January 2009 - Book 4

Book 4 - 13 uur by Deon Meyer.

Deon Meyer is the king of suspense in South Africa. His books are all written in Afrikaans and then translated in English and many more languages. This specific book will only be published in the US and UK in 2010. Go to Deon Meyer's website for more information.I can recommend every single one of his books and most are available through Amazon.com.

I had sick babies, I hardly slept, but I read until 3 in the morning to read to the conclusion of this book. This about sums up how absolutely spellbinding and thrilling this book is.

The storyline is original and unexpected, the hero unusual. As always, this book is well researched and frighteningly realistic of the crime ridden South African society. The language is just as realistic in the world that this story takes it's shape. One of the best books I have ever read and certainly the best suspense thriller ever.

Cat's opinion: A well deserved 10/10

January 2009 - Book 3

Book no 3 - Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin

I am not a biography or autobiography reader. I have read and enjoyed a few, but they are not my chosen poison.I like the escape of fiction. But some true stories are certainly larger than fiction. This is one of those, and so well told.

The book tells the story of a dirt poor Chinese boy that gets chosen to go to the elite state ballet school - without ever having seen a ballet or know what it is about. It provides him with the opportunity to escape the hardships so graphically described and the chance to have a better future. In time he becomes a star and see the world. But he also realizes how he has been brainwashed to believe the communist principles forced down with the pirouettes.

The book is well written and holds the attention although it is a long read. I found life in communist China fascinating and the portrial of the west through his eyes is just amazing to read.

Cat's opinion: A well deserved 8/10

January 2009 - Book 2

"Op die Agterpaaie" deur Dana Snyman
This book is available in English as "On the Backroads" to order on Kalahari overseas if you are really interested in reading great South African travel writing.

This is Dana at his best - the people are so real you can smell them, touch them and talk to them. He describes places and adventures, but mostly it is the colourful characters that lives in this book that makes the read worth it. AS always, the nostalgia for long forgotten times and places lingers.

Cat's opinion: 9/10

January 2009 - Book 1

Things without a name by Joanne Fedler.

When I saw this book at the Bookclub I was immediately attracted to the cover (unfortunately no image available on Amazon) and that was the sole reason I chose it. The main character of the book works as a social worker with a woman's rescue centre and one is immediately struck by the sense of hopelessness that this type of work sometimes involve. Her personal and family life ill equipped her to deal with theses situations and at best, she is emotionally unstable herself.

However the book turns at a stage towards a positive message - as her personal life takes an upturn you spot the positive in her work as well. At the end of the book, a list of names used reflect real life abused people as a sort of eulogy which gives the book a new meaning. I found myself paging back and looking for the characters and reflecting on the connection with their real life counterparts.

This book really made me reflect on a subject that seems to only surface once in a while in a newspaper article or on the TV news. It makes these poor abused people so much more real in your mind.

In general, a good and provocative read. It does have the obligatory romance at the end, but in this case it serves well to turn towards the positive.

A solid 7/10