Book Choice: Recent Episodes
Fine Music Radio
Book Choice, is broadcast on the first Monday of each month, presented by Cindy Moritz.
While you’re munching your lunch or driving the myriad motorways, you’ll hear all that’s best in books. Cape Town’s top book reviewers will entertain and inform you as they cheerfully chat about the newest and nicest fiction and non-fiction on current book shelves.
You love author interviews? Well, we line up those for your pleasure and leisure too. You want an easy-peasy competition each month with good prizes? All there, prettily planned for your lovely listening.
Do join us for your delectation… for your entertainment… for your information.
Riley Herbert-Henry tells us all about I want you to be happy by Jem Calder, a fun, quirky sounding read.
Paradiso 17 by Hannah Lilith Assadi gets reviewed in all its literary fiction glory, by Beryl Eichenberger.
Land by award-winning, bestselling author Maggie O’ Farrell, author of Hamnet gets a beautiful review by Vanessa Levenstein
Paige Nick talks about the News24 Book of the Month, Wisani and the Bafokeng Brothers, by debut author Thandi Moagi, plus a short excerpt. Do not miss this one, it’s funny, moving and smart.
Paige Nick reviews a novel that will stay with you, Of all things we need hope, by Sally Cranswick.
Join us for a Booker Longlist award rundown from Riley Herbert-Henry. All the ins the outs, the satisfactions and the disappointments.
Jonathan Ball come to us from Dullstroom with all their international partners, to tell us what they’ve got coming up for the rest of the year, including a memoir by Michael Douglas, a new one by Dave Eggers and a new one from Pulitzer Prize winning Michael Douglas.
Pan Macmillan bring us two brilliant South African releases, one fiction from Prev Reddy, and new fiction from Tony Park.
Exclusive Books sponsors our next interview, Vanessa Levenstein and Marc Falconer chat to Caity Venniker about her Unleashed.
Penguin Random House and Twanji Kalula bring us their big new hits, some Frieda McFadden, the latest from Tom Eaton, and a book on birds and one on crypto.
Beryl Eichenberger interviews ex-CIA agent and massive international bestseller, David McClosky.
Vanessa Levenstein chats to incredible children’s author, Refiloe Moahloli about her incredible work.
This month Pan Macmillan shares some insider info on the big hit, John of John, including the special gift the author gave Oprah. A romantic thriller that will have you turning the pages late into the night, and Dogs of Vivo makes its launch into the world.
A Women’s Prize fiction winner in The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, Greedy Girl will make you hungry, by Jenny Morris, and the latest Elizabeth Strout.
We welcome Jonathan Ball Publishers to the show, celebrating Youth Month with an incredible selection of books that will light up young imaginations.
This month, Book Choice is coming to you LIVE from the Hermanus FynArts Festival, where we’ll interview Eon De Vos, Festival Director, as well as a few of the authors appearing at the festival; Trend forecaster and pet doula Dion Chang, Micah Reddy, co-author of Malema: Money. Power. Patronage, Shawn Buck founder of Cape Town’s massively popular Silent Book Club, and Dr Adriana Marais, a doctor and scientist specialising in off-planet living.
In this 10-minute podcast, we go from food love stories to werewolf fiction, mining investigative journalism and romance, with the Jonathan Ball team
In this Publishers’ Choice edition, we’re joined by Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan, Jonathan Ball and Exclusive books, with a mix of international and local hits, including fiction, non-fiction and kids books, sponsored by Exclusive Books.
In this 10-minute podcast, Vanessa Levenstein chats to 9-year-old author, Unarine Phaswana, FMR personality and artist, Chantal Coetzee, chats to Riana Scheepers, the author of Christelientije, about the magic of her real-life Christelientije.
In this 10-minute podcast we go from 650 page bangers to Psychological thrillers and just plain psychology, Twanji Kalula chats to Vis Chetty from Penguin Random House, about June Highlights.
Beryl Eichenberger chats to Sally Andrew about her latest Tannie Maria mystery, what it’s like to be streamed in over 100 countries and succulents.
An interview with Sally Andrew on her latest in the Tannie Maria series, an interview with Dr Pepe Marais, advertising genius on his new book, One Word. How to kill a crime writer by genius author Sarah Lotz, Being Bill by the late Peter Terry, the early writings of Alex La Guma and a book on tree spotting
Vanessa Levenstein chats to Pepe Marais with startling clarity, about his marketing how-to book, One Word in this must-listen 10-minute interview.
Shirley Gueller takes a moment to review Being Bill, by legendary actor and writer, Peter Terry, who sadly passed away in April. Have a listen to this 5-minute review in tribute.
How to find a great crime thriller to read, funny too. Beryl Eichenberger reviews the latest by killer crime, specific, humour author, Sarah Lotz. It’s 5-minutes of amazing.
We’re going to open the show with Twanji Kalula, one of my favourite show reviewers, and today he’s chatting to Vis Chetty from penguin Random house about what they’ve got happening on their shelves in the upcoming months.
This is an important month for reading, because well actually every month is an important month for reading, but this one in particular, here in the cape Winter is coming John Snow (aside Game of thrones was a book first). It is based on the fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, with the first book, A Game of Thrones, published in August 1996. The HBO television series, which premiered in 2011, is an adaptation of these novels.
In this 10-minute short, Twanji Kalula grills Vis Chetty from Penguin Random House, about their huge upcoming hits, including a new Tannie Maria mystery (hoorah) and the riveting-sounding We Inherit the Fire by Kagiso Lesego Molope and more.
From an hilarious vet’s memoir to the Franschhoek Literary Festival lineup, to massive international hits, all in this 10-minute podcast with the Pan Macmillan team.
In this 10 minute short, Vanessa Levenstein chats to Rachel Kolisi and Zibu Sithole, authors of Falling Forward: For Every Woman Who’s Had to Start Again. This Book Choice short is brought to you by Exclusive Books.
In this 10-minute short, Tan Twan Eng chats to Festival Programme Director, Jennifer Blaine, about his famous, award-winning House of Doors and his upcoming tour to South Africa and appearances at The Franschoek Literary Festival in May 2026.
In this 10-minute short, Vanessa Levenstein chats to FLF Festival Programme Director, Jennifer Blaine, about everything you need to know about this year’s Franschhoek Literary Festival; the hot tickets, where to buy them, and what to see and do at this year’s jam-packed festival. Don’t miss this one
A 10-minute short - Vanessa Levenstein chats to Francoise Malby-Anthony about Dining With Elephants and her upcoming appearance at the Franschhoek Literary Festival in May 2026.
The Franschoek Literary Festival team do a Book Choice show takeover with two big-name international author interviews plus everything you need to know about The Franschoek Literary Festival, taking place in May this year. Sponsored by Exclusive Books.
Paige Nick chats about Penny Haw and her backlist of remarkable novels about remarkable women from history, and her latest, The Woman and Her Stars, published by Penguin Random House.
Twanji Kalula reads one of the most contentious reads of the year, is woke dead, or shall we just kill Piers Morgan?
A 7-minute short with Beryl Eichenberger on brilliant novel, Bosadi by award-winning author, Kopano Matlwa.
Vanessa Levenstein chats to Charlotte Bauer of The Charlotte Bauer Book Club on News24. What it does, how you can join and how you can win books?
Meet the Newmans, My husbands wife, both massive international bestsellers. Haram by Zuabyr Charles, Bosadi by Kopano Matlwa and The Woman and her Stars by Penny Haw, two even better local bestsellers, and Twanji asks if Piers Morgan is right and woke is dead, or maybe he’s just being contentious and we wrap up with Vanessa Levenstein chatting to Charlotte Bauer of the News24 Charlotte Bauer Book club.
In this short, with bonus material, Helené Coetzee unpacks the latest in Afrikaans fiction and celebrates World Poetry day on the 21st March.
Kutlwano Masote is an award-winning musician and one of South Africa's most sought-after orchestra conductors. Paige Nick reviews his memoir, Imperfect Harmony in this 10-minute short.
An hour of award-winning writers and musicians, covering new literary-fiction titles by Imraan Coovadia and Michiel Heyns, a musical memoir by Kutlwano Masote, a big Afrikaans poetry segment with Danie Marais, to celebrate World Book day on the 21st. Political non-fiction to celebrate this election year with MafiaLand by Kyle Cowan, and an interview with Nadia Davids on her international release called Cape Fever.
Riley Herbert-Henry interviews award-winning playwright and novelist, Nadia Davids on her Cape Fever in this 10-minute short.
Pan Macmillan brings us some bests, Mike Nicol’s granddaughter, his latest novel, and the 4 Non Blondes.
A huge Publisher’s Choice edition today, Penguin Random House, Exclusive Books, Jonathan Ball and Pan Macmillan are in the studio telling us what they have coming up. Vanessa Levenstein interviews famous Fehmz on her Damn Good Food recipe book which has gone seriously viral and Mike Nicol and his granddaughter drop into the show to tell us about his latest.
Vanessa Levenstein chats to internet cooking sensation Fehmz, about Damn Good Food in this ten minute short
A 10-minute podcast on the best book Paige Nick has read so far this year. Bosadi, by Kopano Matlwa.
In our February show we’ve got a great mix if big-hitting award winning fiction and authors, two afrikaans fiction reviews, the third in a series of South African Italian novels and an inter-review with cycling hero Cathy Carstens on her new memoir, Getting back on the bike.
In this 10-minute short, Twanji Kalula presents Penguin Random House’s top picks for January.
Our first Publishers’ Choice show to flight on a Monday this Feb 2026. With another new Frieda McFadden, some Celia Ahern, a new Gruffalo is coming, yahoo, and Vanessa interviews award-winning author Shubnum Khan.
In this 10-minute short, Vanessa Levenstein reviews and interviews Shubnum Khan for Exclusive Books.
Listen up. In this 10-minute short, Helene Coetzee talks all things World Read Aloud Day with Pan Macmillan.
This show is 99% local and lekker with Wesley Roodt’s "All the Saints", Deborah Posel’s "Darker Shade of Pale", Mike Nicol’s "Falls the Shadow", Morgan Housel’s "The Art of Spending Money" and an interview with Chef Kobus van der Merwe on his book "Wolfgat". Add to the fabulous mix our host Paige Nick, plus sponsor Exclusive Books and you're guaranteed a lekker bookie hour!
Shirley Gueller interviews Chef Kobus van der Merwe, who started Wolfgat, voted the best restaurant in the world in 2019 on his book Wolfgat.
In this five minute podcast, Paige Nick shares her summer read, Falls the Shadow, by Mike Nicol.
Welcome to the first show of 2026, we’ve got three of SA’s top publishers and SA’s number one bookseller here with their look back at their fave titles from 2025 and the books they’re really looking forward to this year. Including a Frieda McFadden, a Mike Nicol and a John Boyne.
In this our final show for 2025, Phillip has his annual chat with Zapiro about his annual, we host our first Afrikaans review, dog trends with Dion Chang, literary fiction with Riley Herbert Henry, and a foursome of big crime thrillers, all topped off with a bit of Wild Swimming, thanks to Serai and Matthew Dowling
For the next five minutes, listen to Paige Nick chatting about the book she’s just read, The Compound by Aisling Rawle, in our Book Choice Publishers’ Choice Short. It’s reality TV in a book.
In this Book Choice Publishers’ Choice short, Helene Coetzee from Pan Macmillan chats to Jaco Jacobs for seven minutes about his latest release, The Lightning Bird.
In this ten minute Book Choice Publishers’ Choice Short, Vanessa Levenstein brings us the perfect inter-review with award-winning journalist, Mandy Weiner, about her new book The Deal.
Join us for our festive season book suggestions from Penguin Random House, Jonathan Ball and Pan MacMillan, a drop in from author Jaco Jacobs, as well as an epic inter-review with Mandy Weiner, courtesy of our friends at Exclusive Books.
In this 10-minute interview Beverley Roos-Muller got to chat to Lord Peter Hain about his latest book on South African politics and corruption.
In this week’s show we really take our time bringing you the best of books, Riley Herbert-Henry reviews The Diplomat by Mpho Boshego, he also read the entire Booker Prize Shortlist and weighs in on it and the winner. Beryl reviews the latest Wally Lamb, Beverly Roos-Muller interviews Lord Peter Hain, and Twanji chats to Bruce Whitfield about his latest.
In this 10-minute interview, Twanji chats to Bruce Whitfield about his latest book on banking, it’s about Time.
In this 10-minute podcast, Riley Herbert-Henry talks about his mission to read the entire Booker Prize shortlist and what he thought of them, and what he thought of the winner, and his thoughts on the future of the Booker Prize.
A 5-minute Book Choice Short in which Beryl reviews the latest Wally Lamb, The River is Waiting.
We’re joined by three of South Africa’s top publishers, Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan and Jonathan Ball Publishers and SA’s favourite bookseller, Exclusive Books, to find out what to put on your bookie gifting list this year. For yourself or for someone else.
In this five minute book short, Beverley Roos-Muller reviews the latest by cosy crime king, the immensely tall Richard Osmond.
An out of this world ten-minute interview, legend, Twanji Kalula chats to Dr Adriana Marais, on her work in space exploration.
In this month’s October Book Choice we celebrate 250 years of Jane Austen with Austen Mania, two true crime book reviews, a big-hitting new Richard Osmond titles and a pair of enticing author interviews, on that takes us all the way to space and back.
In this 5 minute podcast Vanessa talks all things Austen to celebrate her 250th birthday.
Thanks to Exclusive Books for sponsoring Fine Music Radio’s
Book Choice. It’s broadcast every second Monday at noon. It’s also available as a podcast, as is Book Choice: Shorts, with individual interviews and reviews. Book Choice is hosted by Paige Nick.
in this 10-minute listen, Twanji Kalula chats to Jeff Wicks about the astonishing investigative journalism that blew this case wide open.
Are you a fan of fiction or non-fiction? No worries we cover all of it in today’s show, with everything from Big banger reads like Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal to Eben Etzebeth’s memoir, Unlocked,
Our Publishers’ Choice edition, where we cover the latest big hits from Penguin Random House, Jonathan Ball and Pan Macmillan and where our sponsors, Exclusive Books join us with news and some questions from the National Kid’s Lit Quiz. How many of them can you get right?
Something very special is happening right here in Cape Town from the 5- 7th September. The Open Book Festival is an absolute must-see highlight on the literary calendar every year, in this show we hand over to festival founder, Mervyn Sloman and festival coordinator Frankie Murray to get some insider info on what we can expect to enjoy at this years’ festival.
What caused the rise of serial killers in the 70s and 80s? Beverly Roos Muller reviews Murderland by Caroline Fraser. John Hanks reviews Tidal Pools of the western Cape by Serai Dowling, Twanji Kalula interviews Nadia Cassim about her novel Not another samosa run, and so so so much more fiction and non-fiction.
Find out what caused the rise of serial killers in the 70s and 80s in this 6-minute podcast with Beverley Roos-Muller, who also has an interesting link to this subject.
Modern Muslim Jane Austen highlights community issues in Not Another Samoosa Run by Nadia Cassim. In this Book Choice Short, Twanji Kalula has a 7 minute convo with the author.
Are you a cold water dipper? Here’s a 6-minute podcast with John Hanks chatting about A guide to Tidal Pools of the Western Cape, by Serai Dowling.
From silent book clubs to robust discussions about books: FMR's Book Choice: Publishers' Choice has the right people in our reading corner: Exclusive Books, Pan Macmillan, Jonathan Ball Publishers and Penguin Random House. Hosted by best-selling author Paige Nick.
A slew of reviews and three massive interviews, one on Proteas of the Fynbos, one on Juliet Prowse’s new biography and an interview with household name and global bestselling Irish author, John Connolly.
As the temperature plunges, our Book Choice selection gets hotter! Join Paige Nick for Book Choice: Publishers' Choice. She's joined by Penguin Random House, Jonathan Ball Publishers Pan Macmillan South Africa and Exclusive Books. Happy Winter Reading!
The Interpreters: South Africa’s New Nonfiction", edited by Sean Christie and Hedley Twiddle, published by Soutie Press, is certainly one of the most remarkable releases of 2025.
It’s a brilliant idea and hosts phenomenal talent. Everyone from Anjie Krog to J. M. Coetzee, Mark Gevisser, Michiel Heyns, Daniël Hugo, Anton Kannemeyer, Bongani Kona and more.
Take a listen to this 15-minute Book Choice Short, where we cover this astonishing title with a review AND an interview.
Paige Nick: In this 15 min book short, Vanessa Levenstein covers an astonishing new title with a review and an interview with editor, Hedley Twiddle.
We’ve got a review of the booker award winning novel, Orbital by Samatha Harvey, a special Youth Month segment, an interview with Kate Mosse author of Map of Bones and a special feature on one of my favourite books this year, The interpreters edited by Hedley Twidle and Sean Christie.
Welcome to Book Choice Publishers’ Choice, where we’re joined by Exclusive Books, Penguin Random House, Jonathan Ball Publishers and Pan Macmillan to tell us what they have in store for readers this June, which is Youth Month.
A 100% South African show: all SA authors, all SA books, all SA reviews and interviews. All on Book Choice on Fine Music Radio.
Pan Macmillan's publicist Helene Coetzee chats with Paige Nick about her new book, The Book People.
In this brilliant pre-Franschhoek Literary Festival Edition of the show, we hear from three of South Africa’s top publishers and South Africa’s favourite bookseller, about what’s trending, what’s so hot right now, and what you absolutely, most definitely have to read this month. With a bonus interview with global bestselling author, Abi Dare.
Gail Schimmel in this Book Choice Book Short, about what he’s working on, where you can find him, and what to see, do, watch and eat at this year’s Franschhoek Literary Festival.
In our Franschhoek Literary Festival special edition Book Choice Show, we chat to Jennifer Ball, the festival Programme Director, and Festival Director, Candice Kerchhov, as well as two of the many authors you can catch at the festival, Gail Schimmel and Justin Fox. Join us find out what to see, what to do, where to eat, and how to book.
Justin Fox in this Book Choice Book Short, about what he’s working on, where you can find him, and what to see, do, watch and eat at this year’s Franschhoek Literary Festival.
Have we got a show for you. An interview with the author of a biography of iconic architect, Sir Herbert Baker, two juicy reviews, an interview on a book called white supremacy, and a taste of what the Jewish literary festival has in store for us readers.
A 10-minute Book Short with Phillip Todres and the organisers of the Jewish Literary Festival
Join us as three of South Africa’s top publishers; Penguin Random House, Jonathan Ball Publishers and Pan Macmillan tell us about what they’ve got on their bookshelves this month. And Exclusive Books tell us what’s flying off of their shelves. An hour of fine music and fine book recommendations.
This show brings you the latest John Boyne, Fire, a Booker long-listed title called Pearl, A serial Killer’s guide to Marriage by Asia Mckay, and we delve into non-fiction with Clown World – four years inside Andrew Tate’s Manosphere, Khaya Dlanga and more.
Book Choice Publishers’ Choice with Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan and Jonathan Ball Publishers telling us what they’ve got coming out in March plus info on The Books on The Bay Festival in Simon’s Town.
4 must-read big fiction titles, a book on wildlife of the Serengeti and interviews with Johan Fourie, author of Our Long Walk to Economic Freedom, and Joanne Hichens on the latest short sharp stories anthology called One Life.
We’re joined on this show by Penguin Random House, Jonathan Ball Publishers and Pan Macmillan and Exclusive Books, with their segments on World Read Aloud Day, upcoming treats, blind dates with books and whether award winning books are everything they’re (spine) cracked up to be.
Today’s show is all about the big names.
Deon Meyer, John le Carre, Alan Hollinghurst, L. Ron Hubbard, Mozart, Capitec, Esther Mahlangu, household names in crime fiction, action fiction, literary fiction, science fiction, music non fiction, banking non fiction and Art Non Fiction.
The 1st choice of the year is our Publishers Choice featuring a look ahead to a new year of happy reading.
Book Choice is broadcast every alternating Tuesday of each month presented by Paige Nick.
While you’re munching your lunch or driving the myriad motorways, you’ll hear all that’s best in books. Cape Town’s top book reviewers will entertain and inform you as they cheerfully chat about the newest and nicest fiction and non-fiction on current book shelves.
You love author interviews? Well, we line up those for your pleasure and leisure too.
You want an easy-peasy competition each month with good prizes? All there, prettily planned for your lovely listening.
Do join us for your delectation… for your entertainment… for your information.
It’s our last chance to share our list of must-reads for this festive season, with suggestions from Penguin Random House SA, Jonathan Ball Publishers, Pan Macmillan and Exclusive Books. Click play to hear some great suggestions.
Helene from Pan Macmillan checks in with us to tell us about their fave reads for this festive season.
Murder, Mystery, Music and much more! A big Spud interview - two books on music and more Murder, Mystery, Music and much more! Our team of reviewers share some fabulous finds for the holiday season.
In this Book Choice Short, Twanji Kalula chats to John van de Ruit about Spud’s Reunion.
A ten minute book review podcast with Shirley Gueller (CTPO Marketing Consultant) on Diva by Daisy Goodwin and Music as Medicine by Daniel Levitin.
In this Book Choice Short, John Hanks reviews Kirstenbosch, the most beautiful garden in Africa, by Brian J. Huntley.
Pan Macmillan brings us the new Spud by John van de Ruit, a new one by Trevor Noah and SO MUCH more.
Welcome to Book Choice Publishers Choice with Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan and Jonathan Ball Publishers. Plus a review of A Library to Flee, by Etienne Van Heerden and a review of Grootbos Florilegium.
In today’s Book Choice Publishers’ Choice show, the Jonathan Ball team interviews Sam Wilson on First Murder on Mars. The Penguin and Pan MacMillan team tells us what they’re bringing out this month and Twanji Kalula interviews Zelda la Grange on her new memoir.
In this 10 minute short, Twanji Kalula chats to Zelda la Grange
about her new memoir, What Nelson Mandela taught me.
A 10-minute Short: Vanessa Levenstein interviews show favourite, author Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, on her latest masterpiece, The Creation of Half Broken People. (Watch this title, we think it will feature at the Sunday Times Literary Awards 2025)
A brilliant review in 5 minutes. Twanji Kalula talks Breaking Bread by Jonathan Jansen.
A super diverse show. From the latest Tana French mystery, to lifestyle and cook books, the new memoir from Jonathan Jansen, and an interview with Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu.
3 of South Africa’s top publishers; Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan and Jonathan Ball Publishers, and South Africa’s favourite bookseller, Exclusive Books, join us to tell us what great reads you can expect on their shelves this October.
What the editor of Book Choice, Paige Nick has been reading. A 3-minute podcast. One for halloween, and one for curiosity.
A 10-minute podcast of books full of hope and healing for World Mental Health Day, brought to you by Mpumi Mgidlana, publicist at Jonathan Ball Publishers.
Twanji Kalula interviews Zukiswa Wanner on being an African literary icon and her latest novel, Love, Marry, Kill.
Frederick Backman’s latest, Earth, the second in John Boyne’s new quartet, two nature titles, an interview with Zukiswa Wanner on her latest, another with Louisa Treger on her new bestseller, The Paris Muse. Plus so much more.
A ten-minute interview. Beryl Eichenberger chats to Louisa Treger about her latest novel, The Paris Muse. About Picasso’s muse and her own art.
Tune in for a 10 minute review. Batya Bricker, GM of Books and Brands at Exclusive Books talks about her keepers and her tossers.
Tune in for a 9 minute interview. Nancy Richards chats to Frankie Murray about all things Open Book Festival.
Tune in for a 9 minute interview, Vanessa Levenstein chats to Mark Solms about the complete worlds of Sigmund Freud, which he’s spent the last three decades editing and compiling.
In today’s show we’ve got 5 phenomenal author interviews; Freud’s complete works, Nicky Greenwall’s A Short Life, Alison Weir’s Belonging, Peter Friedland’s Quiet time with the president, and a round up of what you can enjoy at this year’s Open Book Festival and so much more.
Thank you for streaming book choice, Publishers’ Choice. Today we welcome Batya Bricker from Exclusive Books, The Pan MacMillan Team, The Penguin Random House Team and the Jonathan Ball Publishing Team to fill us in on what they’re publishing, reading and selling right now.
In this episode of Book Choice, we’ve got a review of the latest by Lionel Shriver called Mania, and a memoir called psychopath, we’ve even got the latest by Alistair Mckay, as well as amazing author interviews, including one with Andrew Smith, the author of First People. The Lost History of the Khoisan, and so much more.
Book Choice is broadcast every alternating Tuesday of each month presented by Paige Nick.
While you’re munching your lunch or driving the myriad motorways, you’ll hear all that’s best in books. Cape Town’s top book reviewers will entertain and inform you as they cheerfully chat about the newest and nicest fiction and non-fiction on current book shelves.
You love author interviews? Well, we line up those for your pleasure and leisure too.
You want an easy-peasy competition each month with good prizes? All there, prettily planned for your lovely listening.
Do join us for your delectation… for your entertainment… for your information.
On this episode of Book Choice we've got a book that’s very Italian, one that’s very south African, a thriller-thriller, the new Marian Keyes, young adult fiction, three books on opera, not one bird book review, but two, and a partridge in a pear tree. Book Choice is brought to you by Exclusive Books.
What makes this show extra special is that we welcome three of South Africa’s top publishers, Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan, Jonathan Ball Publisher’s as well as South Africa’s number one bookseller, Exclusive Books, to join us on the show and introduce us to their big name authors, titles events and news. We like to think of this show as our behind the scenes of publishing show. Nobody knows the publishing industry better than the selection of professionals you’re about to hear from.
We’ve got a feast of book reviews and author interviews on Book Choice. We review the much-awaited Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the new one by Sven Axelrad, called God’s Pocket, and a book called Hiking the Fish, As well as an interview with Candice Carty Williams, Book of the Year award winner, and Roy Haveman’s How to Fix a Country.
Welcome to Book Choice, Publishers' Choice on FMR with me your host Paige Nick. What makes this episode special is that we’re joined by three of SA's top publishers and SA's number on bookseller, Exclusive Books. These are the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes, publishing the books we love to delve into, and they really know what’s going on, so when they make a recommendation, you know you can count on it. Hope you enjoy the show.
We’re heading into May, which means The Franschhoek Literary Festival is coming up. They draw some of the biggest local and international names in fiction and non-fiction, and this year is no exception. So to highlight this incredible opportunity for South African Book, politics and literary lovers, we thought we’d dedicate an entire show, that’s a full hour, to the festival. Join the festival director who will be sharing the inside track with you.
Five reviews plus three interviews equals the number one book show: Book Choice. Join Paige Nick and her team of reviewers for Book Choice, brought to you by Exclusive Books .
Welcome to Book Choice, Publishers’ Choice. Today we’re joined on the show by three of South Africa’s top publishers; Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan and Jonathan Ball Publishers. As well as South Africa’s favourite bookseller, Exclusive Books, to tell us what they’ve got coming out over the next few months. Happy listening and happy reading.
On this episode of Book Choice, we’ve got reviews of seven brand new books including the latest by Ivan Vladislavic and John Boyne, plus an interview with Ladles of Love, running a great initiative where R250 feeds a child two meals a day for a month and gets that child a book.
Welcome to Book Choice, Publishers’ Choice. Today we’re joined on the show by three of South Africa’s top publishers; Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan and Jonathan Ball Publishers. As well as South Africa’s favourite bookseller, Exclusive Books, to tell us what they’ve got coming out over the next few months. Happy listening and happy reading.
On this show, among other things, in a bit of a mad experiment, we have three reviewers ( Vanessa Levenstein, Shirley De Kock Gueller and Twanji Kalula) ALL reviewing the exact same book, Son of a Whore, by Herman Lategan. As well as fiction and non-fiction reviews and a whopper of an author interview.
Join 3 of South Africa's top international publishers and South Africa's number one book seller, for a look at what they've got coming out in the next couple of months.
Book Choice is broadcast every alternating Tuesday of each month presented by Paige Nick.
While you’re munching your lunch or driving the myriad motorways, you’ll hear all that’s best in books. Cape Town’s top book reviewers will entertain and inform you as they cheerfully chat about the newest and nicest fiction and non-fiction on current book shelves.
You love author interviews? Well, we line up those for your pleasure and leisure too.
You want an easy-peasy competition each month with good prizes? All there, prettily planned for your lovely listening.
Do join us for your delectation… for your entertainment… for your information.
There is something special about this show. All 8 book reviews feel prescient and interesting, and the interview, well it’s about a book that has a dog in it named God, so maybe it’s that. Tune in and hear for yourself.
It's the very first Book Choice: Publishers' Choice for 2024. So whatever your New Year's resolution, be sure to listen tomorrow, 9 January, at 12 noon. Join Paige Nick and top publishing houses: Jonathan Ball Publishers Penguin Random House Pan Macmillan South Africa and number one bookseller Exclusive Books #finemusicradio #books
Book Choice is presented by Paige Nick with her team of bookworms. They will entertain and inform you as they chat about the latest fiction and non-fiction on the shelves. From popular to literary works, you can enjoy author interviews and giveaways.
This week’s book choice is one of our popular Publishers’ Choice editions, which means, we’ll be joined today by three of South Africa’s top publishers, Penguin Random house, Jonathan Ball Publishers, Pan Macmillan Publishers, as well as South Africa’s number one Book Seller, Exclusive books, and each of them will introduce us to their current authors, titles, events and news
Welcome to Book Choice on Fine Music Radio, the only show on South African radio that offers you an hour long extravaganza of books with me your host, Paige Nick. I’m looking forward to keeping you in good book company for the next hour
Well hello there book friends, welcome Book Choice, Publishers’ Choice, on Fine Music Radio. I’m your host Paige Nick and I’m delighted to bring you this show every month.
If you’re a regular to the show, then you’ll know that every two weeks, we host the Publishers’ Choice version of this show. In it we invite three of South Africa’s top publishers, Penguin Random house, Jonathan Ball Publishers, Pan Macmillan Publishers, as well as South Africa’s number one Book Seller, Exclusive books, to join us on the show, and to each take on a segment where they introduce us to their current authors, titles, events and news. Giving us listeners an inside view into the world of publishing, and often a first look at what’s new and hot in the world of publishing right now.
Book Choice: Publisher’s Choice brings you a special edition of Read it! Learners from Gardens Commercial High School and Rustenburg Girls' High School, Cape Town soared through the air as they discussed "The Theory of Flight" by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu. We were fortunate to have Siphiwe join us via Zoom and the discussion was hosted by headmaster Marc Falconer.
Good morning and good afternoon, and a big book welcome to Book Choice, Publishers’ Choice, on Fine Music Radio. I’m your host Paige Nick and I’m delighted to bring you this show every month.
Publisher’s Choice holds a special place in my heart, because we’ve partnered with some really special people, and it’s the only show of it’s kind that I know of in South Africa, perhaps even in the world. In this show we welcome three of South Africa’s top publishers.
Welcome to Book Choice on Fine Music Radio, the only show on South African radio that offers you an hour long extravaganza of books, we’ve got five great book reviews and another four massive interviews to keep you informed and entertained for the next hour. I’m your host, Paige Nick, and I’m looking forward to keeping you in good book company, sponsored as always by exclusive books.
Well hello there and huge welcome to Book Choice, Publishers’ Choice, on Fine Music Radio. I’m your host of Book Choice, Paige Nick, every month we have this very special book show because we welcome three of South Africa’s top publishers and South Africa’s number one Book Seller, Exclusive books, to come into the FMR studio to tell us about what they’re publishing right now, also what they’re reading and selling right now what new authors they’ve got coming out.
It’s Tuesday, it’s September, and it’s time for hopefully your favourite book show on the radio. You’re tuned in to Book Choice on Fine Music Radio, with me your host, Paige Nick, sponsored as always by exclusive books. We’ve got a huge jam packed show lined up for you today.
The first half of the show is all reviews, mostly fiction, and the second half of the show we delve into three big author interviews. Two of them are non-fiction and one of them is fiction.
Each of the people we’ll be hearing from today today and their publishing teams, spend their days and often their nights, deciding what books to bring out working on publishing them, the production process, picking covers, picking paper weight picking fonts, there’s so much that goes on behind the scenes in the world of book publishing. And we’re so proud every month to invite them into the studio to hear what they’ve got going on right now on their desks.
On this edition of Book Choice you can enjoy seven reviews of current local and international fiction, and two massive interviews. Join Paige Nick and her team of reviewers for books, books and more books!
On Book Choice: Publishers’ Choice, with editor Paige Nick, we welcome South Africa’s three top publishers and South Africa’s number one book seller into the studio to fill us in on what they’re publishing, selling and even more importantly, reading right now.
It's winter which means it's the perfect time to curl up, get cosy and read. And to help you choose just the right book is Paige Nick and her team of reviewers with fascinating reviews and interviews.
On FMR's Book Choice: Publishers' Choice, we welcome South Africa’s top three publishers and number one bookseller into the studio to fill us in on what they’re publishing, reading and selling right now.
Coming up on today’s show, Beverley Roos Muller reviews a new release, Daisy de Melker: Hiding Among Killers in the City of Gold by Ted Botha, published by Jonathan Ball. Interestingly this book was recently launched at the women’s jail on constitution hill, which is where Daisy de Melker served out her sentence. A launch that sounds as fascinating as the book itself.
Read-it! focuses on the magic power of books. It’s hosted by leading educator Marc Falconer, with learners from Gardens Commercial High School and Rustenburg High School. Thanks to our Publishers’ Choice sponsors: Exclusive Books, Jonathan Ball Publishers , Pan Macmillan South Africa and Penguin Random House SA. Read-it! is produced by Vanessa Levenstein and the sound engineer is Mzukisi Maketa.
Welcome to Book Choice on Fine music Radio, with me your host Paige Nick, sponsored by Exclusive Books.
But here’s the thing, we have so many amazing book reviews and author interviews to share with you today, that I barely even have time to tell you how many amazing book reviews and author interviews we have to share with you today.
A huge hello from the Fine Music Radio studios in Cape Town. This is Book Choice, Publishers’ Choice, and I’m your host, Paige Nick. In this week’s show, we have three exceptional South African Publishers and the country’s biggest book seller, joining us to tell us what they’re publishing, reading and selling right now.
Book Choice is broadcast every alternating Tuesday of each month presented by Paige Nick.
While you’re munching your lunch or driving the myriad motorways, you’ll hear all that’s best in books. Cape Town’s top book reviewers will entertain and inform you as they cheerfully chat about the newest and nicest fiction and non-fiction on current book shelves.
You love author interviews? Well, we line up those for your pleasure and leisure too.
You want an easy-peasy competition each month with good prizes? All there, prettily planned for your lovely listening.
Do join us for your delectation… for your entertainment… for your information.
Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses his latest book, The World: A Family History of Humanity with educator Marc Falconer.
You’re tuned in to Book Choice, Publishers’ Choice, on Fine Music Radio, with me, your host, Paige Nick. Today the show includes four of South Africa’s biggest publishing houses. Each here to highlight all the beautiful books they’re publishing this year.
This is what we’ve got lined up for you.
First up on the show we’ll hear from Jonathan Ball Publishers, to share the best of their current non-fiction and fiction titles on the shelves right now.
After that, it’s a big hello to global publishing powerhouse, Pan Macmillan. Talking about their favourite new titles, both local and international.
Straight after that, Viz from Penguin Random House, is on the mic. Penguin Random House are the world’s largest English trade publisher. Here to tell us what they’ve got going on.
It’s 12 sharp on Tuesday the 21st of March on Fine Music Radio, which means, you’re tuned into Book Choice - an hour of book reviews and author interviews, with me, your host, Paige Nick, sponsored by Exclusive Books.
: Welcome to Book Choice, Publishers’ Choice, here on Fine Music Radio, with me, your host, Paige Nick. In today’s show, I’m joined by South Africa’s four biggest, brightest publishing houses, and each of them are going to join us for their own segment to tell us all about the books they’re bringing out right now. So I hope you’ve got a pen and paper handy so you write down any of these titles that grab your fancy, there are some incredible reads just waiting to leap onto your shelves.
Just because February is a shorter month than most, doesn’t mean we have any fewer books for you to read. Welcome to Book Choice on Fine Music Radio, with me, your host, Paige Nick, sponsored by Exclusive Books.
This month we have 7 great reviewers joining us to tell us about what they’ve been reading. And we’ve got two big interviews. One with the author of a smash hit best seller Thrive, and the other about an exciting literary event taking place in Cape Town in March.
All punctuated by wonderful music, curated and compiled by Rick Everett and Dave Wood.
A big hello from the Fine Music Radio studios, my name is Paige Nick, and you’re tuned into Book Choice our Publishers’ Choice Edition.
The only book show in the country where the biggest names from behind the scenes in publishing join us to give us an insider’s eye into the books they’re bringing out right now.
First on the show, we welcome the team from global publishing powerhouse, Pan Macmillan. To share some of their favourite new titles, both local and international.
After that, we’re joined by Jonathan Ball Publishers. The team at Jonathan Ball, consistently publish a host of South Africa’s top non-fiction titles, as well as international fiction and non fiction. And they’re here to bring us up to speed with what they’ve got coming up.
During load-shedding whether you read with a head-torch or cell phone light, one thing is for sure, even though you're reading in the dark, books continue to illuminate our world! Book Choice is hosted by Paige Nick and brought to you by Exclusive Books.
A big hello from the Fine Music Radio studios, my name is Paige Nick, and you’re tuned into Book Choice our Publishers’ Choice Edition.
The only book show in the country where the biggest names from behind the scenes in publishing join us for a full hour, to give us an insider’s eye into the books they’re bringing out right now.
First on the show, we welcome the team from global publishing powerhouse, Pan Macmillan. To share some of their favourite current titles, both local and international.
After that, we’ll be joined by Jonathan Ball Publishers. The team at Jonathan Ball, consistently publish a host of South Africa’s top non-fiction titles, as well as loads of great international fiction and non-fiction. And they’re here today to bring us up to speed with what they’ve got coming up.
And after that, and a bit of music, last, but never least, we will be joined by our great, great friends at Exclusive Books, who come on the mic to add their important voice to the show, and share their top picks and very best reads for you, for the upcoming month.
And each of these incredible publishers’ slots are bookended by some great music.
All the music in our book shows every month, are carefully and thoughtfully selected by Rick Everett and compiled by Dave Wood. Thank you for the music you guys.
Welcome to our final Book Choice show for the year on Fine Music Radio, sponsored by Exclusive Books. My name is Paige Nick and for the next hour, we’ll be joined by our reviewers sharing the new books they’ve been reading, as well as reminiscing about some of their favourite reads from this last year.
I hope this show finds you enjoying a great summer read, wherever you are. Whether that’s on a beach with a book in one hand and a cocktail in the other, on your couch with a kindle, or hiding from your family with your book, in the bathroom, or if you’re still working, burning the midnight oil, but also managing to get a few pages in here or there, even if you’re just dreaming of reading, here’s a shout out to all readers everywhere.
A big hello from the Fine Music Radio studios, my name is Paige Nick, and you’re tuned into Book Choice our Publisher’s Choice Edition.
The only book show in the country where our biggest names from behind the scenes in publishing join us to give us an insider’s eye into the books they’re bringing out right now.
And December is a HUGE month in the book trade. That’s when they lay out the very best ideas for you to stuff your stockings with. Because if a book isn’t the very best gift you could ever give anyone, then I don’t know what is.
Books take us places, they help us escape, they teach us stuff, and every now and then, when they’re really, really good, they have that magic ability to get us off our screens for half a second, and transport us somewhere really really special.
So, whether you’re listening with an ear today thinking about what you can buy for your tribe for the giving season, or whether you’re wondering what incredible read you’re going to line up for yourself next, you’ve come to the right place.
A big hello from the Fine Music Radio studios in Cape Town, from me, Paige Nick. You’re tuned into Book Choice, sponsored by Exclusive books. The show that has a million and one books to share, with some great music in between.
To welcome in the silly season, we have a silly amount of books to tell you about today. So much so, that I’m not even going to have enough time to tell you what we’ll be reviewing in the next hour, we’re going to have to leap right in and get started. So you’ll have to trust me when I tell you that we have a ton of great reviews and interviews coming up over the next hour. With suggestions of a little perfect something to read for everyone. If you’ve got someone you need to buy a gift for and you have no idea what to get them, we’ve got something for you! If you’re a fiction fundi, we’ve got something for you. If you like a little non-fiction in your life, we’ve got something for you. And of course, if you like great fine music, we’ve got something for you.
So stay tuned, we absolutely most definitely have got something for you!
Well hello on this beautiful bookie Tuesday morning. I’m excited to join you for this, our second ever Book Choice Publisher’s Choice Edition, here on Fine Music Radio. My name is Paige Nick, and I think we have a magnificent show lined up for you. Whether you’ve always got your nose in a book, or perhaps you like to give books as gifts, or maybe you’re a sometimes reader, or you have ‘read more, scroll less’ on your to-do list, if you fit any of those profiles, or even if you just like a bit of fine music punctuated by fine chat, you’re tuned into the right station at exactly the right time.
On today’s show, we welcome a few big-name publishers, who will be joining us to give us a bit of insight into their behind the scenes lives, and the books they’re publishing right now. They’ll be bringing us reviews, interviews with authors, bloggers, vloggers and TikTokers, as well as info on upcoming launches and must reads.
How can this be, that it’s the first of November already? I feel like the end of the year has snuck up on us like a sneaky plot twist out of a Stephen King novel. But here’s hoping your November is more Romantic Comedy, than ghoulish horror novel.
Welcome to Book Choice on Fine Music Radio, sponsored by Exclusive Books, with me, your host, Paige Nick, and a whole team of reviewers keen to whet your literary appetite with a host of new book reviews and interviews.
Today, we’re opening the show with Beverley Roos Muller and the new John Boyne novel, the follow up to his Boy in the Striped Pajamas that has been a multi-million copy bestseller around the world. This new follow up is called All the Broken Places. Beverley also brings us news of the new Nobel prize winner.
Shirley Gueller, reviews Mercury Pictures Presents, by Anthony Marra, this one looks like a blockbuster to me.
After that, our best Anthony Fridjhon reviews Kruger Self-Drive. Routes, Roads and Ratings perfectly timed for anyone considering a trip to the Kruger these upcoming holidays.
John Hanks read the latest Tony Park novel, called the Pride and he’ll be here to tell us about that.
Then we have a new reviwer joining us, Rachel Van Der Vijfer is a grade 8 student at at Reddam, Durbanville.
Vanessa Levenstein and I get chatting about the latest from Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, we have both devoured these books, they are must reads
And Beryl Eichenberger dips into some great crime, with a new novel from Irma Venter, called Red Tide.
Twanji Kalula reports back on a book called Too Big to Jail, by Chris Blackhust and this book takes us inside HSBC, the Mexican drug cartels and the greatest banking scandal of the century.
And we wrap the show up with an interview I was lucky enough to do with the author of the international bestseller, high concept novel, The Measure, by Nikki Erlich.
Hello and welcome to a brand new edition of Book Choice, on Fine Music Radio. My name is Paige Nick and I'm the host of both our regular Book Choice that you've hopefully come to know an love over the years, and now, an exciting new addition and edition of the show, which were calling Book Choice, Publishers' Choice.
Every third Tuesday, at lunch time, well be welcoming a few big name publishers to join us on the show and tell us what great new books they've been working on.
They'll bring us reviews, interviews with authors, behind the scenes looks at what goes into publishing some of your favorite books, as well as information on upcoming launches in your area, that you can hopefully add to your calendar.
Lets just say, if you didn't have a massive-to-read pile before, you're sure to grow a fantastic book wishlist now.
Over the weeks, well bring you something for everyone, from fiction, to non-fiction, young Adult books, something for the kids, cook books, and even hopefully some poetry and short stories. Whatever you like to read, or whoever you need to buy a gift for, we'll be sure to cover something for you. So stay tuned, your dial is in the right place on Fine Music Radio Book Choice, Publishers Choice.
For our first ever Publishers Choice segment, were excited to welcome Penguin Random House to the show. Penguin is the worlds largest English language trade publisher, which if you think about is really impressive. So now, every few weeks, starting today, the Penguin Random House team will join us on Publishers Choice, to give into what they've got coming up on the shelves.
In this edition of Book Choice sponsored by Exclusive Books and hosted by Paige Nick there are great reviews and interviews: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn;
an interview with Françoise Malby-Anthony on her latest book, The Elephants of Thula Thula; Isabel Allende’s novel Violeta; My Land, My Obsession, a memoir by Bulelwa Mabasa; an interview with Margie Orford, about her latest thriller The Eye of the Beholder and a review and interview on Notes on Falling, by Bronwen Law-Viljoen.
: Today is the first Monday in September, and you’re tuned into Book Choice on Fine Music Radio, sponsored by Exclusive Books, with me, your host Paige Nick.
For our spring show, we have a great line up of book reviews and author interviews to help you add a new book or two, or three, to your pile.
Here’s what you have to look forward to over the next hour, Beverley Roos Muller, will be reviewing Tunnel 29, by Helena Merriman. The extraordinary true story of escapees who tunnelled back under the Berlin Wall to help their contacts escape during the cold war.
Then we chat to Vanessa Levenstein about Trust, by Hernan Diaz, which was just announced as a Booker Prize longlist nominee. And here’s a fun fact we’ll delve into further a little later in the show, all the music in today’s show, comes straight out of this incredible book.
After that, John Hanks interviews Ashling McCarthy, about her first book, ‘Down at Jika Jika Tavern’.
Then Shirley Gueller gives us the inside track on Attic Child, by Lola Jaye. A book that’s had great international press.
After that, we welcome a new guest reviewer to the show. Twanji Kalula brings all his financial savvy to review Genius, the new offering from xxx Bruce Whitfield.
In the second half of today’s show, we have a really exciting segment. Beryl Eichenberger interviews Internationally Bestselling author, Louisa Treger who was recently in South Africa to launch her new novel, Madwoman.
And last but not least, another interview when Philip Todress chats to Professor June Bam-Hutchinson, who heads the San and Khoi Unit in the University of Cape Town’s Centre for African Studies.
August, the eighth month of the year, if you can believe that?
But August is also a word that has another meaning too. It can mean, ‘marked by majestic dignity or grandeur, according to the Mirriam Webster Dictionary, or it can mean venerable, according to my dusty old Oxford Dictionary that I pulled off my bookshelf covered in cobwebs. And August can also mean respected and impressive according to Google.
All appropriate, since today is the first of August, and you’re tuned into Book Choice on Fine Music Radio, sponsored by Exclusive Books. An hour of reviews of a big pile of majestic, dignified, grand, venerable, respected and hopefully impressive
: We are just heading for half way through our reading year. So, have you nabbed your best read of the year yet? That one book that when you close it, you think, it will be hard to find a better read this year.
If not, no fear there are still six months to go, and we have a pile of great new book options to share with you today, that might help you dig up your best read for 2022
You’re tuned into Book Choice on Fine Music Radio, sponsored by Exclusive Books, and I’m your host Paige Nick. We’ll be spending the next hour chatting about books, reviewing books and listening to great author interviews
And just like that, it’s June, and you’re tuned into the sixth episode of Book Choice so far this year, here on Fine Music Radio sponsored by Exclusive Books.
My name is Paige Nick and I’ll be your book host for the next hour. We’ll also be joined by all our regular reviewers, plus we have an interview with international bestselling author, Lionel Shriver, who recently visited our studio in Cape Town, and sat down to chat with us about her latest novel, and we top off the show with Rodney Trudgeon, our own person of note. So let’s get on with the books.
A big hello from the Fine Music Radio studio here in Cape Town, and welcome to Book Choice, sponsored by Exclusive Books, with me, your host, Paige Nick. This is your hour long feast of book reviews and interviews, to take you into lunch time on this first Monday of May. I’m super excited about today’s show. We’ve got a ton of incredible local fiction and non-fiction, with a few international books snuck in, to entertain you too. All punctuated by the most wonderful music to whet your whistle, selected by Rick Everett and compiled by Dave Woods. So there’s not a second to spare, we have too many books and not enough time, so let’s get on with the show.
: Welcome to chapter one, page one of the April edition of Book Choice, here on Fine Music Radio sponsored by Exclusive Books. My name is Paige Nick and for the next hour, we have 8 wonderful book segments, including 5 great book reviews, and 4 meaty interviews with authors, to share with you, so I hope you’ll stick around and discover some new gems for your book shelf.
And since this station isn’t called Fine Book Radio, and it is called Fine Music Radio, we don’t only have books, we have plenty of fine music too. And to celebrate the month of April Fools, all the music tracks in our show today, selected and compiled by the wonderful Rick Everett and Dave Wood, are about fools.
Welcome to the March edition of Book Choice here on Fine Music Radio. We have a massive show lined up for you today. So pull up a seat, or pull up your steering wheel, and join us for a full hour of great recommendations for your next must-have fiction or non-fiction reads. We have two guest reviewers this month, with Helen Moffett, telling us about some very exciting new local fiction. And Nerine Dorman, joining us to fill John Hank’s hiking boots this month in our nature segment.
I have just one question for you? Will you be my book valentine? Well, technically I suppose that’s two questions. Welcome to the February edition of Book Choice here on Fine Music Radio. I’m your host Paige Nick, and for the next hour, we’ll be bringing you a whole lot of reviews of some great new books, and interviews with authors that I’m sure you are going to just love. All sponsored by our friends at Exclusive Books.
Happy New Year, and a big bookie welcome to our first Book Choice of 2022. And we are still so lucky and grateful to have Exclusive Books join us as our sponsorship partner for the show as we go into the new year. We love books, they love books AND sell books, it’s a match made in heaven!
At last, we made it to the final Book Choice show for 2021 here on Fine Music Radio! Welcome to the show, sponsored by Exclusive Books, and I’m your host, Paige Nick. We have some wonderful reads to recommend, and a whole lot of xmassy music to really get us all in the mood.
The second Book Choice Teen podcast took place at Herzlia High School on 13 October 2021. Grade 8 and 9 learners from Gardens Commercial and Herzlia in Cape Town met to discuss the novel 'Diamond Boy' by Michael Williams, this was facilitated by headmaster Marc Falconer. Thanks to everyone involved: Herzlia’s engineer David Watkyns and FMR’s sound engineer Ewan Inglis for post-production. The learners are Benjamin Lazarus, Cassidy Wilson, Leah Rodenacker, Mira Gibson, Shakira Maart, Taylar Pinn and Wangisani Mpotalinga. We are grateful that the author, Michael Williams, joined us for the discussion via Zoom. Thank you to Oxford University Press for sponsoring the books.
Welcome to Book Choice on Fine Music Radio, sponsored by Exclusive Books. I’m your host, Paige Nick. It’s election day, so I hope you’re out there making your mark. Hey if there are any politicians listening, how about we take VAT off the sale of all books? They are an important staple after all. We have a special tribute show this month. Not just a tribute to books, which is pretty much what we do every month anyway. But this month we’re paying tribute to a very special book about a very special man who made some very fine music that changed this country.
October saw the launch of Scatterling of Africa, the new memoir by Johnny Clegg, published by Pan Macmillan. So, stay tuned. We have a review of this book at the end of the show. And all the music in this month’s show are great Johnny Clegg tracks
It’s the first Monday in October, which means you’re tuned into Book Choice on Fine Music Radio. We’ve got reviews, we’ve got interviews, we’ve got fine music, we’ve got everything you need to know about books for this month. I’m your host, Paige Nick, and Book Choice is sponsored by Exclusive Books.
Welcome to Book Choice, sponsored by Exclusive Books. I’m your host Paige Nick, and for the next hour we’ll be talking exclusively about books.
Did you know that this year South Africa has not one, but TWO finalists in the Booker Prize Literary Awards. One of the world’s most prestigious literary awards, it’s essentially the Olympics of literature.
To celebrate South Africa’s excellent showing, we have interviews with both of these long-listed authors in our special Booker Prize segment, at the end of the show.
South Africa is still offering us plenty of chilly weather, making this the perfect season to curl up with a good book. So good thing that you’re tuned into Book Choice on Fine Music Radio and I’m your host Paige Nick. For the next hour, we’ll be joined by reviewers and authors, sharing what’s on their to-read pile right now. So you can line up your perfect lock down entertainment for the next few weeks.
So, what have you been reading lately? A novel that made you laugh? A biography that made you cry? maybe you read something that comforted you? Or that changed the way you feel about the world, or reasserted something you’ve always felt. Or perhaps you’ve read something that made you furious! I have a friend who once threw the Brett Easton Ellis novel she was reading out the window, she couldn’t bear to have it in her home for one second longer. Or maybe all this Covid trauma has you unable to read anything longer than the back of a cereal box.
Here are a couple of questions for you: Are you unable to walk past a book shop without stepping inside for a quick browse? Do you sometimes smell your books? Do you buy books, even though you already have a pile of unread books? Do you chat about books with friends? Or are you always on the lookout for your next favourite read? If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to Book Choice on Fine Music Radio, I’m your host Paige Nick and for the next hour.
The first Book Choice Teen podcast recording took place at Herzlia High School on 1 June. Grade 10 and 11 learners from Gardens Commercial High and Herzlia High met to discuss the novel An Imperfect Blessing by Nadia Davids. The discussion was facilitated by headmaster Marc Falconer Thank you to Herzlia’s audio engineer, David Watkyns and also to FMR’s sound engineer, Mawande Lobi for post-production. Thank you to learners Amisha Mallum, Benis Seolo, Ethan Myers, Leah Benjamin and Ra-eeza Jacobs; Penguin Random House; and of course, the wonderful author, Nadia Davids.
Today is the first Monday in May, and it’s 12 o clock, which means it’s time for Book Choice. The one hour a month where we get to talk about books. What we’re reading, what we want to read, and sometimes even what we wish we’d never read. My name is Paige Nick, and I’m your Book Choice host here on Fine Music Radio. We’ve got a great show for you this month. In fact, it’s so full that I’m going to get straight into it, with no dilly dallying.
April always makes me happy. It’s my birthday month, and if I’m lucky and my friends and family know what’s good for them, then it’s a month filled with books as gifts. If there is a better gift than a book, I haven’t discovered it yet. I’m Paige Nick and welcome to Book Choice on your favourite station, Fine Music Radio. We’re going to spend the next blissful hour talking about books and listening to music.
We’ve got a bumper show filled with interviews and reviews, and as always, lots of views. In our guest review spot this month, we welcome Jabulani Sigege, who will be reviewing Bruce Fordyce’s latest book, Winged Messenger, as well as ten year old Yusuf Asvat, and his latest favourite read by Bear Grylls. And let’s not forget the rest of our regular wonderful reviewers. So let’s get reading.
Wait. What? It’s March. Already! Shew, that happened quickly. Well, I hope your reading year has gotten off to a great start. The world may be in a rather precarious spot right now, but fortunately we can still travel and escape into stories and worlds and lives when we sink into books. My name is Paige Nick and you’re listening to Book Choice on Fine Music Radio. I’m looking forward to spending the next hour with you, and all our reviewers, talking about some of the latest books to hit our shelves this March. Right, so marching on…
Thanks Cindy, and hello to you, our dedicated Bookchoice listeners. We’ve reached the end of this memorable year, it’s the festive season, and we are adamant to find ways to be joyful after the challenges 2020 has brought. As mentioned.
We’ve reached the end of this memorable year, it’s the festive season, and we are adamant to find ways to be joyful after the challenges 2020 has brought. As mentioned, I’m Paige Nick, and I look forward to spending the next hour with you.
It’s midday on the first Monday of November, and we’ve apparently entered into the season of summer in 2020. I’m Cindy Moritz. This month the FMR Bookchoice team has gone all out to bring you their best suggestions, so we’re going to get straight into it. I’m joined in the studio by MZUKISI MAKETA and we look forward to spending the next hour with you.
Book Choice, is broadcast on the first Monday of each month, presented by Cindy Moritz.
While you’re munching your lunch or driving the myriad motorways, you’ll hear all that’s best in books. Cape Town’s top book reviewers will entertain and inform you as they cheerfully chat about the newest and nicest fiction and non-fiction on current book shelves.
You love author interviews? Well, we line up those for your pleasure and leisure too. You want an easy-peasy competition each month with good prizes? All there, prettily planned for your lovely listening.
Do join us for your delectation… for your entertainment… for your information.
It’s the first Monday of the month, and we are somewhat gobsmacked to admit that it’s already the Spring edition of Bookchoice. The months have certainly merged into each other this strange year, but if you’re listening I think we can all agree that our constant has been that we’ve been able to turn to a reliable book, whether hard copy, e-book or audio version, to broaden our world when it has often seemed rather frustratingly restricted and small. Happily, here in South Africa we are emerging into warmer weather, fewer rules and regulations and hopefully better health.
We begin with a memoir, reviewed by Vanessa Levenstein, titled Undeniable – Memoirs of a covert war, written by Phillippa Garson. It’s her riveting account of working as a journalist during the early 1990s in South Africa. Melvyn Minnaar found the world of art worth a detailed visit in William Feaver’s The Lives of Lucien Freud: Youth 1922-1968, and Leanne Voysey regales us with her thoughts on Felicity McLean’s debut novel, The van Apfel Girls are Gone. Beverley Roos-Muller remains loyal to one of her favourite writers, Martin Cruz Smith and gives us her take on The Siberian Dilemma, and Philp Todres brings rhinos centre stage with Remembering Rhinos, part of the Remembering Wildlife series of four books by Margot Ragget. Seasoned ornithologist Rob Little recommends Rupert Watson’s Peacocks & Picathartes, Reflections on Africa’s birdlife, for those who’d like to stay in touch with the wonders of our truly rich African bird diversity, and Beryl Eichenberger spoke to Hedi Lampert, author of The Trouble with my Aunt, uncovering family secrets discovered during a real life journey with Fragile X syndrome. Finishing our monthly offering, Lesley Beake encourages us to look where the books for the very young are found for something to delight, and suggests four of author and illustrator Chris Houghton’s very best.
Vanessa Levenstein could not contain her excitement at getting her hands on Hamnet, by one of her favourite authors, Maggie O’ Farrell. Melvyn Minnaar calls The Lost Pianos of Siberia by Sophy Roberts, “a glorious travelogue with a difference”, and Beryl Eichenberger reviewed A Daughter’s Tale by Arnando Lucas Correa, in which seven decades of secrets unravel with the arrival of a box of letters from the distant past. Beverley Roos-Muller grappled with her views on the much anticipated third in trilogy The Mirror and the Light, by Hilary Mantel, and Philp Todres was impressed with Jonathan Safran Foer’s ability to give a personal and emotive voice to climate change in his latest offering, We are the Weather. John Hanks calls Warwick and Michele Tartboton’s A guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa, “one of the best illustrated field guides anywhere in the world”, and Lesley Beake suggests two good reads for the 10-12 year old age group, Tiger Heart by Penny Chrimes and Mirror Magic by Claire Fayers.
Beverley Roos-Muller gave considerable thought to her choice of books this month, and has even themed her contribution. No prizes for guessing the topical theme, but there may well be a prize for listening closely to her reviews of The Body: a guide for occupants, by Bill Bryson and Plague, Pox and Pandemics by Howard Phillips. Vanessa Levenstein was duly impressed by Chanel Miller’s Know my name, the memoir of the woman previously known as Emily Doe, who was at the centre of a much publicized rape case in the US. Melvyn Minnaar highly recommends Apeirogon by Colm McCann which he describes as “truly uplifting”, giving “hope amid our and all division”, while Penny Lorimer provides our monthly dose of thrillers with Blood Will Be Born by Gary Donnelly and Three hours by Rosamund Lupton. John Hanks gives his sweeping view of Birds of Southern Africa and their tracks and signs, by Lee Gutteridge, and Beryl Eichenberger stays with flying things but takes us across continents with The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. Prepare to fasten your seat belts for Philp Todres’ interview with Damian Barr as they discuss the author’s latest novel You will be safe here. Philip calls it a “rough but riveting ride”, that transports the reader back to Boer War era South Africa. Lesley Beake brings to the table her inspired choice for younger readers, both Tiger themed: The tiger who came to tea, written and illustrated by Judith Kerr, republished in 2018, and Tiger Walk by Dianne Hofmeyr, illustrated by Jesse Hodgson.
It’s time for another edition of Bookchoice on Fine Music Radio, it being the first Monday of the month of love, and we’re broadcasting from the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. I’m Cindy Moritz, and as usual we have a diverse and interesting selection of reading for booklovers around Cape Town, or if you’re streaming online, wherever it is you’re listening.
Melvyn Minnaar fell under the influence of acclaimed Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma’s An Orchestra of Minorities. Beverley Roos-Muller applauds Sir Salman Rushdie's latest novel, Quichotte (pronounced Key-Shot), loosely based on the classic Don Quixote story, and which was shortlisted for the Booker last year. Philip Todres spoke to John Matisonn about his new book, released in December, titled Cyril’s Choices, Lessons From 25 Years of Freedom in South Africa, and Penny Lorimer discovered Canadian author Louise Penny with her most recent, A Better Man, and also read A Death In The Medina by James Von Leyden. John Hanks found value in Grant Fowld and Graham Spence’s Saving the last Rhino and Beryl Eichenberger regales us with her views on Fiona Niell’s Beneath the surface as well as Kate Furnivall’s Guardian of Lies. Phillippa Cheifitz delved into the Africa Cookbook by owner of The Africa Café’s Portia Mbau and Lesley Beake perceives the shift in teen reading with The choice between us by Edyth Bullbring, Singing down the Stars by Nerine Dorman and, The Music Box by Toby Bennett.
It’s time for Bookchoice on Fine Music Radio, coming to you from the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. I’m Cindy Moritz, and we’re ringing in the new year with a stack of exciting and interesting reads handpicked by our team of reviewers.
Beverley Roos-Muller delved into the world of spies in John le Carre’s latest Agent Running in the Field as well as Jonathan Ancer’s Betrayal: The secret lives of Apartheid spies. Melvyn Minnaar rocked into December with Elton John’s autobiography, Me; and Vanessa Levenstein spoke to Heidi Brauer of Hollard Insurance about a project that uses social media to get parents and children reading together. Nicole Smith interviewed Deon Meyer about his latest book, The Last Hunt and Beryl Eichenberger gives a thumbs up to Death on the Limpopo: A Tannie Maria Mystery by Sally Andrew as well as A Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes for holiday entertainment. Solly Moeng, in his first review for Bookchoice, gives us his thoughts on Crispian Olver’s A City Divided. Lesley Beake recommends two delightful children’s books, It’s Jamela, the complete collection by Nicky Daly, and A Moon Girl stole my best friend, by Rebecca Patterson and Phillippa Cheifitz leaves us with a taste of a vegan Xmas.
Beverley Roos-Muller waded into Booker controversy territory and read both The Testaments by Margaret Atwood and Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo, joint winners for 2019. Melvyn Minnaar devoured Furious Hours, Casey Cep’s literary true crime thriller about Harper Lee’s non-fiction novel that never saw the light of day. John Hanks strongly recommends Gary Goldman & Marieka Gryzenhout’s superbly illustrated Field Guide to Mushrooms & other Fungi of South Africa. Debut reviewer Chegofatso Modika explored what it means to be queer in South Africa in They Called Me Queer compiled by Kim Windvogel and Kelly-Eve Koopman. Lesley Beake could not resist master of language Philip Pullman’s latest, The Book of Dust volume 2. Beryl Eichenberger discovered a sensitive approach to grief in Melina Lewis’s After you Died. The novel, in which four young women go for an early run, and only three return is set in Fish Hoek. Vanessa Levenstein found much that was familiar in Finoula Dowling’s Okay, Okay, Okay. Penny Lorimer brings us her views on The Second Sleep by Robert Harris and A Walk at Midnight by Alex van Tonder. Fred Khumalo’s The Longest March, took Philip Todres back 120 years, when 7000 Zulu mine workers marched from the gold mines of Johannesburg to Natal covering a distance of five hundred kilometres over ten days, and Vanessa Levenstein spoke to Andrew Newman about his conscious bedtime stories for children.
Penny Lorimer shares the drama of Louise Candlish’s Those People and revisits private detective Jackson Brodie in Kate Atkinson’s latest, Big Sky. John Hanks describes the Field Guide to the Frogs and other Amphibians of Africa by Alan Channing and Mark-Oliver Rödel as an ambitious undertaking that he highly recommends, and then he credits Madkadikgadi Pans: A travellers guite to the salt flats of Botswana for his decision on where to travel next. Beryl Eichenberger was transfixed by Elif Shafak’s Ten minutes 38 seconds in this strange world, in which the reader is exposed to the captivating last moments of Leila’s life under the skies of Istanbul. Phillippa Cheifitz tosses in a bit of culinary sass with a review of Zola Nene’s Simply Zola, and Lesley Beake returns with her choice of children’s books, the delightful “What’s Up Thoko!” written and illustrated by Niki Daly, and Raj and the Best Day Ever by Seb Brown. And Vanessa Levenstein, deeply moved by the passing of American icon Toni Morrison, compares Remembered by Yvonne Battle-Felton to Morrison’s Beloved in a sensitive and perceptive way. In studio with me today is the author of the already much-discussed Zephany, Joanne Jowell, who will share some of her insights around telling this multi-layered story.
Penny Lorimer shares the drama of Louise Candlish’s Those People and revisits private detective Jackson Brodie in Kate Atkinson’s latest, Big Sky. John Hanks describes the Field Guide to the Frogs and other Amphibians of Africa by Alan Channing and Mark-Oliver Rödel as an ambitious undertaking that he highly recommends, and then he credits Madkadikgadi Pans: A travellers guite to the salt flats of Botswana for his decision on where to travel next. Beryl Eichenberger was transfixed by Elif Shafak’s Ten minutes 38 seconds in this strange world, in which the reader is exposed to the captivating last moments of Leila’s life under the skies of Istanbul. Phillippa Cheifitz tosses in a bit of culinary sass with a review of Zola Nene’s Simply Zola, and Lesley Beake returns with her choice of children’s books, the delightful “What’s Up Thoko!” written and illustrated by Niki Daly, and Raj and the Best Day Ever by Seb Brown. And Vanessa Levenstein, deeply moved by the passing of American icon Toni Morrison, compares Remembered by Yvonne Battle-Felton to Morrison’s Beloved in a sensitive and perceptive way. In studio with me today is the author of the already much-discussed Zephany, Joanne Jowell, who will share some of her insights around telling this multi-layered story.
It’s midday on the first Monday of Women’s month and what better time to put up your feet and join us for Bookchoice on Fine Music Radio, coming to you from the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. I’m Cindy Moritz, and I’m delighted to bring you this month’s choice of good books from our switched-on team of readers.
Penny Lorimer reviews two unusual thrillers, one by a seasoned British writer and the other by a novice American writer. Joe Country by Mick Herron and Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips “Haunting, poetic and page turning”, is how Vanessa Levenstein describes the much hyped Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, set in a small town in North Carolina in the 1960s. Philip Todres chatted with Getaway Magazine editor Justin Fox about The 30-Year Safari - A celebration of Getaway Photography, published by Jacana. He called it “A very handsome coffee-table book with an impressive range of stunning photographs selected from the past decade of travel images featured in Getaway.” Beverley Roos-Muller read Cari Mora, for which she suggests a strong stomach is required. It is written by Thomas Harris, best remembered for his "Hannibal the Cannibal" books. John Hanks believes Stuarts’ Field Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Southern, Central and East African Wildlife is a must-have for every wildlife enthusiast and anyone involved with environmental education.
Beryl Eichenberger reviewed The Wall by Max Annas, set in an upmarket suburb where the homeowners feel safe and secure. When someone comes in to find help he doesn’t feel the same.
Melvyn Minnaar indulged in two wonderful hardcover books of American origin which are miles apart content-wise: A Lucky Man by Jamel Brinkley and Dreyer’s English by Benjamin Dreyer.
Peter Soal takes us into a tumultuous White House in Siege: Trump Under Fire by veteran journalist and media commentator Michael Wolff. It documents a White House driven by vicious infighting and a president who is described as erratic, irrational a
Beverley Roos Muller delves into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence in Ian McEwan’s Machines Like Me, calling it elegant as well as disturbing. Andrew Brown feels like Alice in Wonderland reading William Boyd’s Love is Blind, which is now out in paperback. Vanessa Levenstein calls Fiona Snycker’s Lacuna “an articulate response to JM Coetzee’s novel Disgrace, finally giving Lucy Lurie a voice, and Philip Todres speaks to Samantha Smirin, author of Life Interrupted: A Bipolar Memoir. He describes it as a “heartbreakingly honest biography of a person confronting bipolar disorder”. From the human condition to the call of the wild, John Hanks flew through African Raptors by William Clark and Rob Davies, and calls it a must-have for dedicated ornithologists. Back down to earth, Beryl Eichenberger explores a dream come true… or a nightmare waiting to happen in Michelle Sacks’s dark fiction, You Were Made for This. Penny Lorimer has discovered a new historical series with Philip Kerr’s Metroplis, featuring an interesting and attractive protagonist. And I’ll tell you all about Sarah Blake’s The Guest Book, a powerful exploration of whether history is the memory we carry in our bodies and how one privileged American family grappled with their own “things better left unsaid’.
Beverley Roos Muller explores memory and the discovery of home in Julia Martin’s beautifully written memoir Blackridge House. Vanessa Levenstein gets on the line to Evan Ratliff, author of The Mastermind: Drugs, Empire, Murder, Revenge to find out what drove one cyber-genius to choose honour over crime. From crime to culture as Philip Todres turns the spotlight to professional dancer, teacher and choreographer Richard Glasstone and his latest publications and Cindy Moritz welcomed the chance to scratch further beneath the surface in a conversation with Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Written in History: Letters that changed the world, reviewed here last month. Bringing the topical cyber-crime theme home, Beryl Eichenberger entered the web’s dark underbelly in Peter Church’s page-turning thriller, Crackerjack, set here in Cape Town, and Michael Avery spoke to financial journalist TJ Strydom, author of Christo Wiese: Risk and Riches, the day after an eventful book launch.
Beverley Roos Muller gives joyful voice to Vox by Christina Dalcher which she found very readable. Committed conservationist John Hanks wonders whether The Last Elephants by Don Pinnock and Colin Bell really are the last elephants. From last to the next as Vanessa Levenstein so joyfully chats to Mitch Albom about his sequel to The five people you meet in heaven: The Next Person You Meet in Heaven. And Nicky Farrelly comes up with a joyful bundle of great reads. Just right for the fireside or the electric blanket. Melvyn Minnaar chooses two very different books for those of us who thrill to language charm. MR: And Cindy Moritz reviews Written in History – Letters that changed the World, a book for those of us who are in for a feast of history.
Philip Todres takes you into glorious views of an old family estate Constantia Glen with owner Alexander Waiver as they leaf through Constantia Glen - A Timeless Vision by Clare O’Donaghue, with Craign Fraser’s stunning photographs. And it’s one of today’s Giveaways.
Cruel as ever, Michael Roche-Kelly hopes to keep us awake at night with three gripping thrillers, one of which – The Senior Advisor by Edmund-George King is also one of today’s Giveaways.
Cindy Moritz takes you to a hard-to-find little village in Korea in Karin Cronje’s memoir of her teaching time there in There Goes English Teacher.
Vanessa Levenstein munches her way through Have You Eaten Grandma, Gyles Brandreth’s often hilarious take on commas, apostrophes and others of today’s grammar glops.
Go game viewing with zoologistT John Hanks via Stuart’s Field Guide to National Parks & Game Reserves of East Africa. rememberingto pack into your pocket Jonathan Leeming’s Scorpions of Southern Africa.
Beverley Roos Muller pronounces Washington Black by Esu Edugyan a powerful, pacy and remarkable novel.
Lesley Beake almost dances to The Rhythm of the Rain by Graham Baker Smith, but changes her tune with Barak Obama’s love letter to his daughters: Of Thee I Sing.
If we’ve time Peter Soal persuasively praises Her Man Gilliome’s The Rise and Demise of the Afrikaaners for its fine writing and meticulous research.
Sad news this month then plenty of good books. Andrew Marjoribanks, MD Wordsworth Books, so very heartregood news aboutndingly died on February 16. He and I started FMR BOOK CHOICE 19 years ago and worked together for all that time. Andrew’s monthly reviews were like him – calm, conversational, intelligent, enthusiastic. In loving and grateful memory of Andrew, Mark Jennings, FMR Station Manager has made a Fine Music Radio donation to Shine Literacy.
The good news is that Nicky Farrelly, Manager at Wordsworth Books, Longbeach Mall will be with us each month, as suggested by Andrew. This month Nicky picks four fascinating fiction titles.
Michael Roche-Kelly, mean as ever, gives us three thrillers to curl our toes.. has kindly chosen one as one of today’s Giveaways.
Beverley Roos Muller pays tribute to the delicacy of award-winning Irish writer Sebastian Barry for the brilliance of his third novel to mine the McNully family history: The Temporary Gentleman.
Sally-Ann Creed talks the toxins in our food, personal care products and household cleaners, and reassures us that it’s just 63 days to Optimum Health - the title of her vibrant and vital book. Also one of today’s Giveaways.
Lesley Beake brings us up to date on childhood’s chilling dragons, while
Vanessa Levenstein, with roughly the same young age in mind, talks to about the launch of a fashion app in The New Girl Code.
Melvyn Minnaar is much moved by Andrew Marshall’s Dissecting Wobblies, his brave, sometimes dark, often hilarious take on living with hi genetic neuro muscular degenerative disease - Fredrick’s Ataxia.
Melvyn Minnaar is delightfully set alight by Leonard Cohen’s The Flame.
Cindy Moritz finds John Boyne’s A Ladder to the Sky deliciously dark and satisfying.
John Hanks journeys through Ian Glenn’s The First Safari – Searching for Francois Levaillant, an account of South Africa’s first and perhaps the greatest ever birder.
Lesley Beake brings us a dystopian teen novel and a South African story for younger readers.
Briony Chisholm chats about her delightully titled One Night Only, her debut novel that’s a fun and flirty take on the romantic dongs of 33 year old Sarah Trafford.
Philip Todres talks to Jay Pather co-editor with Catherine Boulle of Acts of Transgression - Contemporary Live Art in South Africa a wonderfully informative, and accessible book, with some excellent photographs to add to the treat.
Peter Soal takes on two local stalwarts in The Indepence Factor by Dennis Worrall, and Graham Viney’s The Last Hurrah – South Africa and the Royal tour of 1947
Vanessa Levenstein takes a delightful trip around the Cape via Around the Cape in 80 Ways compiled and edited by Gabriel & Louise Athiros. Finally, if Matabataba finds the time we’ve a pre-record of Rodeny Trudgeon
This happy hour Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books brings us great ideas for gifting and getting, Rodney Trudgeon falls hook, line and sinker for Mike Bruton’s The Fishy Smiths – The biographjy of JLB and Margaret Smith. Cindy Moritz much enjoyed Vanessa Raphaely’s beach umbrella thriller Plus One, while Peter Soal takes on two non-fiction books on opposite poles of the political centre: Across Boundaries. A memoir by the brilliantTon Vosloo, Nasionale Per boss, and Truths, Lies and Alibis – A Winnie Mandela Story by Fred Bridgeland. It was World Mental Healtrh Day last month, Vanessa Levenstein chats to Moira Fisher, author of The Enumerations a beguiling and helpful book on the effects of a mental conditions on a family. There’s a Gioveaway copy in today’s easy-peasy competition. Phillippa Cheifitz is enthusiastic about new trends, new tastes in The South African Vegan Cookbook where food is plant-based, using no animal products. We’ve a pre-recorded chat with Zimbabwean writer, Jill Baker, about the first in her sizzling Zambezi trilogy, The Horns, with a Giveaway copy in today’s easy-peasy completion. Finally Lesley Beake speaks of the joys and delights of non-fiction for young readers.
It’s noon on the first Monday of the month, so it’s BOOK CHOICE on Fine Music radio, and it’s a warm welcome from me, Gorry Bowes Taylor Matabata . . . .. This happy hour Andrew Marjoribank, Wordsworth Books brings you a bagful about his knees and his Passion for Opera, and his book is one of today’s Giveaways. Cindy Moritz spies a grand thriller in Daniel Silva’s The Other Woman. More spine chillers from Mike Fitzjames, including the new Tony Park, which is also one of today’s Giveaways. The 10th of October is World Mental Health Day. The Enumerations is a novel about the effects of a mental condition on a family. Vanessa Levenstein spoke to author, Máire (pronounced Moira) Fisher. John Hanks hopes that adults, too, will read Kids’ Snakes of Southern Africa by Johan Marais, and keep snakes alive, and Lesley Beake talks teenage fantasy, in other words, other worlds and two good books for the young. Peter Soal gives us the up-beat on the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, Louis Botha by Richard Steyn. Philip Todres takes on a remarkable tome - Belonging - The story of the Jews 1492 - 1900’ by Simon Schama. If Matabataba finds the time, but I doubt it, we’ve a pre-recorded chat with Zimbabwean writer, Jill Baker, about the first in her sizzling Zambezi trilogy, The Horns.
Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, gives us a bagful of the best in fiction and non-fiction. Peter Soal ponders Ramaphosa’s Turn by Ralph Mathekga who wonders whether Ramaphosa can pull South Africa out of our current quatmire. Yes, says Mathekga. Melvyn Minnaar finds happiness in his latest favourite novel Happiness by Aminatta Forma, while Vanessa Levenstein reviews two novels by lauded and applauded South African writers: Craig Higgonson’s The White House and Maya Fowler’s Patagonia – A Fugue. John Hanks, happiest holidaying in the vast spaces of the Karoo, finds a superproduction in Mitch Reardon’s Wild Karoo - A Journey Through History, Change and Revival in an ancient lan. Lesley Beaker, cautious about animal stories for children, praises Gareth Patterson’s beautiful Born to be Free, a true tale of three lion cubs. Cindy Moritz declares The Death of Truth a little gem written by Pulitzer prize-winner Michiko Kakutani, while balletomnane Sheila Chisholm is kept on her tippy-toes by the biography David Poole – A Life Blighted by Apartheid.
This happy hour Andrew Marjoribanks. Wordsworth Books, brings us a cosy collection of fine fireside reading, Lesley Beake, an author deeply involved with children’s literature, suggests a comic series by the Kwezi team that will hit the spot with young South African readers, and is stunned by Jess Bosworth Smith’s brave and marvellous The Straw Giant and the Crow. Ardent conservationist John Hanks dives deep into Living Shores by George and Margo Branch, a masterpiece on our marine ecosystem, he declares. Vanessa Levenstein chatted to British historical novelist Kate Furnival about her latest, her ninth, steamy romance The Betrayal: twin sisters in Paris 1938 on the cusp of war. Peter Soal suggests that Who Will Rule in 2019 by Jan-Jan Joubert is required reading for all who want to understand coalition politics. Mike Fitzjames, so cruelly in this cold weather, puts ice in our veins with three chilling thrillers, while I wiled away winter with a quartet of non-fiction crime books, not all of them new – Jonny Steinberg’s The Number, Andrew Brown’s Good cop Bad cop, Exposing South Africa’s Underworld by Mark Shaw, and Killing Goldfinger by Wesley Clarke. Finally fine cook and cookery writer Phillippa Cheifitz reminds us that Prince Harry and Meghan dished up whole bowls of wholesome and healthy poke food at their wedding, tuck into Melissa Delport’s Whole – bowl food for balance. Yum
This cheerful hour Andrew Marjoribanks cheers us with great choices in Wordsworth Books fiction and non-fiction. And, for the first time, we review an app as John Hanks is cheerfully aflutter about Steve Woodhall’s Butterflies of South Africa. This beautiful and engaging app is also one of our Giveaways today. Vanessa Levenstein is cheered by her chat with Mick Herron about his dark, politically incorrect, poetic and hysterically funny, London Rules, the latest spy thriller in the Slough House series. Legal eagle, police reservist and writer Andrew Brown found William Boyd’s The Dreams of Bethan Mellmouth searingly clever – and humorous. Phillippa Cheifitz raises a cheer for Any Time Ile de Pain’s celebrity cook Liesi Mulder’s new cookbook from that famed café emporium in Knysna. Mike Fitjames, mean as ever, unsettles your nerves with three new thrillers, and Philip Todres takes on art mover and shaker Natalie Knight’s biography – The Big Picture – an Art-O-Biography. It’s both a personal memoir and an overview of Natalie’s contribution to the South African arts and culture landscape. Cindy Moritz was much moved by the beautiful and illuminating tale of the Holocaust tattooist and the woman he loved in The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and finally Peter Soal was cheerfully shocked by Robin Renwick’s How to Steal a Country - which describes the vertiginously rapid descent of political leadership in South Africa.
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.
It’s the first Monday of the month, so it’s BOOK CHOICE on Fine Music Radio 101.3 - I‘m Gorry Bowes Taylor: This happy hour Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Bools, brings you an inspiring bagful of the best in fiction and non-fiction. John Hanks finds cardinal imperatives and some omissions in James Clarke’s Overkill – The race to save Africa’s wildlife, while Phillippa Cheifitz finds gorgeous food for the gluten-intolerant in Jenny Kay’s The South African Gluten-free Cookbook, and more munhies in Olami, Nirit Saban’s gluten-free cookbook. Melvyn Minnaar finds Dictatorland. The Men Who Stole Africa by Paul Kenyon a fast and his most super engaging read in recent times, while Mike Fitzjames, cruel as ever, hopes to crack our minds with three dead dangerous thrillers. Vanessa Levenstein suggests that while most university students are juggling their part-time jobs and studying, Evan Spiegel had bigger plans, as she reviews How to turn down a billion dollars – The Snapchat story by Billy Gallagher. Finally Paul Duncan and Alain Proust have done it again with their new book Inside Kimberley, another stunning heritage book. Philip Todres talks to Paul Duncan.
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 enjoyed the fanciful 'The Immortalists' by Chloe Benjamin, where four siblings go to a fortune teller in their childhood and find out the dates they’re going to die. How do they choose to live their lives?
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 three gripping thrillers. Cindy Moritz sings the praises of Jesmyn Ward’s Sing, Unburied, Sing – which brings the archetypal road trip into 21st century America.
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 the World, wonderfully written with Lyndall’s usual passionate intelligence. Good laughs from Melvyn Minnaar who chuckled his way through 50 People Who Stuffed Up The World by Alexancer Parker and Tim Richman. Finally Cindy Moritz is deeply moved by Hunger — A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay, an American writer, professor, editor, and commentator who addresses the experience of living in what she calls an ‘undisciplined’ body.
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 books: Mythos by Stephen Fry and Colm Toibin’s House of Names. Finally Phillippa Cheifitz stirs her wooden spoon into the culinary wonders of Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson.. Do stay tuned for all the music in this programme is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber in celebration of Pieter Toerien’s new production of ‘Evita’ right here at Artscape for the festive season, and do stay with us, too, for our easy peasy competition question to win one of two R250 Wordsworth Books vouchers. Andrew Marjoribnks, Santa’s sack full of Wordsworth’s best in fiction and non-fiction.
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 Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Ariman and The Accusation by Bandi, and Philip Todres offers us more short stories in a collection by the winners of the Caine Prize for African Writing, in The Goddess of Mtwara and other stories. Do stay awake –theres’s our easy-peasy competition question to win one of two R250 vouchers from Wordsworth Books. Andrew Marjoribanks, a bagful of the best in fiction and non-fiction from Wordsworth Books.
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 The Dog’s Last Walk (and Other Pieces) by Howard Jacobson, Man Booker Prize-winner author of The Finkler Question. Finally, with Spring in our stepit’s time to plan a waterwise garden we chat to Glennice Ebedes about her inspiringly beuaitfil little book: Gardener’s Guide to Indigenous Garden Plants of Southern Africa.
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 novels - The Thirst by Jo Nesbo, The Caller by Chris Carter and A Game of Ghosts by John Connolly. Peter Soal takes a hard look at two very different busnessmen – Harry Oppenheimer and Brett Kebble. Finally Ina Paarman, perfectionist, praises Phillippa Cheifitz’s brand new, grand new cookbook: Make it Easy, a collection of her truly tasteful recipes from Woolies Taste magazine.
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. As always, Mike Fitzjames meanly sets your nerves ajangle with three thrilling novels, while Beverley Roos Muller survived recent trains and aeroplanes by packing good old standbys: reliable, absorbing short stories by . W. Somerset Maugham, George Sanders and Roald Dahl. Finally Vanessa Levenstein was moved to tears as she read Raymond Suttner’s Inside Apartheid’s Prison, when she saw that one of Suttner’s letters was addressed to her parents. Do stay with us, we’ve an easy-peasy competition to win one of two R200 Wordsworth Books vouchers or a copy of Lesley Pearse’s Dead to Me. Andrew Marjoribanks, a bundle of good cold-weather reads!
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 entomologist Erik Holm about the amazingly sophisticated and technological world of southern African insects detailed in his unputdownable Insectopedia. Publisher Struik is giving away a copy to a lucky winner. Phillippa Cheifitz hauntingly finds District Six Huis Kombuis more than a cookbook, it’s a social history of a community displaced, while Cindy Moritz is moved by the tale and the stylish telling in The Park by local writer Gail Schimmel. Do listen up for our easy-peasy competition question to win one of two R200 Wordsworth Books vouchers, or Roger Ballen’s The Theatre of Apparitions or Erik Holm’s Insectopedia. Andrew Marjoribanks, a beguiling bundle of books, fiction and non-fiction, from Wordsworth Books.
"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-crazy with three thrillers, one – Red Notice by Bill Browder – is non-fiction and non-put-downable. Finally, Melvyn Minnaar finds pastoral elegance and delicate writing in Midwinter by Fiona Melrose."
"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, Arnold van Wyk and JC ‘Kay” de Villiers. Phillippa Cheifitz finds well seasoned reasons to rush to the kitchen in Reuben Riffel’s fourth cookbook – Reuben at Home, while Philip Todres finds joyfulness in The Book of Joy – Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Carlton. Do stay with us for our easy-peasy competition to win one of two R200 Wordsworth Books vouchers. Andrew Marjoribanks, a bagful of good books here!"
"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 unexpectedly successful thriller. Melvyn Minnaar delights in Tim Peake’s wonderful "Hello is This Planet Earth", and finally Vanessa Levenstein is beguiled by Bernard Schlink’s "The Woman on the Stairs".
"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 chomps through three great cookbooks ending with Zita Steyn’s 'Good Better Green', thus more grand greens in 'Plentiful – The Big Book of Buddha Food' as you’ll hear from three of the four imaginative chefs. If we’ve time there’s Peter Soal’s timely take on Paul Hoffman’s 'Confronting the Corrupt'."
"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 you’ve been waiting for as Vanessa Levenstein wonders when a novel is not a novel as she reviews JM Coetzee’s 'The Schooldays of Jesus'. Needless to say Jesus doesn’t come into it. "
"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 public life of Jules Browde' by his grandson Daniel Browde, and finally Mike Fitzjames is up to his usual tricks of the mind with three thrilling spine chillers."
"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 will 20 years since Alison Botha was raped, disembowelled and left for dead. In twelve days the movie “I Have Life” will be premiered around the country. Vanessa Levenstein reviews Alison’s story as told to Marianne Thamm: "I Have Life", then Vanessa reviews two novels, one by well-known, well-loved author, Maggie O’Farrell, 'This Must Be the Place', the other by debut writer Kit de Wall: 'My Name is Leon'. Cape Town cookbook writer Phillippa Cheifitz munches her way through 'Eat Ting' by Mpho Tshukudu & Anna Trapido, a good book that looks at diet, weight and health for modern black South Africans. Mike Fitzjames, as always, scares us out of our wits with three chilling thrillers, and, if we have time, leading conservationist and author, John Hanks walks us through elephants’ 'Giant Steps' by Richard Peirce."
"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 Philip’s original collection. Jay Heale links children to the unique sounds of Africa in 'The African Orchestra' by Wendy Hartmann and Joan Rankin. Peter Soal takes us to FIFA’s financial fixings behind the 2010 World Cup in 'The Big Fix' by Ray Hartley, editor of the Rand Daily Mail online. Finally, and not for the faint hearted, Cindy Moritz reviews the psychological crime thriller, 'The Teacher' by Katarina Diamond."
"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."
"This happy hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, has a bumper bag of books, Beverley Roos Muller finds Yann Martel’s 'The High Mountains of Portugal' a marvellous but challenging read, and Philip Todres was disappointed in many ways by the telling of an important story in 'Letters of Stone' by Steven Robins. Cindy Moritz goes 'Inside the O'Briens', the new novel by 'Still Alice' author Lisa Genova, which promises to do for Huntington's disease, what 'Still Alice' did for Alzheimers. Peter Soal pens a paean of praise to 'The Sword and the Pen – Six decades on the political frontier' by Allister Sparks. Alexander Fuller’s marriage takes her from the beautiful yet brutal Zambezi, to the mountains and relative suburban existence of Wyoming. Vanessa Levenstein reviews Fuller’s memoir, 'Leaving before the Rains Come'. Then, From Wyoming to Mexico, John Irving’s 'Avenue of Mysteries' is a novel about how both fate and memories shape our lives, and finally something for the younger generation to nibble on, Cathy Cassidy’s 'Fortune Cookie, The Chocolate Box Boy'. Melvyn Minnaar unearths buried treasure in 'SPQR – A History of Ancient Rome' by luminary historian Mary Beard. Finally, Ann Donald Director of the Franschhoek Literary Festival gives us the low down on some FLF highlights this weekend."
"This happy hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books has a high pile of uber super reads for you. Et voila we chat to Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, the farmer’s lad from Limpopo, the first South African chef to receive a Michelin star for his eponymous restaurant in Nice! Felicitation, Jan! Pair Jan’s famed food with wine as the splendid John Platter tastes and tells of Caro Feely’s new book 'Wine'. Beverley Roos Muller was much moved by 'The Boys in the Boat by Daniel Brown', the USA rowing eight that won the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany. Jay Heale reminds us of the richness of Africa in four fine children’s books - 'The Rainbow’s Heart', 'Fynbos Fairies', 'Stories of Africa' and 'Our Story Magic'. More of Africa as photographer Lisa King and essayist Sean Christie portray the old ways and the new of the Zimbabwean Stock Exchange in 'Sometimes I make money one day of the Week', Melvyn Minnaar was entranced. Mike Fitzjames has his wicked way with three crime novels to chill your heart, while a kinder Cindy Moritz finds magic in the ordinary in Mitch Albom’s 'The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto'."
This happy hour: Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books, finds fine reads for fine minds, while we raise our glasses to two connoisseusr du vin – the great and glorious John Platter on his new book 'My Kind of Wine', and Caro Feely who tells of the Feely family’s ultimately successful venture into a French vineyard in 'Grape Expectations' and 'Saving Our Skins'. Peter Soal finds provocation and stimulation in Ferrial Haffajee’s 'What if There Were no Whites in South Africa?' while Philip Todres finds a new monograph Sue Williamson – 'Life and Work' edited by Mark Gevisser a seriously handsome overview of Sue’s work. In 'The Secret Chord' by Geraldine Brooks, Cindy Moritz finds a biblical King David ecstatic, visceral and virile. Beverley Roos Muller checks Churchillian financial facts and figures in 'No More Champagne – Churchill and his money' by David Lough. RC Sturgis writes rivetingly and revealingly on 'The Mammals that Moved Mankind – A History of the Beasts of Burden'. If we've time, Jon Geidt reviews David Byrne’s multi-headed, prolific and reflective discourse 'How Music Works'.
"This happy hour Andrew Marjoribanks, Wordsworth Books picks perfect summer reading, fiction and non-fiction. Lynda Gilfillan, down-the-line from down under reviews 'Flame in the Snow – The Love Letters of Andre Brink & Ingrid Jonker', of which she, Lynda, was the copy-editor for the English translation. Cindy Moritz gives us good reason to read Anne Tyler’s gentle unwinding of 'A Spool of Blue Thread' with its deceptively small details of ordinary family life. Peter Soal wonders, with Ferial Haffajee and with some alarm 'What if there were no whites in South Africa?'. Beverley Roos Muller spies revelations in 'John le Carre – the biography by Adam Sisman', and Mike Fitzjames takes the thriller genre further with three cracking crime novels. Phillippa Cheifitz keeps her cool - and suggests we keep ours – with 'Ice Kitchen: 50 Lolly Recipes' by Cesar and Nadia Roden. Finally Vanessa Levenstein reviews Santa Montefiore’s 'Songs of Love and War', an epic romance with strong archetypal themes of land, love and war."