Book Choice

This sunny hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, brings a bagful of the best in fiction and non-fiction. Beveley Roos Muller finds 'Head Case' by Ross Armstrong unforgettable, an absolute one-off; smart, cheeky, with the oddest and most original detective character. John Hanks takes a trip down the 'River of Gold – Narratives and exploration of the Great Limpopo' by Peter Norton, Mike Gardiner and Clive Walker much, much more than Kipling’s ‘great, grey, green, greasy Limpopo all set about with fever trees’. Philip Todres talks to Sylvia Brunders who has just published 'Parading Respectability – The cultural and moral aesthetics of the Christmas Bands Movement in the Western Cape'. Vanessa Levenstein loved Clare Robertson’s 'Under Glass', and do bear in mind that Clare is the winner of the 2014 Sunday Times Fiction Prize. And the good news is that Under Glass is one of our prizes today. Melvyn Minnaar talks delightedly to poet Karin Schimke about her inspiring new book 'Navigate' and Cindy Moritz much

This happy hour Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books gives a bundle of the best in fiction and non-fiction. Melvyn Minnaar chats to Rehana Rossouw about New Times with her exquisite verve and trademark attention to language. Beverley Roos Muller maintains that (Sir) Salman Rushdie’s new novel The Golden House is one of Rushdie’s greatest works, a marvellous literary accomplishment. Vanessa Levenstein suggests that “Waiting for Godot” is Samuel Beckett’s timeless masterpiece, brought to life in Jo Baker’s A Country Road, a tree . Peter Soal lingered long over Dare Not Linger: The Presidential Years by Nelson Mandela and Mandla Langa. Sheila Chisholm is kept on her toes by My Dancing Life: Spanish and Ballet Across Three Continents, Marina Gruit’s frank and funny autobiography. Phillippa Cheifitz slips into the kitchen with Butter & Love Boerekow by Anna Carolina Albert, and Curry – Stories and Recipes from across South Africa by Ishay Govender-Ypma. Mike Fitzjames, cruel as ever, stiffens our spines with

Welcome to BOOK CHOICE on the first Monday of the month and to a bright, bookish New Year! I’m Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books with a big bundle of good books on which to spend your book vouchers. Beverley Roos Muller finds Chris Barnard as beautiful and brilliant as she remembers him in Heartbreaker: Christiaan Barnard and the first heart transplant by James Brent Styan. Philip Todres is gobsmacked by Ballenesque, the long-awaited restrospective from one of the world’s most important photographers – Roger Ballon, who, for the first time, reveals his compelling and particular vision. Vanessa Levenstein loved Dear World – A Syrian Girl’s story of War and plea for peace by Bana Alabed. John Hanks holds Sir David Attenboroough in high esteem and thus was pleased to read David Attenborough – Adventures of a young Naturalist. The Zoo Quest Expeditions. Mike Fitzjames, mean as always, shreds our nerves with truly good new crime novels. We chat to Lyndall Gordon about Outsiders – Five Women Writers Who Changed

Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books has pleasant present ideas in fiction and non-fiction. Even the politically well-connected Peter Soal is gobsmacked by the strong stuff we thought we knew – but didn’t - in The President’s Keepers by Jacques Pauw. Beverley Roos Muller is thunderstruck by The Third Reef by SJ Naude, while Jay Heale suggests that surely one of his book selections would make the ideal Christmas present, and Cindy Moritz was inflamed by Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ing. Philip Todres chats to Anne Emslie as she leads us on a guided tour through the rooms of the Owl House in Nieu Bethseda and along the paths of the sculpture garden in Anne’s exquisite book: A Journey Through the Owl House. A tour, too, from John Hanks as he travels through The Garden Route guide: The Definitive Guide to the Garden Route. Which was wonderfully proclaimed the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve in June this year by UNESCO. And Melvyn Minnaar takes a trip to ancient Greece for his holiday reading in two boo

It’s the first Monday of the month so it’s welcome to BOOK CHOICE on Fine Music Radio 101.3, various other frequencies and on the web: www.fmr.co.za. I’m Gorry Bowes Taylor. This very happy hour Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, brings us a bagful of the best in fiction and non-fiction. Cindy Moritz suggests that you read and reread Forest Dark by Nicole Krauss and Beverley Roos Muller endorses George Saunder's Lincoln in the Bardo, as this year's brilliant winner of the Booker prize, as she takes a larger look at the Booker and its successes and controversies. Mike Fitzjames tries, as always to shred our nerves with three nerve-wracking crime stores. Vanessa Levenstein wonders how you live when your life is reduced to waiting for death as she reviews Asylum by Marcus Low and shares her thoughts on the powerful book, Khwezi - The Remarkable Story Of Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo by Redi Thlabi. Melvin Minnaar suggests that you underestimate the clout of the brilliant short story –try What it Means When a Man

This happy hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, bags the best in fiction and non-fiction for us, Beverley Roos Muller is shocked by the damage that the self-absorbed inflict in relationships in Dawn Garisch’s unputdownable Accident. Peter Soal reviews Peaceful Revolution Where Niel Barnard with Tobie Wiese sets out how he, Niel, as then head of National Intelligence, was central to the secret negotiations between Nelson Mandela and the National Party govenrment. Phillipa Cheiftz liked Andy Fenner’s Meat Manifesto – Proper and Delicious for its proper take on ethically raised animals and Fenner’s delicious recipes for making the best of the cheaper cuts. Mike Fitzjames finds that economic signals are everywhere in Signals – The Breakdown of the Social Contract and Rise of Geopolitics by Dr Pippa Malgrem, which sounds an indegestible book but isn’t. Cindy Moritz finds a good easy read in Gail Honeyman’s amusingly titled Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Philip Todres finds hilarity and heartbreak in

This happy hour Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, gives us awesome fiction and non-fiction reads for the still chilly days of August. Beverley Roos Muller re-reads with glee Gerald Durrell’s The Corfu Trilogy, which includes the delightful My Family and Other Animals. More animals, though not so happily in John Hanks’ richly rewarding review of Philip Limbery’s Dead Zone – Where the Wild Things Were. Vanessa Levenstein is happily engrossed in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, Arandhati Roy’s first work of fiction since she won the Booker Prize 20 years ago for The God of Small Things, and Jay Heale takes a close look at three locally produced picture books for young readers. Melvyn Minnnar talks to art historian Anna Tietze about her A History of the Iziko South African National Gallery – Reflections on Art and National Identity - the first comprehensive history of the 150 year old South African National Gallery. As always, the mean Mike Fitzjames sets your nerves ajangle with three terrifying crime nove

Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, brings you a bagful of the best, while Peter Soal gets your political pulse racing with The Republic of Gupta – a story of State Capture by Pieter-Louis Myburgh, and No longer whispering to power – the story of Thuli Madonsela by Thandeka Gqubule. We chat to million-dollar romantic writer Lesley Pearce about, well, her and her nuanced romantic novel: Dead to Me. Cindy Moritz finds Elizaeth Strout’s Anything is Possible a masterful book by a master chronicler. Philip Todres finds two inspiring reads in Song for Sarah - Lessons From My Mother by Jonathan Jansen with Naomi Jansen, and in Bending the Rules - From de Klerk to Mandela: stories of a pioneering diplomat by Rafique Gangat, both books reflecting on the impact of apartheid and the courage and determination to deal with those harsh realities and still be able to forge ahead. Two of South Africa’s best loved cooks, Ina Paarman and Phillippa Cheifitz come together as Ina discusses Phillippa’s new cookbook Make it Easy

Andrew Marjoribanks of Wordsworth Books gives us the very best in fiction and non-fiction. Philip Todres talks to Paul Weinberg about Traces and Tracks, a beautiful book tracing Paul’s thirty year journey with the San. Beverley Roos Muller found Irish author John Boyne’s book: The Heart’s Invisible Furies profoundly moving, disturbing and compellingly readable. Jay Heale thinks his way into two new picture books – one by Jude Daly and one by Niki Daly. Phillippa Cheifitz tucks happily into A bite of Latin America – a culinary diary

It’s the first Monday of the month, so it’s BOOK CHOICE on Fine Music Radio 101.3, various other frequencies and on our web: www.fmr.co.za. I’m Gorry Bowes Taylor. This happy hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books gives us choice reading in fiction and non-fiction for these early autumn days. Philip Todres chats to internationally acclaimed photographer Roger Ballen about his new, intriguingly named monograph: The Theatre of Apparitions, a copy of which publisher Thames & Hudson is giving away in our easy-peasy competition. Beverley Roos Muller highly recommends the spellbindingly brilliant The Iceberg – A Memoir by Marion Coutts, while Mike Fitzjames so wickedly whacks our nerves with two spellbinding thrillers. Vanessa Levenstein escaped into non-fiction No Wall Too High: One man’s extraordinary escape from Mao’s Darkest Prison by Xu Hongci. Melvyn Minnaar turns his embedded gaze to two art books: Hanging on a Wire, photographs by Sophia Klaase and 1994 with photographs by Pieter Hugo. We chat to e

"This sunny summer hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, comes up with the very best in fiction and non-fiction on that bookshop’s shelves. We chat to world renowned wino Hugh Johnson about his engaging and elegant new book: On Wine - Good Bits from 55 Years of Scribbling, and he verbally shares a bottle of Chateau Lafitte 1985 with us! A Thousand Tales of Johannesburg by Harry Kalmer reminds Melvyn Minnaar of the juicy sweep of Armistead Maupin’s chirpy books. Cindy Moritz found Maria Semple’s Today will be Different seriously funny yet surprisingly serious. Philip Todres chats artfully to Brenda Schmamhann about her book The Keiskamma Art Project – Restoring Hope and Livelihoods. March is the month that commemorates the opening 117 years ago of the Yeomanry Hospital at Deelfontien, and Mynra Robins finds fine future Africana in Yeomen of the Karoo: The Story of the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital at Deelfontein by Rose Willis, Arnold van Wyk and JC ‘Kay” de Villiers. Mike Fitzjames cruelly sends us stir-c

"This happy hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, gives us a bagful of the best in fiction and non-fiction. Beverley Roos Muller and Mike Fitzjames have Ireland in mind, Beverley with Emma Donaghue’s novel The Wonder, and Mike with John Banville’s Time Piece – A Dublin Memoir and Pete McCarthy’s hilarious McCarthy’s Bar. As always, Mike Fitzjames sets our nerves ajangle with thrillers, two this month by Karen Rose and Ian Rankin. Melvyn Minnaar reviews Historian Hermann Giliomee – An Autobiography. This is Giliomee’s colourful, controversial and feisty career in local history and politics. Jane Raphaely finds Petina Guppah’s The Book of Memory memorable. Jay Heale considers two very different books about human relationships, which he recommends as excellent reading for young adults. Vanessa Levenstein found more good reading for young adults in Alice Hoffman’s Faithful. Myrna Robins finds fine Africana in Yeomen of the Karoo: The Story of the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital at Deelfontein by Rose Willis, Ar

"This finest hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, brings us his usual inspiring collection of the best of the new books, and you’ll listen with amazement and amusement to Jonathan Shapiro aka Zapiro chatting to Philip Todres. Terribly there were the fires, perhaps be reassured by Myrna Robins leafing through "FIRE TO FLOWER: A Chronology after a Wildfire in Fynbos", by Ruth Garland and Greg Nicolson. Cindy Moritz was delighted with "Here I am", Jonathan Saffran Foer’s first novel in 11 years, tough subject, terrific read. We chat to Michael du Preez about his alluring and enriching biography written with Jeremy Dronfield - "Dr James Barry – A Woman Ahead of her Time", the triumphs and tragedies of James Barry’s life in the early 1800s, much of it in Cape Town. Mike Fitzjames sets out to jangle our festively fragile nerves with three chilling thrillers by Tony Park, Lee Child and James Patterson, while Beverley Roos Muller ups the ante with Shari Lapena’s debut novel, "The Couple Next Door" - an unexpe

"It’s the first Monday of the last month of the year, and it’s a warm welcome to Book Choice on Fine Music Radio 101.3. This happy hour: good book choices for Christmas giving – and getting! Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books gives us that chain’s best in festive fiction and non-fiction, Beverley Roos Muller relishes John le Carre’s autobiography 'The Pigeon Tunnel' and wonders how much of it may be fiction! Jay Heale happily suggests sort of classical Christmas reading for children, while Cindy Moritz escaped into the frenzied world of moneyed Manhattan with Jay McInerey’s 'Bright, Precious Days'. Philip Todres talks to Bronwyn Law-Viljoen about 'The Printmaker' which gives her impeccable background to conjure a story that is in fact her first novel. Vanessa Levenstein swings into 'Swing Time' by Zadie Smith who explores how the shadows of childhood friendships outline our future. Melvyn Minnaar throbs to the thrill of a new discovery in 'His Bloody Project' by Graeme Macrae Burnet, and Phillippa Cheifitz

"I’m Andrew Marjoribanks. This sunny hour: I’ll give you Wordsworth Books brightest and best in fiction and non-fiction. Philip Todres talks to Marianne Thamm about her memoir of sorts – 'Hitler, Verwoerd, Mandela and Me', while Beverley Roos Muller muses on the niceties of the Nobel Prize for Literature with Bob Dylan as this year’s winner. Melvyn Minnaar finds fine literature in Colson Whitehead’s 'The Underground Railroad.' "Who is the Dad?", Vanessa Levenstein wonders as she reads Bridget Jones Baby – 'The Diaries' by Helen Fielding. Peter Soal suggests that Helen Zille’s autobiography 'Not Without a Fight' is one of the most fascinating political stories of our time, while Cindy Moritz happily finds humour in Sam Cowen’s memoir 'From Whiskey to Water' – the talk show host’s addiction to drink, food and ultimately long-distance swimming. Finally we chat to Wilbur Smith about his wife, Mokiniso, caviar and his newest novel 'Pharoah'."

"This warm-hearted hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books chooses the best of October’s fiction and non-fiction for you. We chat to five-star, multi-award winning writer and film-maker Sylvia Vollenhoven about her revealing and richly rewarding memoir 'The Keeper of the Kumm – Ancestral Longing and Belonging of a Boesmankind'. Phillippa Cheifitz with great gusto tucks into Jamie Oliver’s 'Super Food Family Classics', while rather more quietly Philip Todres discusses the quirky 'Hidden Johannesburg' with author Paul Duncan. Cindy Moritz mangles our nerve ends with 'The Black Widow' by prolific espionage and thriller writer Daniel Silva. Jay Heale cheerfully looks at the concept of a Children’s Book Laureate, while Beverley Roos Muller brightens America’s bleak political scene with 'Presidential Wit & Wisdom: 250 Classic Quotes from America’s Greatest Leaders' edited by Charlotte Lee Gross. Shingai Darangwa, too, found political fun in Fred Khumalos’s entertaining '#ZuptasMustFall'. Finally, the review

"This happy hour: Andrew Marjoribanks has a bagful of good books to welcome the warmth of Spring, Beverley Roos Muller turns her landlubbers eye to the world’s greatest ocean in 'Pacific by Simon Winchester. Vanessa Levenstein with her daughter Safra Bella Musikanth, and others play deliciously with 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child', a two-part West End stage play written by Jack Thorne based on an original new story by Thorne, JK Rowling and John Tiffany. Wednesday sees the start of the Open Book Festival at The Fugard Theatre until Sunday, September 11. We chat to Bongani Madondo, author of 'Sigh The Beloved Country', who’ll be in lively conversation with Sindiwe Magona and Bongani Kona at the Guga S’thebe Cultural Centre in Langa on Sunday, September 11. Melvyn Minnaar found fiction that entertains page by page in the delightful 'Diary of a Body' by Daniel Pennac, and there’s the fabulous feast of 'The Great South African Cookbook'. Peter Soal was delighted by the elegance and grace of 'The relatively pu

"Thank you for joining us, it’s good to be with you. This joyful hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, gives us a grand bag of good books, Peter Soal declares his support for the DA and Mmusi Maimane as he reviews 'Mmusi Maimane – Prophet or Puppet by S’Thembiso Msomi', and Beverley Roos Muller was riveted by Raoul Wallenberg’s incredible rescue expedition which saved the lives of tens of thousands of Jews in Hungary during the last months of World War Two in 'Raoul Wallenberg: The Biography by Ingrid Carlberg'. Shangai Darangwa, Lifestyle Feature Writer for The Sunday Independent, takes an up close and critical look at Bongani Madondo’s 'Sigh the Beloved Country', Cindy Moritz found 'The Girls' by Emma Cline just fabulous. Philip Todres reviews two books which deal with Jewish immigrants to South Africa - 'The Reb and the Rebel' edited by Carmel Schrire and Gqynne Schrire, and 'Married to Medicine – Doctor Mary Gordon, Pioneer Woman Physician and Humanist' by Jack Metz and Gordon Metz. In December it

"To cheer you this chilly hour Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, brings a bagful of good reads. With Downing Street much in the news right now, we chat to the brilliant social historian and biographer Anne de Courcy about her latest: 'Margot at War - Love and Betrayal in Downing Street 1912 – 1916'. Equally topical with Oscar Pistorius’s sentencing in two days’ time, Vanessa Levenstein looks at the unanswered questions in 'Oscar vs the Truth by Thomas Mollett and Calvin Mollett'. Sheila Chisholm keeps us on our tippy toes with 'Recollections of a Life in Dance' by Cape Town born, international Spanish dance authority, Dame Mavis Becker, while Beverley Roos Muller brings us back to earth with 'Promise and Despair: The First Struggle for a Non-racial South Africa' by former BBC journalist Martin Plaut. Philip Todres gives us a gorgeous glimpse into the first comprehensive history of fine art potteries in 'Scorched Earth – 100 years of southern African potteries' by Wendy Gers, where you’ll see even some of

"This cheerful hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, has a bagful of good books to cheer us through the chill. We talk to John Hanks, conservation expert and head of WWF in Africa about his passionate and deeply persuasive book 'Operation Lock and the war on rhino poaching'. Vanessa Levenstein reviews two books, very different in style and genre, both exploring the quest for love and belonging: 'The Course of Love – A novel', written by philosopher, writer and television presenter Alain De Botton, and 'Finding Martha Lost' by Caroline Wallace, the pseudonym for Caroline Smailes. Philip Todres chats to Man Booker Prize winner, the South African novelist Christopher Hope about his caustic new satirical novel 'Jimfish', while Phillippa Cheifitz finds comfort food in 'My Cape Malay Kitchen' by Cariema Isaacs. Little comfort in heart-stopping, chart-topping thrillers chosen by Mike Fitzjames. Beverley Roos Muller finds Joyce Carol Oates’s 'The Sacrifice' powerful and gripping."