» Interesting books

With the sad sad closing of Boekehuis will Love Books fill this space?

liz — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:18:49 +0000

Corina Van der Spoel and her staff at Boekehuis

Boekehuis has been an institution in Jozi in terms of providing a public space allowing for informed, engaged and intelligent public debate. It is a sad inditement that the holding company, the large profitable corporate Media 24, seemed to look only at the bottom of line of profit, rather than seeing Boekehuis and what it offered in terms of a much needed social responsibility programme, particularly in the current SA media environment . But ce la vie, this amazing intellectual space has gone – mourned by many free thinkers in Jozi. See http://todoinjoburg.co.za/2011/12/save-the-boekehuis-bookshop/ ; http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/closing-a-chapter-on-joburg-history-1.1222994 and may other ‘obituaries’.

The big question is: will anybody else take its place? Love Books is ideally placed to do so. It is an independent bookshop, it is located in the same area and already has the same market of the culturally interested and independent thinker, plus it already has the great adjacent space of the Service Station where Joburg’s intelligentsia and culturally informed ‘meet and eat’. See http://www.jhblive.com/reviews/96290. Boekehuis has left a HUGE gap in the arena of cultural, political, social and economic debate in South Africa – will anybody fill it ??

A new guide book on Gauteng

liz — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 09:40:13 +0000

Sean Fraser who has written several travel and guide books, has just published one which covers Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria and surrounds. I have not seen it yet so am looking forward to browsing through it. I still think that Nechama Brodie’s book on Johannesburg : The Joburg Book published in 2008, is excellent. For more on Fraser’s Gauteng A-Z , see : http://struiktravel.bookslive.co.za/blog/2011/11/10/sean-frasers-new-indispensable-travel-guide-gauteng-a-z/

Caught the last day of Life of Bone – great exhibition of art meeting science at The Origins Centre, Wits

liz — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:12:37 +0000

The Taung skull – 2/5 million years old and very rarely displayed to the public, was on view at the Life of Bone exhibition which I just caught on the closing day last Tuesday 31st May. I had seen the tiny skull of the 3 year old displayed in its 3 parts at one if its rare public showings also at Wits, some 8 or so years ago. But this time it was displayed with the acutley honed aesthetic eye of two artists Karel Nel and Joni Brenner who curated the Life of Bone exhibition. As a result the impact of this tiny skull which is neither monkey, nor human, was quite extraordinary – it had a real presence: beautiful, poignant and humbling. Only the teeth are still classed as bone, the rest has turned to stone . The crystallized interior of the skull and the imprint of the brain left on the exterior of the once fossil, are both visually seductive and scientifically fascinating. The theme of the entire exhibition .. art meets science .. seemed to be encapsulated in this tiny Australopithecus Africanus skull, displayed with such senstivity to its powerful visual impact. If you missed the exhibition the accompanying book is available – it sells for R300 at the Origins Shop which is R50 less than it is selling for at Exclusive books. So get yourself a copy and now.

Spoilt for choice with new books on the shelves

liz — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:06:07 +0000

Jenny Hobbs co-founder of the Franschhoek Literary Festival and author of at least 8 books will be talling about here new book Kitchen Boy at the Morningside branch of the Exlcusive Books at 11 am on Tuesday 12th. You can have a day of book launches as in the evening Mandy Wiener will talk to David O’Sullivan about here book on Kebble and the Joburg Underworld at Villa Arcadia, Hollard Campus 22 Oxford Road, Parktown. But you’ll have to RSVP camillatwigg@iburst,co.za and cough up R130 for drinks and snacks. On Saturday 9th April at 12.30 my favourite bookshop Boekehuis will be host their Saturday Voices when Hugh Lewin will talk about his new book Stones against the Mirror – his memoir on friendship in the time of the South African struggle. Boekehuis is on the corner of Lothbury and Fawley streets, Auckland Park RSVP 011 482 3609 or Boekehuis@boekehuis.co.za

Launch of the Novel: THE LANDSCAPE PAINTER by Craig Higginson

liz — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:34:12 +0000

WHAT: Launch of Craig Higginson’s new novel The Landscape Painter WHO: Craig Higginson is a writer, theatre director and university lecturer. His plays as a writer include Dream of the Dog, The Girl in the Yellow Dress and Little Foot L. His other novels include The Hill and Last Summer . Craig is currently the Literary Manager of the Market Theatre and teaches Creative Writing at Wits. His writing has won several awards in the UK and South Africa
WHERE: Market Theatre Newtown WHEN: 18h30 for 19h00 Thursday, 24 March RSVP: Tarryn Talbot at tarryn@panmacmillan.co.za

Book launch of Wally Serote’s Revelations

liz — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:59:10 +0000

Sophia Town-born novelist and poet, Mongane Wally Serote will be in discussion with Maureen Isaacson, book editor of the The Sunday Independent, 19 feb 12 for 12.30 Boekehuis cr Lothbury and Fawley Ave Auckland Park RSVP 011 482-3609; boekehuis@boekehuis.co.za

It looks as though this will be another page turner: Peter Harris’ new book ‘Birth’

liz — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:46:39 +0000

I posted a blog on Peter Harris In a Different Time’ : http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/a-south-african-page-turner-and-its-all-true and now his new book about the conspiracy to destabilize the 1994 elections, is to be released shortly. The book will be launched at Exclusive Books Hyde Park at 6 for 6.30 on Tuesday 9th Nov. RSVP to hydepark@exclisvebooks.co.za or 011 325-4298

Saturday morning Voices at Boekehuis one of Jozi’s indi Bookshops Sat 23rd Oct 10.30 for 11

liz — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:27:13 +0000

Boekehuis holds its Saturday morning Voices: A discussion with M&G investigative journalist, Adriaan Basson & political journalist and writer, William Gumede on Basson’s book Finish & klaar Selebi’s fall from Interpol to the underworld. Boekehuis’ outline of the issues: ‘From top cop to corrupt crook in six years – Jackie Selebi’s fall from grace came fast. What damage was caused to the country’s rule of law in an effort to save one deeply compromised man’s career? And what is the wider meaning of the Selebi saga for South Africa’s democratic state?’
Where: BOEKEHUIS Bookshop, Cnr. Lothbury and Fawley streets, Auckland Park
(Parking available)
When: Saturday 23 October, 11:00
RSVP by Friday 22/10 at 011 482 3609 or Boekehuis@boekehuis.co.za

Maid in three mediums – conversations on the politics of the domestic worker at Women’s Jail, Constitution Hill Wednesday 22nd Sept

liz — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:24:00 +0000

Novelist and author of The Madams Zukis wa Wanner, artist Mary Sibande whose excellent exhibition Long Live the Dead Queen showed in July at Gallery Momo in Parktown North, and academic Shireen Ally who wrote Servants to Workers, comment on each others work tonight at the Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill. Hosted by Wits University, it will be an evening of conversation across fiction, art and non-fiction on the poetics and politics of paid domestic work. Jacklyn Cock, Wits Sociology Professor, and author of Maids and Madams will make some comments in closing off the evening. For more on Mary Sibande’s fascinating work see http://www.jhblive.com/live/kultcha_view.jsp?kultcha_id=18143

Literary Festival 3-5 September at 44 Stanley Ave

liz — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:52:18 +0000

Mail & Guardian Literary Festival 2010 3-5 September@ 44 STANLEY Avenue, Milpark, Johannesburg in partnership with BOEKEHUIS at Fawley street, Auckland Park on 011 482 3609
Opening address (free event): Friday night 3rd Sept at 7pm, by Nic Dawes, editor of the Mail &Guardian – celebrate 25 years of the M&G with a glass of wine, RSVP: tamarinm@mg.co.za Find the full programme at http://www.mg.co.za/specialreport/mg-jhb-literary-festival-2010