South Africa Books

I read Sheila Kohler's novel Cracks about five years ago and was mesmerized by the author's dark, lurid language. I had waited for the paperback release of Stories from Another World for over a year, but it never came out. Alas, I decided to pick up the hardcover at the library. I am glad I did. This is one incredible short-story collection. The style is similar to Cracks, but unlike the aforementioned novel, the stories within this book have no particular setting. The subject matters in Another World vary from child abuse to infidelity. There are tons of short stories with those exact subjects, but Kohler's work is truly unique. I loved "Baboons." It shows just what an amazing storyteller Kohler is. It didn't even bother me that the story was very vague in some areas and was told in parts. "Underworlds" and "Death in Rome" were also excellent. I cannot believe it took me this long to give this collection a whirl. Some books are worth the hardcover price, and this is one of them. I won't hesitate to read another Sheila Kohler book in the future.

I sent for this book through the library and read it...I liked it so much that I kept it until the week it had to go back! I enjoyed reading about what South Africa's kids had to say. Some were very happy about the changes, and some went on living life the way before the changes occured. A lot of the kids seemed like very nice kids, but one of the girls--I think she was Afrikaner--seemed to have a big attitude problem. Other than that, the kids proved to be good writers and photographers. One kid included a picture of the teachers' toilets, because, as he said, he was a little afraid of them as they were so different from what he was used to using! I think every kid, South African or not, will see themselves in these children. The kids were also very good at portraying their cultures, and things that were important to them. I would recommend this book to anybody who has a strong interest in South Africa and any kid between the ages of 11 and 17.

This delightful book falls into the rare category of a personal memoir not about the person writing it but about two other people of talent.
The upshot is two main characters brought to vivid life by the minutiae of everyday living recorded over an almost epic period of time (forty plus years) and a third character, the author, thrown into equally stark relief by her interactions with, and reflection on, them. A further factor of great importance highlighted in the book is the fact of migration, the two main characters as well as the author all being British-born and living in South Africa for a fair spell. The complex interplay of all of the above makes for a fascinating read not encountered often these days with its tales of ready-made solutions to spuriously complex problems or, in fact, fairly shallow neuroses.
Overlying the innate complexity of the personal relationship of the three rounded characters referred to above is the many-splendoured realm of art in its guise of serious song taken to an even higher level of complexity in the spiritual sphere by the concurring of the author with Webster's opinion their, or at least his, best work was done in the field of oratorio.
The shifting scenario, from the U K and the U S A to Johannesburg, Knysna, Somerset West, and finally back to the U K and, in particular Wales, makes for exciting reading in that the style reflects the differing emphases in great and loving detail. Following the aforegoing subtleties of shifting aspects of reality the set of memories of Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth, adduced at the back, add a final lustre to a loving and complex portrait of several lives in vital and vibrant interplay.
All the foregoing aspects are made possible by a simple and direct prose style, which is one of the book's greatest attributes, somewhat along the stylistic pleasures of Gaius Julius Caesar describing the Gallic and Roman civil wars and Blaise Pascal analysing mathematical and social structures. A salient example, chapter 16 on the 1973 East London production of The Mikado, will suffice, representing the truly complex undercurrents between professional and amateur ardours about the same production in an almost offhand mode encapsulated in a simple style of stark statement pregnant with knowing innuendo.
Therefore, in summation, a marvellous book about a fascinating subject really intelligently written. Read it and dare to contradict the above views.

Johan Geldenhuys.

Great delivery of this item. Will use again and again

Today, there are many self-improvement books, as well as awareness techniques, available to spiritual seekers interested in change, growth, and new perspectives. However, there have not been any [books] to date that are as empowering and life-changing as this book can be.

I have worked with The Weiss Transformation Process for the last nine years and have experienced more shifts in attitude, beliefs, and the way I am able to experience myself, others, and life on the planet, than from any other technique I have worked with in the last 25 years. The process of living has become simpler, and a lot more fun. I am extremely sensitive and tend to experience everything in exquisite detail; sometimes it is painful. Jann's work and the processes taught in this book have shown me how to heal the things that have held me back in life, and the blocks and fears I experience on a day-to-day basis. Utilizing these techniques makes discharging painful experiences, emotions, and beliefs simple! You will find yourself utilizing these teachings throughout your daily life.

I have seen profound changes in myself and others using these processes. These processes are self-empowering, and show you how to support yourself without requiring the direct presence of a "teacher." Learn to empower yourself. If you wish to learn how to truly support others in your life, this book is for you.

There is a fascinating metaphor interwoven throughout the book! While you are learning the process, you also experience how others learn, and that, yes, monkeys CAN fly. It all depends on what you want to learn, become, and DO. It shares a little of the magic of this universe that we are a part of.

I would encourage you to read and learn the techniques taught in this book. Perhaps you will have an opportunity to work with Jann somewhere around the world in her travels, or one of the facilitators she has certified to teach these processes.

"Learning to fly" can be fun! I encourage you to "take the plunge," and let the wind fill your wings.

A comprehensive guide to keeping cichlids. There are also useful tables concerning plants and decorations suitable for cichlid tanks. The first 100 pages contain the more general info on natural habitats, aquarium selection, water requirements and filtration, heating and lighting, aquascaping, maintenance, feeding, health and breeding. The last section on breeding has separate sections on African, Central American and South American cichlids. This same division is used in the second part of the book, the species section. The descripion of the different fishes is very comprehensive and includes wonderful information such as sexing and compatibility. The index includes both scientific name as well as common name. Great reference book for the beginning and advanced hobbyist alike.

This book is absolutely beautiful inside - featuring lots of postcard-worthy photographs.

The pictures in the book are of actual places we have seen on our visit to South Africa - very representative of what the country actually looks like.

These are the pictures we would have taken ourselves - if the sun was always shining . . . if we had a telephoto lens . . . if we were professional photographers . . . if the perfect moments had presented themselves . . . if the wildlife would have stayed still!

Except for pictures of the people you meet, you could leave the camera at home, and just buy this book!

If you grew up in the rural outskirts of South Africa, you'll definitely enjoy this one! It is so real, it felt as if I was reading about my life. The way she writes keeps one turning the pages...btw this was my first book to read right to the last page!

Perhaps I am a little biased in this review as my father was a member of the regiment during the time it covers. I bought two copies last Christmas one for myself and one for my father. I couldn't put the book down and read it in two days flat (a feat for someone who is Dyslexic and shys away from reading!). I wouldn't expect anyone who does not have connections with the regiment to be so enthusiastic about reading the book!

The book covers the regiment from just before the start of the Second World War to its defeat in 1942. It is a good social history of the men who served and is written from audio transcripts they made and which are stored in the Imperial War Museum. The transcripts are of the soldiers who were mainly the lower ranks and thus gives a real insight into the war for the "common" man. It is not a dry account about battles or tactics, just commented transcripts of how the men lived, trained and fought.

The book does not cover in any detail the tactics and general stratergy of the war in North Africa. It would be nice to have a little of background knowledge on why the regiment was placed and moved around the continent.

My father claims there are a few exagerations in some of the acounts - especially the one of some men getting drunk on the front line in Tubruk.

I can recomend this book if you are interested in Nottingham, WWII and North Africa, or the lives of terratorial soldiers.

This book has it all: adventure, detective work, social history, insights and it all adds up to an excellent read. Tim Couzens keeps the reader interested from the first page to the last. His style makes one want to read the book slowly so as to make it last. The "story" itself is fascinating and for anyone interested in social history this is well worth the read. I have read the book three times and each reading has been a discovery of things missed before and a rediscovery of treasures from another time and another person's life. For teachers and lecturers of social history this should be a must read and their students could only benefit from the masterly scholarship and the love of the subject matter which the author shows so clearly.