrenching loss.

Behind The Door: TheOscar and Reeva StoryMandy Wiener and BarryBateman (Pan Macmillan

R 2 3 9.9 0 )This book goesbeyond thefacts of the casein search of thewider contextbehind thes h ocking

tragedy: the back-story ofthe police investigation,the nature of the SouthAfrican criminal justicesystem, the culture ofviolence in South Africaand the need for society tocreate flawed heroes whoare destined to fail.

Die Staat Vs OscarMarida Fitzpatrick(Jonathan Ball PublishersR 1 8 9.9 0 )Oscar se moordverhooris n liefdesverhaal wat nmisdaadriller geword het,n sprokie wat in bloedgeindig het. En dis hoeFitzpatrick die verhaalvertel. Tussendeur die

pakkende vertelling isuittreksels uit onderhoude

wat Fitzpatrickmet vanPistorius enRe e vaSteenkamp senaastes gevoerhet: CarlP i s to r i u s

(Oscar se ouer broer),Arnold Pistorius (Oscar seoom en vaderfiguur), KevinLerena (wat een van Oscaren Reevas se beste vriendewas), en Kerryn du Rand(vriendin van Reeva).

Oscar Pistorius: VanSprokie tot TragedieIlse Salzwedel(Penguin R189.90)Vir hierdie boek hetSalzwedel deur n vloedgolfmenings gesif om sin te

maak van dieOscar-saak. nFa s s i n e re n d eprentjie ontvouwa arins le u te l a s p e kteontleed word,soos die belang

van forensiesebesonderhede, diekundigheid van polisie-en regsbeamptes, die rolvan die staat en dieverdediging in die hof, dieeffek van mediadekking opdie publiek se persepsies,en nog meer.

Oscar: An AccidentWaiting to HappenPatricia Taylor andMelinda Ferguson(MFL/Jacana R194.90)

The insidestory of ex-girlfriendSamanthaTaylor stumultuousre l a t io n s h i pwith Oscar as

told by her mother,Patricia. In her lastconversation, Patriciawarned the athlete: O s c a r,you have got to step out ofyour life Something isgoing to go wrong. And itsgoing to happen soonYour life is like this terriblea c c i d e n t .

Some books will be available in CNA stores from end of November

Scarpetta

is a feisty,

independent

powerhousewhose capacity

to concentrate

and observe

rivals SherlockHolmess.

Publishers Weekly

Smith is a

masterful

storyteller,

carefully blendingintrigue, action

and suspense

on a solid

foundation ofhistory.

Publishers Weekly

LeavingTimemay be

Picoults finest

work yet andis sure to

produce much

discussion after

reading it.Bookreporter.com

READ MORE ONmustreadbooks.co.za


2/11

PAGE 2 NOVEMBER 16 2014

Sunday TimesGOOD BOOKS GREAT GIFTS

The many layers of love

Leaving TimeJodi Picoult(Hodder & Stoughton, R279.90)Leaving Times central character is JennaMetcalf, who has never stopped thinkingabout her mother, Alice, whodisappeared in the wake of a tragicaccident. A scientist who studied grief

among elephants, Alice wrote her research amongthe animals she so loved in Botswana. Desperate tofind the truth, Jenna enlists Serenity Jones, a psychicwho rose to fame finding missing persons only tolater doubt her gifts and Virgil Stanhope, a jadedprivate detective.

Under the umbrellaTales of The Metric System

Imraan Coovadia (Umuzi, R249.90)Co ovad i as much anticipated new novel measures SouthA f r i c as recent history in 10 days. He links the lives ofordinary and extraordinary people, brilliantly illustrating

seminal events on the nations timeline.Beginning in 1970, when South Africareplaced the imperial system ofmeasurement with the modern metricsystem, the book traces the anti-apartheidstruggle, the rise of the post-1994 politicalelite, even the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Thenarrative finally returns to the seminal

political year of 1976, with the shadow of repression anddeath looming large. Together the cast of characters which includes white activist s, an Indian rock guitarist,security policemen, members of the Black ConsciousnessMovement, a worker whose dompas has been stolen anda presidential spokesman weave a compelling story ofour complex history. Watch the dark, unsettling trailer:http://bit.ly/Metr icSystem

The Woman Who Stole My LifeMarian Keyes(Michael Joseph, R279.90)Stella Sweeney is an ordinary womanliving an ordinary life with herhusband, Ryan, and their two teenage

kids in Dublin. But oneday Stella is involved in acar accident and connectswith a handsome s trangerwho is also involved. Shehardly gives it muchthought afterwards, butkarma is hovering and is

about to swoop in and change Stellaslife. For better or worse. SuddenlyStella has a life a thrilling andglamorous one.

Blood MagickNora Roberts (Little, Brown, R279.90)If you have faithfully followed the

tragedies and romances ofthe ODwyer clan, makesure you get this last onein the trilogy. County

Mayo is rich in thetraditions of Ireland,legends that BrannaODwyer fully embraces in

her life. But theres a single missinglink in the chain: love. She had it once with Finbar Burke but a sharedfuture is forbidden. And though theysuccumb to the heat between them,there can be no promises forto m o r r o w.

PegasusDanielle Steel(Bantam Press, R289.90)The centre of this latest Steel saga is amagnificent stallion. During World War

2, Nicolas von Bingen andAlex von Hemmerle, titledmembers of the Germanaristocracy, are bestfriends and widowersraising their childrentogether. But Nicolas isforced to flee to America

when its discovered he has Jewishblood. The two friends are forced tomake decisions that will change therest of their lives, as well theirchi l drens.

The Best of MeNicholas Sparks(Little, Brown, R159.90)Another best-selling romance fromSparks, which has also been made into

a film. In 1984 in Oriental,North Carolina, high-school students Amandaand Dawson fall in love but events tear them apart.Twenty-five years later,theyre summoned back

home for the funeral oftheir friend Tuck. As Amanda andDawson carry out the instructionsTuck left behind for them, they realisethat everything they thought theyknew about Tuck, themselves, andthe dreams they held dear was notas it seemed.

A Girl Walks intoA Blind DateHelena S Paige(Delta, R109.90)First it was a bar, then itwas a wedding, now thethird Girl Walks In book isbased on Internet dating

which, as anyone who has done itcan attest, is basically a lottery. But inthis book, you, dear reader, might justget lucky. Like the previous editions,this is also a choose-your-own-sexual-adventure and there are superhot menon offer: a rugged fireman in NewYork, an Italian count or a sculptor inVe n i c e .

UsDavid Nicholls(Hodder & Stoughton, R289.90)For fans of One Day, this novel does

not disappoint. Nicholls(pictured) tackles thebonds of marriage and thedemands of parenthood.Douglas Petersens son isabout to leave for college and his wife of 21 yearsis about to leave him. He

resolves to make their last familyholiday the trip of a lifetime and ajourney to gain back his wifes loveand the respect of his son.

The Children ActIan McEwan(Jonathan Cape, R299.90)This latest novel from the masterfinds him exploring the world oflaw, specifically a judgment in the

Family Court about thefate of a teenage boy.When his JehovahsWitness parents refusethe boy a bloodtransfusion, the judgemust decide whether tooverrule their authorityand force him to have

the treatment. Her decision sparksa slow-burning drama that changeslives irrevocably.

The Love Song of MissQueenie HennessyRachel Joyce (Doubleday, R289.90)The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frywas one of the biggest word-of-mouthhits in recent years, selling upwards oftwo million copies. Rachel Joyce insisted

that she wouldnt write asequel but, she says, the reI was in the kitchen with mychildren when Queeniesstory arrived, it came in aflash, fully dressed. Sheexplains that it is more of a

companion story than a sequel, a bookabout dying that is full of life. You cantreally write about one without theother.

Lets Get Reading.

Kobo has over 4 million of the worlds best titles and award-winningdevices designed especially for Readers. From bestsellers, to kids titles,

Plus, with the free Kobo App you can read on any device

and sync your bookmarks to never lose your spot.

Visit kobobooks.com to learn more.


3/11

PAGE 3NOVEMBER 16 2014


In the grip of a mystery

Gone GirlGillian Flynn (Orion, R169.90)This is the page-turning maritalmystery everyone is talking about.Its sold over eight million copiesalready and will no doubt sell a fewmore now that the movie, starringBen Affleck, is out. Affleck believesGone Girlwas a bestseller becauseit points more specifically, moreelegantly, and more directly at thistheme that we all kind of identifywith, on some level, about

marriage, aboutrelationships, aboutwhat we show oneanother. And that wasadeptly wrapped in theshell of a thriller.

Affleck plays NickDunne, who is accused

of murdering his wife, Amy, played byRosamund Pike. Pike says playing Amymade her feel uncomfortable at times:There were definitely moments when Ifelt very uneasy with how much powerAmy had. And the interesting thing is, myreaction was to laugh, to get sort ofuncontrollable giggles. At the point whereshes at her most powerful, it unnervedsomething in me.

WHERE ARE YOU?Rosamund Pike andBen Affleck inGone Girl. Below,author Gillian Flynn

Flesh and BloodPatricia Cornwell(HarperCollins, R289.90)

Number 22 in the KayScarpetta series.This time theforensic sleuthhas to catch asniper whosevictims havenothing incommon and

are scattered across theUnited States. The mysterytakes Scarpetta first to NewJersey, then to Massachusetts,and then into the murkydepths off the coast of SouthFlorida.

Murder 101Faye Kellerman(HarperCollins, R259.90)Also number 22 in the series.

It has been 27

years since TheRitual Bath, thefirst Decker andLazarus thriller.Now RinaLazarus and herhusband, PeterDecker, have

moved to upstate New Yorkto be near their adultchildren. Decker is workingfor the local police

department and finds it slowgoing at first, until a youngcoed is brutally murdered.

Decker will have to rely onall his experience as a formerLAPD detective to solve thecase.

The Good LifeMartina Cole(Headline, R299.90)Having sold 13 million copiesof her books already, Martina

Cole is a force tobe reckoned withwhen it comes tomystery thrillers.In this one, shefeatures CainMoran, a manobsessed with

Jenny Riley. He wants hermore than he has everwanted anyone or anything.And Jenny wants him. But

Cain is not a free man. Andhes about to find out thatwhen his wife, Caroline, saidUntil death us do part, shemeant it.

Want You DeadPeter James(Pan Macmillan, R109,90)Thirty-year old Red Cameronmeets the man of her dreamsthrough an online dating

agency. BryceLaurent ischar ming ,

handsome and richbut as theirre l a tio n s h ipbecomes serious,

the truth about his dark pastbegins to emerge. Everythinghe has told Red about himselfturns out to be lies, and herinfatuation with himgradually turns to terror.

The Taxidermists DaughterKate Mosse(Orion, R289.90)A gripping gothic thriller setin Sussex in 1912. ConnieGifford lives with her fatherin Blackthorn House,

surrounded bythe remains of hisonce successfult a x i d e r my

business. Shepasses her timeby trying to learnhis trade

painstakingly removing theinnards of dead animals shefinds and then stuffing them.Then she finds a youngwoman drowned in thestream at the bottom of thegarden and unearths terriblesecrets kept by her father.


4/11


Awesome adventuresDesert GodWilbur Smith (HarperCollins, R289.90)Smith, pictured left, commemorates his 50th year as a publishedauthor with his 35th historical epic. In Desert God he returns toAncient Egypt. His hero is a eunuch slave named Taita guardianto Pharoah Tamoses two teenage sisters. This is the first novel in

a six-book deal with HarperCollins. At 81, though, Smith is nat-urally concerned about endings his own and those of his books and has considered employing co-authors. He recently ex-plained: The thing is, I know Im running out of time. I feel I oweit to my readers to complete some of the journeys we embarkedupon together so many years ago.

For the thrill of it

Rev ivalStephen King

(Hodder &St ou ghto n,R 3 0 9.9 0 )A tale of addictionand fanaticism, thisbook is billed ashaving the most

terrifying ending that Stephen King(pictured) has ever written re a s onalone to read it. The story spans fivedecades, beginning in a small NewEngland town where a young boy,Jamie Morton, comes under the spellof a charismatic new preacher, theReverend Charles Jacobs. Jamie growsup to become an itinerant rockguitarist, travelling the country andspiralling into heroin addiction. Heand the Reverend are fated to meetagain, with diabolical consequences.Re v i v a l is Kings fourth novel in twoyears. At 67, he is more prolific than

ever and shows no signs of slowingdown. Stories are relics, part of anundiscovered pre-existing world, hesays. The writers job is to use thetools in his or her toolbox to get asmuch of each one out of the groundas intact as possible.

PersonalLee Child(Bantam Press, R289.90)Fans of Jack Reacher will be

thrilled that their hero isback, traversing the

highways andbyways ofAmerica.Except thatthis time hesneeded inEurope, wherea former US

army sniper has attemptedto assassinate the Frenchpresident. Wait till youmeet the baddie at 2.3m,hes even bigger and moredangerous than Reacherhimself.

The EscapeDavid Baldacci(Pan Macmillan, R249.90)John Puller is a combat

veteran andSpecial Agentin the US Army,a masterinvestigator ofsecurity threatsagainst thenation. A man

with an unbroken record,hes now faced with a bittertask: hunting down hisown brother who has

escaped from a state-of-the-art prison. A pacy, fast read.

Gray MountainJohn Grisham (Hodder &Stoughton, R319.90)Grisham takes on the

recession of2008,centering thestory ontrainee lawyerSamanthaKofer, wholoses her job in

a big NYC firm. Shes forcedto work for no pay in alegal aid clinic in theAppalachian mountainswhere she uncovers a long-buried, lethal secret.

Hope To DieJamesPatterson( C e n t u r y,R 2 8 9.9 0 )Detective AlexCross is back,facing his

greatest challenge ever.His beloved family hasbeen torn from him andhe must track down

their diabolical abductor.Patterson holds theGuinness World Recordfor the most titles by asingle author on theNew York TimesBestseller List. To datehe has sold some 220million books.

CellRobin Cook (PanMacmillan, R109.90)

At the heartof thisintriguingthriller is anew appcalled iDocwhich offerspatients

consultations with

doctors on their cellphones. But when testpatients start dying, ayoung doctor sets out tounravel the mystery.Cook melds tech into hisfamiliar turf of medicinewith compulsive results.


River GodWilbur Smith(Pan Macmillan, R99.90)The one to get before read-ing Desert God, in whichTaita is is owned by LordIntef and primarily looksafter his daughter, Lostris.

Vicious CircleWilbur Smith (PanMacmillan, R149.90)London security expertHector Cross, now mar-ried to Hazel Bannock,

continues to battle Somaliwarlord Tippoo Tip in thissequel to Those in Peril.

Eye of HeavenClive Cussler(Michael Joseph, R289.90)Baffin Island, Canada: Husband-and-wife team Sami and Remi Fargo are on

an environmental expedi-tion to the Arctic whenthey discover a Viking shipin the ice, perfectly pre-served and filled with pre-Columbian artifacts fromMexico. Its a combinationhistory suggests shouldnt

be possible. As the couple plunge intotheir research, they soon find them-selves on the run through jungles, tem-ples and secret tombs.

The HunterTony Park(Quercus, R279.90)Safari guide and private in-vestigator Hudson Brandhunts people, not animals.Hes on the trail of LinleyBrown, who has been

named as the beneficiary of a life in-surance policy. Detective Sannie vanRensburg is also looking for Linley, aswell as a serial killer. Top of her list of

suspects is Hudson Brand. The two crosspaths and swords as they track Linley fromSouth Africa and Zimbabwe to the wilds ofKe nyas Masai Mara game reserve.

The Edge of EternityKen Follett(Pan Macmillan, R329.90)This is the end to the sweeping saga of atrilogy that follows the fortunes of five

intertwined families of differ-ent nationalities Ameri-can, German, Russian,English and Welsh as theymake their way through the

20th century. This finale cov-ers one of the most tumul-tuous eras of all: the 1960s

through the 1980s, encompassing civilrights, assassinations, Vietnam, the BerlinWall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, presidentialimpeachment, revolution and rock nroll.

MAKING TRACKS: Tony Park


5/11



Get set to be motivated

What I Know for SureOprah Winfrey (Pan Macmillan, R229.90)

The story goes that Oprah was once asked bymovie critic Gene Siskel, What do you knowfor sure? In response she started writing amonthly column in her magazine calledWhat I Know For Sure, and this book gathersthe best of them. Here is an excerpt:

The first time Tina Turner appeared on myshow, I wanted to run away with her, be abackup girl, and dance all night at herconcerts. Well, that dream came true onenight in LA when The Oprah Winfrey Showwent on tour with Tina. After a full daysrehearsal for just one song, I got my chance.

It was the most nerve-racking, knee-shaking, exhilarating experience ever. For 5minutes and 27 seconds I got a chance to feelwhat its like to rockonstage. I have never been

more out of my element,out of my body. I remembercounting the steps in myhead, trying to keep therhythm, waiting for the bigkick, and being so self-conscious.

Then, in an instant, itdawned on me: Okay, girl,this is going to be oversoon. And if I didnt loosenup, I would miss the fun. SoI threw my head back,forgot about step, step, turn,kick, and just danced.WHEEEEW!

Several months later Ireceived a package from my friend andmentor Maya Angelou shed said she wassending me a gift shed want any daughter ofhers to have.

When I ripped it open, I found a CD of a

song by Lee Ann Womack that I can stillhardly listen to without boohooing. Thesong, which is a testament to Mayas life, hasthis line as its refrain: When you get the

choice to sit it out or dance, I hope

you dance.What I know for sure is that

every day brings a chance foryou to draw in a breath, kick offyour shoes, and s tep out anddance to live free of regretand filled with as much joy, fun,and laughter as you can stand.You can either waltz boldly ontothe stage of life and live the wayyou know your spirit is nudgingyou to, or you can sit quietly bythe wall, receding into theshadows of fear and self-doubt.

You have the choice this verymoment the only momentyou have for certain. I hope you

a re nt so wrapped up in nonessential stuffthat you forget to really enjoy yourself because this moment is about to be over.

I hope youll look back and remembertoday as the day you decided to make every

one count, to relish each hour as if therewould never be another. And when you getthe choice to sit it out or dance, I hope youdance.

Inspired: Remarkable South Africans

Share their StoriesJennifer Lyndsey-Renton(Pan Macmillan, R239.90)With a foreword by Trevor Manuel, thisis a treasury of advice, anecdote andpersonal motivations from a broad rangeof South Africans from Edwin Cameronto Kabelo Mabalane, Francois Pienaar toThuli Madonsela. A great gift to kickstartthe new year.

Act Like a Success, Think Like a SuccessSteve Harvey (HarperCollins, R219.90)The highly anticipated follow-up to Act Like aLady, Think Like a Man and Straight Talk, NoChaser, is about what it takes to be successful.

The Power of theHeartBaptist de Pape (Simon& Schuster, R289.90)De Pape was a dispiritedyoung lawyer when hefelt the calling to explorehow we could each findour true purpose in life.After interviewing 18eminent figures,including Isabel Allende,Jane Goodall and GaryZukav, he presents histheory that the heart is asource of wisdom thatsurpasses the mind.

The Uncomfortable TruthGayton McKenzie (ZAR Publishers, R199.90)The former bank robber-turned high-rollingmotivational guru has another new book on theshelves, this time aimed at women. Ever ywoman needs to know where she stands with a

m a n , he says. His aim is to help empowerwom e n .

TAFELBERG ILLUMINATES

THE PAST & THE FUTURE

Also available as ebookswww.nb.co.za

@NBPublishers


6/11

PAGE 7NOVEMBER 16 2014AGE 6 NOVEMBER 16 2014

Nurturingn a t u re

Greener Tomorrowritten By South Africansracey McDonald Publishers,45)

omedian Marc Lotteringsictured) green tip is: I haveligiously started dropping my

ottles off for recycling. Not onlyoes it make me feelod, it also makes mealise that there are wayo many Sauvignon

ottles on a Mondayorning. Recycling haslped me to cut down!He is one of the manylebrated South Africansho give their tips in thisook on how to save theanet one action at ame. You know youould be doingmething to help savee Earth, but it soundshard. Going green all at

once is toomuch foralmost anyone toachieve. So thisbook gives simpleand easy tips onhow to try to makejust one change be it at work,

home, or in your garden ch week. Check outww.agreenertomorrow.co.za

r the tip of the day.

Guide to the Aloesof South AfricaBen-Erik van Wyk &Gideon Smith (Briza,R 3 49.9 0 )This full-colour guidemakes it easy to

identify aloes all 125 of thespecies found in South Africa.Packed with information on theplants features, flowering period,

conservation status, the origin ofscientific and common names, aswell as notes on traditional uses.

The Poachers MoonRichard Peirce(Struik Nature, R159.90)Peirce says in his dedication:This book is dedicated to Higginsand Lady and to all the rhinos,dead and alive, that have been

attacked bypoachers. It is alsodedicated to thebrave men andwomen some ofwhom have beenkilled doing theirjobs who work in

the front line trying to protectanimals.Part of the proceeds goto SAVA rhino rescue.

Bonsai(Dorling Kindersley, R259.90)A perfect gift for the buddinggardener. The ancient practice of

bonsai is demystified and broughtinto the 21st century with a clear

step-by-step guide.It offers easy-to-follow advice withsequences coveringthe traditionalstyles of Chokkan,Moyogi, Shakan,and Kengai, as well

as deadwood bonsai styles such asIshizuki, Yose Uye, and Sharimiki.

The Planets(DorlingKi n de r s l ey,R 2 8 9.9 0 )In the foreword weare reminded thatpeople have onlystood on only one

other world besides Earth. Packedwith facts, this book shows indetail what each planet has incommon, what sets each apart, andjust how they all fit into our solarsystem .

The Science Book

(Dorling Kindersley, R259.90)Takes scientific facts, theories and

concepts andbreaks them downinto short,digestibledescriptions thatare easy tounderstand whether youre

eight or 80. Organisedchronologically, starting in 600BCE until the present time.

History of the Worldin 1000 Objects(Dorling Kindersley, R379.90)A fresh look at world history,viewing cultures and civilisations

through theobjects theycreated. From aViking woodencomb to a 1950sfridge - freezer,you can uncoverwhat peoples

priorities were from what theymade. Celebrate humanitys

extraordinary legacy of creativitywith this book.

STILL HORNY: Black rhinos are protected by the International Anti Poaching Foundation Picture: MARIANNE SCHWANKHART

Sunday TimesGOOD BOOKS GREAT GIFTS Sunday TimesGOOD BOOKS GREAT GIFTS

Brain Porn:The Best Of Daily Maverick(Tafelberg, R184.90)The Daily Maverick is the go-to sitefor smart, sharp news and commentary.Gathered here is some of the outstanding and often irreverent opinion andanalysis from the likes of Stephen Grootes,Ivo Vegter and Alex Eliseev. Expect take-downs of firepools, e-tolls, the Blade Runnerand the Commander-in-Chief himself.

Here is an excerpt from Max du Preezs foreword:

Every now and then a voice from outside journalism pops upin Daily Mavericks offering: a bright young voice like KalimRajab, or a wise older voice like Jay Naidoo or RaymondSuttner. And, unlike most other online news sources, thecomments section is a place where real debate can take place.As its reminder to those who comment says: Here, we dontpity the fool. We remove them.

South Africa has become a confusing place in which to live.The res a lot of shouting, too many charlatans, too muchposturing, too much obfuscation and not enough reasoningand truth-telling; theres not nearly enough digging below thesurface (read Greg Marinovichs brilliant piece fromSeptember 2012, The cold murder fields of Marikana, for anexample of how this digging should be done). As Phaedrussaid to Socrates in Platos Phaedrus, Things are not alwayswhat they seem; the first appearance deceives many; theintelligence of a few perceives what has been carefullyhidden.In five short years, Daily Maverick has become amust-read for all who want an informed and stimulatedopinion about their political and social environment. Afterreading this collection of the best of Daily Maverick, I noddedand said to myself, At least theres Daily Maverick.

Long live!

Still an Inconvenient YouthFiona Forde (Pan Macmillan, R159.90)A timely update of Fordes first biography of JuliusMalema,An Inconvenient Youth. The backgrounddetails are all here, such as his childhood povertyin Mpumalanga and his rise through the ANCYouth League ranks. Forde brings the story up todate with the storming of parliament by the EFFin red overalls.

Justice DeniedDavid Klatzow (Zebra Press, R259.90)Forensic scientist Dr David Klatzow leads usthrough shocking miscarriages of justice over the

last century, including the Dingo baby trial inAustralia and the unsolved Inge Lotz case in SouthAfrica. The outspoken author also examines theproblems in our local police laboratories and whatneeds to be done to improve them.

Ragged Glory: A Rainbow Nationin Black and WhiteRay Hartley (Jonathan Ball Publishers, R224.90)This fluent, highly readable book traces the storyso far of our idealistic, flawed democracy. Hartley,an eminent editor and commentator, avoids dryanalysis, filling his book w ith behind-the-scenesdrama and anecdotes, and providing the readerwith valuable insight into where we have comefrom and where we are headed.

A Man of Good HopeJonny Steinberg(Jonathan Ball Publishers, R219.90)Few writers have laid bare the issues in our societyas acutely and compassionately as Steinberg, bethey the subjects of HIV, victims of farm murders,or members of gangs. In this book, the multi-award-winning author examines the issue oftransmigration by telling the story of AsadAbdullahi, a Somali orphan who made his waydown the length of the continent to a life in SA.

Thought leaders

The Great Silence: From Mushroom Valley to DelvilleWood, South African Forces in World War OneTim Couzens (Sunday Times & Art Publishers, R249)

I am haunted by the silent dead. So writes acclaimed

historian Tim Couzens in this history of South African

troops in WW1. To mark the centenary of the Great War,Couzens meticulously brings the details of South Africasdifferent campaigns to light, with a dedicated chapter oneach major theatre of action, from Sandfontein to DelvilleWood, plus a special chapter on the contribution of black

South African troops to the Alliesultimate victory.

Fully illustrated with over 150 photographs, maps andgraphics, and with eight special insets on some of the moreextraordinary characters in the war such as Jackie thebaboon, who was wounded by shrapnel on the WesternFront and returned to South Africa a hero The Great

Silence takes us into the dark heart of the Great War itself.

Above, Tim Couzens. Right, Jackie the baboon (picturesupplied by Louis Laureau after reading an extract fromThe Great Silencein Sunday Times on August 3), andDelville Wood from the corner at Longueval

JAMESOATWAY

PLATO LIVES ON: Max du PreezPicture: JAMES OATWAY


7/11



Mitch The Real StoryJohn Mitchell with Gavin Rich(Zebra Press, R229.90)

Excerpt from Gavin Richs author note:

It always confounded me as it did many SouthAfricans that Mitch was dropped asAll Black coach with an 86% win record. In SouthAfrica, the Springbok coach is considered to havedone really well if he manages to hit the 70%mark. That was just one element of the JohnMitchell story I wanted to hear for myself. Therewere many more, because even though there hasbeen much written about the highs and lows, thetriumphs and controversies of Mitchs career, hisown version of events has been conspicuouslyabsent until now.

Mitch is one of the select group of men who Ifeel just exudes rugby through every pore (RobbieDeans, Ian McIntosh and Nick Mallett being theothers), and his appearances on SuperSport as astudio analyst confirmed to me that he has hadexperiences, and is possessed of a rugby brain, thatshould be shared.

There have been many perceptions of Mitch, butas he says in the book, perception is often just

that, and what the media make out to be acontroversy is, at the end of the day, just adifference of opinion

While Mitch is the first to admit to mistakes inhis 20 years as one of the pioneer coaches inprofessional rugby, hopefully the telling of hisstory will correct some of the misperceptions ofpeople who dont know him well or know the fullfacts behind the situations that gave rise toco nt r ove r s y.

Nothing Left to StealMzilikazi wa Afrika(Penguin R239.90) )Mzilikazi wa Afrika has given up

counting the death threats hereceives, so frequent have theybecome. In fact, he shrugs, if aweek passes without one I getworried Im not doing my job.

The ace Sunday Timesinvestigative journalist has mademany enemies in the course of hiscareer, driven as he is to expose the

abuse of power. Dina Pule, Bheki Cele, Tony Yengeni andSchabir Shaik are just a few of the figures he has pursued,and his unmasking of the R1.7-billion lease scandalbetween Cele and property tycoon Roux Shabangu led tohis arrest in 2010.

Subtitled Jailed for telling the truth, the book looks athis difficult childhood in Bushbuckridge and shows how aresistance to oppression and inequality shaped hisunwavering drive for justice.

What keeps him going in the face of perpetual threat?My determination to be on the side of truth, he says.

My service to this country and my people is my patrioticduty.

We learn, too, of the importance of music, movies andfamily in his life, and his respect for the craft ofjournalism.

Writing the book has made me wiser, says wa Afrika.By retracing my steps I found out where I had got thingswrong, so I wont repeat those mistakes.

125: The Black and White StoryWim van der Berg(Tracey McDonald Publishers,R 2 3 9.9 0 )The defining moment in the history ofNatal and Sharks rugby was in 1990when they won the Currie Cup for thefirst time, fittingly in the centenaryyear of the Natal Rugby Union. And inthe past 25 years, the KwaZulu-NatalRugby Union has gone from strength to

strength. Rich in anecdotes, Van der Bergs history of theUnion takes us back to its beginnings in 1890 and brings usright up to 2014.

Golf: The Ultimate Guide(Dorling Kindersley, R259.90)A comprehensive guide to playingand watching golf, this is theperfect book for all enthusiasts,from keen spectators andbeginners to pros. Theres afascinating look at golfing history,a definitive guide to high-techequipment, and a look at 75 of thewo rl ds best golf courses.

The Sporting Madiba:50 Famous PhotosGallo Images (Jonathan BallPublishers, R229.90)Features photographs of thesporting Madiba alongside TigerWoods, David Beckham, John Smit,Gary Player, Graeme Smith, LucasRadebe, Bryan Habana, FrancoisPienaar, Ernie Els, Sir AlexFerguson, Cristiano Ronaldo, BabyJake Matala, Lennox Lewis,Muhammad Ali and many more.

Suarez: The Remarkable Story BehindFootballs Most Explosive TalentLuca Caioli (Icon, R189.90)

The bestselling biographer tacklesSu a re z s life story, from his humblebeginnings in Uruguay to his big-moneymove to Barcelona in June this year. Hetakes an in-depth look into Suarezscharacter, covering his 10-match ban forbiting an opponent, tracking his goa l-scoring for Liverpool last season andcovering the World Cup in Brazil, where

the footballer saw his tournament curtailed after just twogames, two goals and one moment of madness.

The eye on the prize

So, AnywayJohn Cleese(Random House Books, R284.90)

John Cleese needs no introduction. Hiscomic genius has entertained us fordecades and we never tire of MontyPython jokes and Fawlty Towers re run s.Now his autobiography throws new lighton those classics, and on the upbringingthat forged his lethal sense of humour.Its a must for his fans.

My Lions HeartGareth Patterson(Tracey McDonaldPublishers, R264.90)The subtitle says it all:A Life for the Lions ofAfrica. Patterson looksback at his 40 yearsamong the great cats,and his escalating fightto protect them. Watchthe moving trailerabout the book athttp://bit.ly/MyLionsHeart

Memoirs and more

PATRIOT & ACTIVIST: Mzilikazi wa Afrika, whosays writing this book has made him wiserPicture: SIMPHIWE NKWALI

RUGBY IN HIS BLOOD: A triumphant John Mitchell in 1992


8/11



Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul(Book 9)Jeff Kinney (Penguin, R190)A family road trip is supposed to be a lot offun ... unless, of course, youre the Heffleys.The journey starts off full of promise, thenquickly takes several wrong turns. Gas stationbathrooms, crazed seagulls, and an accident isnot Greg Heffleys idea of a good time. Buteven the worst road trip can turn into anadventure and this is one the Heffleyswont soon forget. Theres a new character inthe book a pig that Manny wins at a countyfair who is bound to cause problems in a cramped mini van.Watch the trailer at http://bit.ly/WimpyNine

Years from now, when all the toys are broken, your children will still havetheir books. These classic collections will live on on their bookshelves,part of their cherished childhood memories of bedtime stories and quiet

hours reading alone.

Dorks, death games & dwarves Stories to enchant

Classic Treasury -Christmas Stories(Miles Kelly Publishing Ltd, R130)Feed the excitement in the lead-upto Christmas by reading thesemagical stories with your littleones. All the favourite tales arehere, along with lesser-known talesfrom Charles Dickens and L FrankBaum. Brightly coloured andenchantingly illustrated.

ClassicTreasury -BedtimeStories(Miles KellyPublishingLtd, R130)

Classic Treasury -Nursery Rhymes(Miles KellyPublishing Ltd, R130)

LittleGoldenBook -DisneyPlanes 2(Pearson,R50)

DisneyPlanes 2My BusyBooks

(PearsonR210)

Paddington - TheMovie Storybook(JBP, R120)

BestChristmasBook EverRicha rd

Scarry (JBP,R125)

Listen tothe MoonMichaelM orp u rgo( H a r p e r-Collins,R205)

Aunty AwfulDavidWa l l i a m s(HarperCollins,R205)

Dork Diaries: OnceUpon a DorkRachel Rene Russell(Simon & Schuster, R140)

House ofRo botsJamesPatters on(ArrowR210)

TimmyFai lure:We meetagainSte phanPastis(Wa l ke rBooks, R139)

The Maze

RunnerJamesDashner(Scholastic,R180)

The HungerGames:MockingjaySuzanne Collins(Scholastic,R205)

HungerGames(Trilogy

Box Set)SuzanneCollins(Scholastic,R520)

The Hobbit:The Battleof the FiveArmies: MovieStor ybookNatash aHughes(HarperCollins,R135)

The Heroes ofOlympus: TheBlood of OlympusRick Riordan(Puffin, R200)

Percy Jackson andthe Greek GodsRick Riordan(Puffin, R270)

Dangerous CreaturesKami Garcia & MargaretStohl (Puffin, R170)

Wate r fa llLauren Kate( D o u b l e d a y,R210)

Saving GraceJane Green

Behind the DoorMandy Wiener and Barry Bateman

The EscapeDavid Baldacci

InspiredJennifer Lindsey-Renton

What I Know for SureOprah Winfrey

thi Summer

How to DriveBen Collins

Edge of EternityKen Follett

The Meaning of LuckSteve Waugh


9/11



T h e re s nothing like a box full of goodies to keepthe kids active. These fun activity titles willoccupy them for hours.

Fabulous food Durban CurrySo Much of FlavourErica Platter et al(PawPawPublishing/Jacana R295)Every South Africanknows that Durban curryis unique. Of course,the re s not just oneDurban curry, but many,descended from therecipes of the workersbrought in to labour onthe Natal sugar farms. Arange of authors and chefshave contributed theirknowledge to thisfascinating collection ofrecipes and curry lore,which traces the DNA ofthis singular SouthAfrican cuisine.

SeasonsBountySophia Lindop(Booksto r m,R 2 3 9.9 0 )The re s a trendtowards trackingthe seasons inour food buying.Instead ofbuyingexpensive andgreen-unfriendly

fruit andve ge tableimports, consumers are looking for whatslocal and fresh. But there are only so manyways to eat asparagus, right? Wrong. HereSophia Lindop draws on her dual Lebaneseand Afrikaans heritage to produce delectablerecipes with a modern spin.

Cooked In The Karoo

Justin Bonello (Penguin, R339.90)The Bonello phenomenon rolls on, this timethrough the vast reaches of the Karoo, whathe calls his happy place. Here he meetsremarkable people and tastes their traditionalfood. Expect many a lamb dish, of course, likefat-wrapped skilpadjies, and Bonellos favouritekliprib ribs cooked between two blisteringstones. He also recounts marvellous tales ofthe farmers he meets. This is the place Godcomes to think, one farmer told him.

Jamies Comfort FoodJamie Oliver(Michael Joseph, R489.90)You cant put a foot wrongwith Jamie Olivers recipes.Utterly reliable, utterlydelicious. In this newcollection of scrumptioushappy classics, he treats usto a fluffy HummingbirdCake and a gargantuanInsanity Burger, which hebrushes with mustard andTabasco to build up agnarly layer of seasoning.The Curried Fish Pie isirres i sti bl e .

Fresh From The VegetarianKitchenMellissa Bushby(Struik Lifestyle, R249.90)If youre wanting to extend Meat-Free Mondays further into the weekfor your family, Mellissa Bushby hasthe inspiration you need. A long-time vegetarian with a husband andtwo young sons to feed, she growsmuch of her own produce in theLowveld. Recipes include home-made breads and desserts. Bushbyis a popular blogger and herPinterest page is equally inspiring.

Cook. Better.Nikki Werner and Brandon de Kock(Quivertree, R399.90)This promises to be the t a- d a moment forthose who have been cooking, duty bound, foryears, but didnt show up for basic training!Foodies Werner and De Kock stress that whilethere are recipes in this book, its more ablueprint for technique and general kitchennous, including genius uses for seasoning andhow to turn out a foolproof fillet.

Star FishDaisy Jones (Quivertree, R449.90)This cookbook is riding the wave ofa new awareness about sustainablefish and seafood, and is a welcomeaddition to the kitchen shelf. Daisy

Jones provides recipes for only thetop 10 most sustainable fish on theSASSI green list, and writes withwit and an eye for colourfulanecdotes about vloeking o y s te rfarmers and third-generationt re k n et te r s .

A Life DigestedPete Goffe Wood(Quivertree, R379.90)This book charts a paththrough the Masterchefjudges culinary experiences.Each chapter is driven bystories around what Goffe-Wood finds most important

as a cook, so rather than thetypical anthology of starters,main courses and desserts, itneeds to be read andsavoured just as youwould his food.

1000 Juices, Green Drinks& SmoothiesDeborah Gray(Struik Lifestyle, R219.90)Sales of juicers are rocketing aspeople discover the health benefitsand fresh taste of natural drinks andsmoothies. Deborah Gray lays out ahundred fo und a t io n juices andsome 900 variations, with essentialinformation on equipment andingredients. There are RestorativeDrinks to perk up the skin andcombat sluggishness, BreakfastBlasts such as the Coffee Fix, and aheavenly Ginger Daiquiri Fizz. Youmight need two juicers in the house.Ask Father Christmas.

Keeping them busy

Glamour Girl Make-Up Kit Princess (Hinkler,R110), Glamour Girl Make-Up Kit Pop Diva(Hinkler, R110),Glamour Girl Studio Gift BoxNail Art Studio (Hinkler, R140), Zap Extra Series2: Fun Tape (Hinkler, R99.90), 501 Things forthe Quick Draw Kid (Hinkler, R150), JuniorChef Cooking Class (Hinkler, R170), Zap ExtraSeries 2: Loom Bracelets (Hinkler, R99.90),Glamour Girl Studio Gift Box Body Art Studio(Hinkler, R140)

AUNTY KS SECRETDURBAN MASALA

5 tsp chilli powder2 tsp dhania powder1 tsp turmeric1 tsp jeera powderPinch cinnamon powder tsp soomph powderPinch elachi powder tsp garam masala

Mix all ingredientstogether

500g strawberries340g sugar

juice of 1 lemon4 tbsp crme de cassis

Preheat the oven to 220C.Arrange strawberries in asingle layer in a roastingpan coated with a non-stick cooking spray.Sprinkle with the sugarand place in the preheatedoven. Roast them, stirring2 or 3 times, for 20minutes or until the sugar,reduced to a jewel-redsyrup, starts to boil. Addthe juice of a lemon to theconserve and allow the

mixture to cool for about15 minutes. Turn into asterilised, warm jar. Pourover a thin film of crmede cassis and place the lidon securely. Serve withscones and cream.

Roasted strawberry conserve

Barbie - My First LibraryMattell (Pan Macmillan, R215)Filled with books about all the things a little girl loves.With its wide selection of tales, this six-book librarywill ensure story time is never be dull.

Brilliant box sets

Angelinas StoryboxKatharine Holabird (Penguin, R550)Roald Dahl 15 Fantastic StoriesRoald Dahl (Penguin, R499)Diary of Wimpy Kid CollectionJeff Kinney (Penguin, R350)

Cookbook of theyear: Winner

Cookbook of the year: Highly commended

Cookbook of theyear: Runner-up


10/11


Cake DecoratingGrace Stevens(Struik Lifestyle, R219.90)Viewers addicted to food TVprogrammes like Cake Boss and

C ha rle ys Cake Angelswill love thisbook, written by local cake queenGrace Stevens. The founder ofCupcakes by Design in CapeTown, Stevens is a skilleddecorator and travels throughoutSouth Africa and overseas toshare her expertise. Full colour,step-by-step photography willhave you up to the elbows infondant before you know it.

Weber BraaiBibleJamesPurviance(Struik Lifestyle,R 2 8 9.9 0 )Yo ull want toentertain everyday this summer heck, all year armed withthis guide.Whether you

use a gas or charcoal kettle braai,Purviance will correct your basic methodsfor steak, chops and wors, and theninspire you to branch out into makingyour own marinades and rubs, braaingveggies and crisping up a pizza on thegrill. The book will be falling apart by the

time summers over!

Perfect PartiesJanet Kohler(Struik Lifestyle, R329.90)Durban cookery teacher and cordonbleu chef Janet Kohler is famous forher glorious parties. Here she sharesher advice on how to plan and pull

off special celebrations likeengagements, baby showers andweddings, as well as splendidChristmas tables and high teas. Withexquisite styling by Penelope Mitchell,the book contains suggested recipesand preparation count-downs too.

Step-By-Step CakeDe c o ratingKaren Sullivan (DorlingKindersley, R199.90)You may have all theimagination and creativity tomake memorable cakes, but

you need to be skilled inbasic techniques to producethem perfectly. This is anencyclopaedic guide to cakedecoration, with clear, step-by-step photographs of suchtechniques as piping,stencilling and painting.And recipes for variouskinds of icing will ensurethat the cakes taste as goodas they look.


Thats entertainment

Girls On FireCamilla Comins(Jacana, R179.90)Tired of being banished to thekitchen to make the salads whilethe guys char the meat on thebraai? This is a clarion call to girls

to grab the tongs and take over from making a good fire toperfecting a sizzled steak, withideas for healthy dishes, too. Tellthem to make the salad.

2015 PlattersWine GuideJohn Platter(John Platter, R195)South Africas favouritewine adviser will helpyou choose just the rightones for your festiveseason parties. A down-to-earth, witty guide:If we can help youchoose a bottle to getexcited about, invest in,

show off with, cook up a storm over, orjust enjoy for its own sake, wed considerit a job done.

Cupcakes With A KickSimone Balman(Metz/Blue Weaver, R189.90)

Heres something to make yourparty swing: pretty cupcakesinfused with hooch that willhave your guests begging formore. Some have liqueur inthe icing, some have wine orbeer in the cake itself, andsome have soft centres oozingcocktails. Strictly adults only!

Sleuthing

Twitching

Storytelling

Available now from all good bookstores

Its Rider Haggard withbirds! Hidden secretsin remote exotic lands,hearsay and scraps oftreasure but no map!

Chris Packham

www.jacana.co.za


11/11

Documents

Good Books, Great Gifts