Book Choice - April 2020

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.