Review by: John Kurtenbach Crooks and Straights by Masha du Toit The story at first sounds like the typical struggle between those with magic (Crooks) and those without (Straights). The plot follows young Gia as she learns about the abilities and special qualities of her younger brother, Nico. Cape Town had been a haven for … Continue reading #INTLYALITMONTH: Crooks and Straights by Masha du Toit
#INTLYALITMONTH: Spud by John Van de Ruit
Review by: John Kurtenbach Spud by John van de Ruit Spud is perhaps the most successful South African Young Adult title. Written in diary style, the story follows John “Spud” Milton and his adventures at a private school in 1990 South Africa. The book is a bildungsroman of sorts as Spud offers hilarious stories of … Continue reading #INTLYALITMONTH: Spud by John Van de Ruit
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Best Meal Ever!
Set in Gugulethu and signalling to the persisting inequalities that define both this Apartheid-era established township and South Africa as a whole, The Best Meal Ever! by Sindiwe Magona is a heart-warming story of hope amidst trying times. Written for children ages 7-9, this picture book features beautiful watercolor illustrations by Paddy Bouma. The story … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Best Meal Ever!
South African Womxn Writing – Day 19: 245 South African Womxn’s novels you should read now (2015 – 2019)
In early 2020 I started making a list of all the fiction novels written South African women writers published between 1994 and 2019. I wrote more about this project, here. When I began I thought it would be labour intensive, but not overly complicated. I was right in one respect. Making a list of the … Continue reading South African Womxn Writing – Day 19: 245 South African Womxn’s novels you should read now (2015 – 2019)
A month of South African womxn writers – Day 1: Meet Jen Thorpe, this month’s editor
Hello! I'm Jen Thorpe, a South African novelist and feminist non-fiction writer. My First Time: Stories of Sex and Sexuality from Women Like You: GoodReads.The Peculiars: GoodReads.Feminism Is ISBN: 9780795708275. GoodReads.Living While Feminist ISBN: 9780795709418. GoodReads.The Fall ISBN: 9780795709579. GoodReads.The Peculiars and My First Time are currently out of print, but The Peculiars can be … Continue reading A month of South African womxn writers – Day 1: Meet Jen Thorpe, this month’s editor
#GlobalPRIDELitMonth: Queer Africa: #ownvoices books from LGBTQ2IA+ African Writers
Check out these 11 books of poetry, comics, short stories, novels and non-fiction anthologies. All by African writers. All #ownvoices. Meanwhile... Graphic short stories about everyday queer life in Southern and East Africa. By the Qintu Collab. English. Short Story Collection. So this work that we all do as artists and culture makers – we … Continue reading #GlobalPRIDELitMonth: Queer Africa: #ownvoices books from LGBTQ2IA+ African Writers
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 