Book Review by Stacey "7 Steps to Heaven" by Fred Khumalo

Masterful story-telling by award-winning author, Sizwe Dube, is now a well-known journalist, in despair over witnessing the murder by the firing squad of his childhood friend, Thulani, in Zimbabwe. The book is divided into current scenes and memories of their shared childhood
 
 

 

Book Review by Stacey " Gaffney's Local Government in South Africa: 2013-2015

An extremely comprehensive compendium of local government information: statistics, projects, articles on the economy of each province, electoral results in detail; information on each political party with small colour photos of their logos; and photographs of provincial premiers and municipal mayors

Book Review by Stacey "Raising steam" by Terry Pratchett

What can I say about Terry Pratchett that hasn't been said - he is extraordinary. This title is also set in the Doscworld, and is about the social and economic consequences of the sudden development of a fast and cheap transport system.

Book Review by Stacey "The golden book of chocolate" by Project director: Anne McRae

A really beautiful book, which is almost literally gold, including the gilded page edges. The introduction gives some interesting history of chocolate and how among the Incas only the elite were allowed to drink it – nobles and warriors, lords and long-distance merchants. They even anointed their newborn children with chocolate on their hands, feet and forehead.

Book Review by Stacey: Horror: 100 Best Books by Various Authors; Edited by: S.Jones and K. Newman

Fascinating reference book which I never noticed before. The editors have asked various authors to write a few pages on particular horror stories, dating from the 16^th century to 1994. They include titles that one wouldn’t think of as horror.

Book Review by Stacey: "Tales from Southern Africa" translated and retold by A.C Jordan

First published in 1973 in USA.   A.C Jordan writes about preserving stories which are being lost as the storytelling traditions are fading away. ‘Deme + Demazane’ has many elements that you find in fairy tales in the rest of the world.  

Book Review by Stacey: New Jewellery by Amanda Mansell

The author is a goldsmith, silversmith, metal worker and jewellery maker. She also designs catwalk jewellery for fashion designers.  A lot of the jewellery is not to my taste, but some of it is beautiful.

Book Review by Stacey: Children of Paradise by Mbulelo Vizikhungo Mazamane

Beautiful, deceptively simple memoir of the author's life as a small in the 50's living in Brakpan, an old location. Experiencing the Apartheid struggle through the eyes of a child. Very funny as well.

Book Review by Stacey: William the Fourth by Richmal Crompton

First published in 1923, this is one of a series of books about an irrepressible 11-year old boy, William, and his adventures with his group of friends, called “The Outlaws”.  The fact that the books are constantly being reprinted is an indication of the timeless appeal of the very funny stories.