Book Choice - May 2018

This happy hour Andrew Marjoribanks, with, as always, a bagful of the best in fiction and non-fiction from Wordsworth Books. Philip Todres talks to Jeremy Maggs, one of ENca’s brightest and best presenters, who says very nice things about FMR and whose book Compelling Conversations with 20 Successful South Africans is indeed compelling. Cindy Moritz holds her breath over AJ Finn’s The Woman in the Window, a psychological thriller for anyone who loved Gone Girl or Girl on the Train. Conservationist John Hanks flightily reviews Featherings – True Stories in Search of Birds edited by twitcher Vernon RL Head while Melvyn Minnaar rekindles his pleasure in Peter Carey in his 14th novel A Long Way from Home. Jay Heale has deserted us for the delights of Napier, author Lesley Beake, involved with reading, writing and children all her life, has stepped in with The Skin We Are In by storyteller Sindiwe Magona. Lesley is also the Director of Children’s Book Network: www.childrensbook.co.za. Peter Soal was most moved by Helen Joseph’s most moving memoir If this be Treason of the longest political trial in South African history, and Coalition Country by Leon Schreiber who writes: We are on the cusp of a momentous change. Celebrity cook Phillippa Cheifitz wields her wooden spoon through two very different cookbooks - The Gourmet Cookbook by Bernadette le Roux and Something’s Cooking by J’Something, one elegant with recipes for the finest dining, the other real robust fare. The 2018 Jewish Literary Festival takes place on June 17 with more than 80 authors involved in workshops and talks. Booking is open now: www.jewishliteraryfestival.co.za.