As the year draws to a close, there’s no better time to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of books.
With the hustle and bustle of daily life, reading often takes a backseat, but what if you made it your mission to explore new stories, perspectives, and ideas before the final chapter of the year?
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Whether you’re seeking to lose yourself in fiction, expand your knowledge with non-fiction, or simply enjoy a delightful escape, a carefully curated list of must-read titles can inspire you to pick up a book and turn the page.
From gripping novels to thought-provoking essays, let’s uncover some captivating reads that promise to enrich your mind and ignite your imagination as we approach the New Year.
Jean Pieters, from Uitgewers Publishers, shared some books to read:
• Cook-off at Gogo’s Spaza (Disaster at Gogo’s Spaza 2) by Salamina Mosese, Vian Oelofsen
In the heart of Soweto, Gogo Tina’s spaza shop, Gogo’s Goodies, transforms into a culinary battleground during The Great Soweto Cook-Off! When Gogo decides to enter the prestigious competition, Tumi thinks she has the perfect plan: she and her twin cousins will surprise Gogo and help her win the competition by any creative means necessary. But they soon realise there’s more to cooking than they thought, as things go from bad to worse. Especially since Gogo is up against the renowned Chef Pierre! Will Gogo Tina’s spaza shop survive the wild twists and turns of the Soweto Cook-Off, or is this culinary catastrophe too much to handle? This is a feel-good book about family and community that touches on the importance of celebrating South African heritage.
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• When Love Kills: The Tragic Tale of AKA & Anele by Melinda Ferguson
On February 11, 2023, the nation woke up to the news that hip-hop megastar, Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes had been gunned down in cold blood in Durban. His good friend, and ex-manager, Tibz had also been killed in the crossfire. Over the following weeks this would become the biggest social media story since the Oscar Pistorius trial. Sensational theories abounded. Was the hit an act of revenge for the death of his girlfriend, Anele Tembe? Was it an inside job by one of Kiernan’s inner circle? Was he killed by a fellow rival rapper, or gangsters in the club underworld? This is the tragic story of a successful award-winning hip-hop hero, whose life unravelled when he embarked on an obsessively toxic relationship. In the end, the torrid tale of AKA and Anele is a lot like an ill-fated modern-day Romeo and Juliet, epic and devastating in its brutal repercussions: two bright and creative young people, both now tragically dead.
• What Nelson Mandela Taught Me: Timeless lessons on leadership and life by Zelda La Grange
In this memoir, La Grange shares Madiba’s teachings about humility, respect, honesty, and the biases and blind spots we all have. It is only by truly listening – trying to understand, not listening only to respond – that we can overcome the distrust among us. La Grange also explores the toxicity of social media and how Nelson Mandela’s lessons are equally relevant in the digital age. Filled with wisdom and hope, this book invites each of us to honour Madiba’s legacy by living with integrity. Because, as La Grange says, “he gave us the courage not to try to change those around us, but to change ourselves. It is not our mistakes that define us, but how we learn from them . . . I can’t blame you if you can’t forgive me, if I struggle to forgive myself. But I have realised an act doesn’t have to be forgiven in order for you to learn from it. I have learnt to speak about my mistakes so that others, too, may find the courage to do so.” – Zelda La Grange
• UPSTART: Founder of Digsconnect, SA’s startup sensation by Alexandria Procter
At 25, Alexandria Procter became SA’s youngest startup wunderkind. During her December break from UCT in 2018, from her childhood bedroom, she came up with the idea for DigsConnect, a type of student Airbnb. Deeply affected by the violent student protests which swept university campuses in 2016, she created a website that would address the tumultuous student housing crisis. In 2019 DigsConnect disrupted the local tech terrain by raising R12m in its first seed fundraising round. DigsConnect has subsequently transformed from being a local student startup, to catapulting into the global 4th industrial revolution. Born in a small town in the Eastern Cape, Alexandria’s school career was characterised by defiance, rebellion, and Friday afternoon detentions. Never one to toe the line, this is the unique and inspiring story of a girl who dared to dream big. While UPSTART is a deeply personal memoir, it also offers priceless business insights and advice around startups and new tech.
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