The Local Lit Scene

So, Christmas is coming at a rather alarming rate if I may add! But if you are anything like me, where by you love giving and getting books for Christmas, especially for the littlies in your life, this post is for you.

Some of my favorites (and Bean’s) through out this year which I think would make fabulous gifts.

Winnie The Witch

Delilah Darling is in the library

The Incredible Book Eating Boy

Fancy Nancy

The Heart and the Bottle

Princess Poppy

Dewdrop Babies

Princess Smarty Pants

Dr Dog

Last but not least:

The Little Mermaid

There are some fabulous books out there for little people and this list could of been longer… What do you have on your list for toddlers? I am always keen for new books so let me know what your little person loves at the moment.

OLIVER JEFFERS.

Picture taken from here

And if you haven’t heard of him or read any of his books,  doesn’t matter what age you are, the Where Have You Been Hiding?

My latest favourite of his is:

 The Incredible Book Eating Boy, is just filled with delicious morsels of booky yumminess. It appeals to my sense of bookishness and to the idea behind knowledge.  Read it yourself, or to your little ones. I plan on giving this one as a Christmas gift to a lovely little boy I know.

Others that you may have seen or read are Lost and Found and Up and Down

About a boy and his Penguin friend. Too Delightful! Focusing on the idea of friendship, and I love love love them.

How to Catch a Star, is probably a well know favourite too.

Well, I am officially in love with his books, his words and his art. And if you know of any little people(or big ones for that matter) who you love to give books as gifts, I really recommend any of these, and the others that I haven’t mentioned here.

And if you want to, you can find more info about him, his art and his books on his website and on Facebook.

(and if you have read all of them, which is YOUR  favorite?)

I received a review copy of Shades from Penguin Sa and when I was asked if I would like to read it, I was a little apprehensive as I am not really a fan of political fiction but, I also wanted to get out of my comfort zone regarding the books I had been reading. So, I put my apprehension to one side and said yes, please.

And Thankfully I did, this novel is extraordinary!

Set in the early 1900’s ‘against a backdrop of drought, the rinderpest pandemic, the South African War, the burgeoning gold-mining industry and the complex birth of the exploitative system of recruiting migrant labour’ it is the story of one family growing up in a mission in a small town in the Eastern Cape.

‘Shades’ is the perfect name for this beautiful and richly interwoven story. At heart a love story, Marguerite has a stunning way with words as she draws you in to each characters life, and all through the novel you are kept thinking of how very different life was back then. Especially regarding relationships. If you look at relationships in this day and age, there does not seem to be the same relevance placed on marriage and the communion of two people. Also, that if one had ‘relations’ outside of marriage, the amount of guilt which is heavy on the heart is a tad less now than then.

‘Shades’ is more than a love story, it crosses the border of color. It challenges ones thinking and beliefs and especially as we are now ‘The Rainbow Nation’ it allows us to see that there are Always people who are wise beyond words, and then there are those who are, sadly, not. People are People no matter what colour they are and in this novel, we are shown that, yet again.   – It reminds me of the Dr Seuss saying :

‘Shades’ combines two different faiths, Christianity and the Amaxhosa, and shows that they can Both be utilized together. That there does not need to be a line between faiths. God is God after all, no matter what colour, shape, size you are or belief you hold. But yet, it contrasts the vivid differences between the cultures and how, ultimately, they can work side by side.

‘Shades’ is about family. And how each person does need to eventually stand on their own two feet, and make their own decisions and not just allow the dictation of a parental figure to make choices for them. It shows strength and love and heartache and poor choices and standing up for ones truth.

This was a truly exceptional novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though it took me a lot longer to read than usual. I think it was because it was such a rich book, and also that it required solid reading -no skipping pages-and of course the ever present lack of time. But so much so did I enjoy it that I went to the library yesterday to find another of her novels, which I did (Recessional for Grace) which I have been told, by an avid Poland fan, it is one of her best though we shall have to see about that, as this is by far one of the best books I have read in a while!

One last thing, at the end of the book, I was in tears! Lump in my throat, tears streaming down my cheeks, type of tears. beautiful, unexpected, inspiring, sad but  just such a joy to read. I was left with an ache in my reading soul when I had finished it. You know the feeling when you have finished a really good book and you don’t know what to read from there? Yip, thats what I had for a good couple of days after I had finished, I was loath to let the characters go.

Read it, do, you will not be disappointed!

Last week I received a book in the post. I was expecting it, I just didn’t know when it might arrive. What joy then, when it did. Yes, you guessed it, ‘From Aardvark to Zuma by Alex Latimer’ was the said book. Thank you Penguin Books SA!

This is a truly delightful and ‘typically’ South African book. I read it in one sitting – it isn’t very long – and I loved it. I love the uniqueness of the words he uses for each letter, as well as some which are such well known items that if it hadn’t been used for a letter, one would of wondered why not?!

Written with slightly tongue in cheek, it is an amusing, interesting and quite spot on description of  our rainbow nation. Take this for an example:

B for Bakkie: The word ‘bakkie’ comes from the Afrikaans word for a Tupperware-like container with a lid. A bakkie is essentially a car with a ‘container’ on the back. It is very useful for transporting huge sandwiches and other items that won’t fit in the fridge.

So now, if ever you are in a different country, and someone asks you what on earth a bakkie is, you can just hand over this book. In fact, I think it may be essential when traveling abroad, much like ‘The Lonely Planet Guides’.  Instead of trying to explain what all our words mean, just hand out this book!

Alex Latimer is an illustrator and picture book maker. His drawings are incredible.

Picture taken from here

If you would like to see more of his work, and why wouldn’t you? It is unique and lovely, or see what other books he has published – there are two fabulous looking children’s books called The Boy Who Cried Ninja and The Penguin’s Hidden Talent (which I am so buying for Bean for Chrismas!) go here and here.

And if you are needing something a little quirky, a little different for a Christmas gift, this would be perfect!

translated into English by Adriana Hunter

I read this book in a weekend, this weekend to be precise, and last night I only went to sleep at about 12am because I did not want to put it down.

The writing is lyrical, sentences flow from one to another like linking thoughts. It is philosophical without being over the top and explores adult themes of adultery, not loving your child, success and the anxiety and fear that can cripple one if not dealt with.

At times you can feel the exhaustion, the joy, the claustrophobia, the fear. The food tantalises and teases as you read and the words are like soft caramel melting in the mouth.

So, whats it about:

Forty-three years old, trailing secrets and extravagant lies, Myriam has just convinced a bank to give her a loan to open a small restaurant in the Eleventh Arrondissement of Paris. Too poor to rent an apartment, Myriam must live in the restaurant, her Paris flat after being in self imposed exile for 6 years. In exile from her reserved husband and son she has found herself unable to love. But little by little the people start arriving, eating and finding solace in her restaurant and slowly as the restaurant sizzles towards success,figures and feelings from her past begin to emerge, re-awakening her appetite for life, both the bitter and the sweet.

I thought this book was quirky but still very real, dealing with issues that are common though some would hate to admit it. In a way, it sort of made me think of ‘The Elegance of the Hedgehog’ but better. Much better.

Read it, go on, do!

So, I read them, yes, the entire series and these are my thoughts:

The whole series reminded me of a Mills and Boon romance novel. Full of steamy s*x, a tall, dark and handsome man and a young woman who has met her ‘soul mate’. I have a couple of theories as to why many women loved it and why it has been likened to ‘mommy porn’.

Theory One

There is alot of s*x, and I think most women either don’t have enough or want more amorous adventures with their significant other. I think it explores fantasies that some women may loath to admit that they even think about. I also think that that particular brand of s*x has been taken ‘out of the closet’ for many women who may know that it does exist, but details it in more depth and almost makes it lose its ‘stigma’.

Theory two

I was discussing this particular thought with my partner, and he managed to put it better than I did, but I will try to get it across neatly… Many people are control freaks (men and women) and in their work lives have to be incredibly controlling in order to function in their high powered positions. This is one aspect that they do not need to control, having a dominant command them to do particular things. It is their way of ‘letting go’ of their control for a while.  This aspect would also appeal to women, especially mothers, because on a daily basis they need to be in control of their work, home and children and the fantasy of having someone take over-even if only in the sexual department, allows them to ‘let go’.

Of course, I could be completely wrong but this is just my opinion from reading the books.

The pros of the series for me was:

Even though Ana liked adventuring into Grey’s world, she was still a strong enough character to stay ‘herself’ when she could so easily have  become a sub and become completely enamoured with the whole lifestyle. I like how she sticks to her guns for some things and yet allows herself to experiment in things that clearly she has become to enjoy.

One of my favourites throughout the series was Ana’s ‘Inner Goddes’ I thought that was probably the funniest and most apt descriptions the entire series had.

I quite enjoyed the actual story line, when it was being told in between all the s*x.

The Cons far outweigh the pros😉

There was faaar to much s*x, but I understand why.

Ana is pretty annoying in her constant ‘oh my’s’ and how Grey’s eyes burn and whadawhadawhada, *yawn*

The ending of the series was too happy- call me cynical, but I really doubt that in real life it would of ended that way- again, Mills and Boon.

The writing really is terrible, and I have to admit to skim reading through at least the second half of the first book and the first half of the third book. Book two was the best of the lot, which is saying a lot considering they were all pretty dreadful.

So, why did I read them? I think its similar to the Twilight series, you just have to! Would I recommend anyone to read them? No, I wouldn’t!

I know what some of you thought of it, but what about the rest of you? Do you agree with any thing I have said?

(and for a particularly hilarious review of the first book go here but beware of Strong language!- Don’t say I didn’t warn you…)