Reading
Every book South African radio talked about this month: the authors interviewed, the titles recommended, and what was said about each, with the audio.
127 titles · 251 airings · 5 stations · last 30 days
Newest airing first. Clear the chips above for the whole month.
Book · historical · South African
Craig Higginson
A novel about a British-South African historical setting and a character who changes over the story, exploring why people return to national touchstones. The host strongly recommends it as spectacular writing with interesting history.
3 airings · Cape Talk
Book · memoir · South African
Popina Kumanda
A memoir by Popina Kumanda about her harrowing but inspiring survival story, recently published by Penguin Random House. The host urges listeners to get a copy.
3 airings · Cape Talk
Book · non-fiction
Stormy Omartian
A guest describes The Power of a Praying Woman as a book she returns to whenever she is confused, especially its chapter on forgiveness. She says it helps her with prayer, parenting and centering herself.
4 airings · Cape Talk
Book · historical fiction
Maggie O'Farrell
A novel set in Ireland beginning in 1865, following a family of surveyors working for the British and a magical wood with a spring. The host praises the crisp, poetic writing and the recurring themes of the author's earlier books, and recommends it.
Book · non-fiction · South African
Ashley Khan
An author interview about a book on the making of Paul Simon's Graceland album, marking its 40th anniversary. The host urges listeners to get the book, which is out now in bookstores.
4 airings · Cape Talk
Book · memoir · South African
Lulama Marley
A slim memoir subtitled Portrait of the Black Family, following three generations of a family in Guguletu's Native Yards. It describes township life unblinkingly, with music as a recurring theme, and its lyrical prose is praised as readable and beautiful.
5 airings · Cape Talk
Book · dark comedy
Percival Everett · 2021
A listener-chosen book by Percival Everett, described as an unlikely dark comedy zombie story about lynchings in the American South and across the United States. The speaker says they love its interesting ideas, though they admit it is a weird pick.
Book · memoir · South African
Melinda Ferguson
A memoir by Melinda Ferguson about her grief after her husband Matt died, centred on a moment of release involving a baby bird. Guests describe it as moving and hopeful, though hard to read, and advise listeners to have tissues ready.
3 airings · Cape Talk
Book · non-fiction · South African
Martin Plaut · 2020
An author discusses his biography of Dr. Abdullah Abdurahman, a South African politician and community leader, drawing on archive research. He argues the book's subject deserves rediscovery and offers copies as giveaway prizes.
Book · non-fiction
Spencer Johnson
A short book, described as a metaphor for life lessons on adaptability, about people who complain when their cheese is moved versus those who find new ways to find more. The speaker calls it a great read worth giving time to.
2 airings · Cape Talk
Book · literary fiction
Rebecca Perry
A reviewer calls May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry, a poet's debut novel, their favourite of the Booker shortlist. The book follows a contemporary curator and an unnamed historic king, written in poetic, hard-to-classify prose.
2 airings · Cape Talk
Book · cookbook · South African
Isabella Niehaus
The author discusses her cookbook of food stories and recipes, from a savoury smoked snoek cheesecake to a pork and pistachio terrine, and a final chapter of recipes sent in by friends. The host calls it an extraordinary book for its stories as well as its recipes and urges listeners to look for it in bookstores.
3 airings · Cape Talk
Book · memoir · South African
Mario Cesare
A nature book about the bush and its unique creatures, published by Jonathan Ball. Listeners are urged to look for it in bookstores.
3 airings · Cape Talk
Book · non-fiction
Josh Ireland
A caller recommends this book about the plot to kill Stalin's rival Leon Trotsky, covering his exile in Mexico, his life with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and the assassination by Ramón Mercader. The caller finds the assassination story fascinating.
2 airings · Cape Talk
Book · satire
John Lanchester
A reviewer discusses John Lanchester's latest novel about a wealthy London couple, where a widow discovers her late husband's secret life through a satirical TV show. The reviewer praises its black humour and its sharp skewering of contemporary concerns.
2 airings · Cape Talk
Book · non-fiction · South African
Lizette Rabe
A non-fiction collection of stories about remarkable South African women, including an enslaved woman who became an entrepreneur and owned farms. Published by Tafelberg, it is praised as an inspiring collection and is recommended for the weekend, available in good bookstores.
2 airings · Cape Talk
Book · non-fiction · South African
Lizette Rabe
A compilation of short biographies of South African women, from prehistory to the present, covering figures in politics, the arts, media and sport. The author urges men as well as women to read it to understand the struggle women have faced, and it is presented as a book to read a story from each night.
Book · thriller
Angie Kim · 2020
A courtroom drama about a mother raising a child on the extreme edge of the autism spectrum, praised for its insight into parenting. The speaker says it is well worth seeking out.
2 airings · Cape Talk
Book · memoir
Andre Agassi
A sports autobiography by Andre Agassi, praised for its brutal honesty and its candid account of his relationship with tennis and his father. The host recommends it to listeners, and a guest says they would read it again.
Book · non-fiction · South African
Tara Russ
The author discusses coalition politics in South Africa and how parties will negotiate power nationally and locally. She urges young South Africans to research parties and vote responsibly. The host calls it a recommended read.
2 airings · Cape Talk
locl transcribes six South African radio stations as they air. Every hour a model reads the stretches that name a book, film or series and records each titled work that was discussed, reviewed or recommended, with the verdict and who gave it. Quiz clues, name-drops and the stations’ own programmes are left out. Titles and names are as the transcript heard them, so a spelling can be off. Opinions belong to the speakers. Press play to hear the opening window of the conversation; the transcript link has the rest. Only conversations whose audio is still held are listed, so a title leaves the page with its audio.
Updated Wednesday, 28 October at 13:52 SAST. Showing 30 days.