Penguin Books Blog

Local Reads – Award winning author, Zakes Mda

In Black Diamond, South African Literary Awards recipient, Zakes Mda tackles every conceivable South African stereotype, skilfully (and with the lightest touch) turning them upside down and exposing their ironies. Set in contemporary Johannesburg the story follows an eclectic cast of characters as they work out their roles in a city where BEE rules, old stereotypes [...]

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Born Wild Launch Invitations

Penguin Books takes pleasure in inviting you to the launches of  Tony Fitzjohn’s book Born Wild in Johannesburg and Cape Town BORN WILD JOHANNESBURG LAUNCH INVITATION BORN WILD CAPE TOWN LAUNCH INVITATION

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Ja, No, Man

 A memoir of pop culture, girls … and apartheid “Such skill, such honesty and above all, such drop-everything- and-laugh-out-loud humour.”                                                                                       – Alexandra Fuller     Ja, No, Man is an eerily familiar portrayal of the life of an ordinary white South African growing up during apartheid-era South Africa. Told with extraordinary humour and self-awareness, Richard’s story brings his gradual understanding of [...]

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Jelly Dog Days

Introducing Erica Emdon and Jelly Dog Days I’m forty now. I’m not sure I’m recovered. I still feel like an outsider sometimes, looking in on the world from a strange vantage point. Like I went to an alien planet and have come back, but no one understands what I saw. I suppose I will always be [...]

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John van de Ruit writes you a letter…

Dear Reader   FRANKENSTEIN’S BACK!   Man those luscious days in Cambodia and Thailand feel like some time ago now. In fact even the Cape Town Book Fair has receded into the throbbing haze of talks, interviews and book signings. But let me resume from the very beginning and stagger forward in an orderly fashion.   THE LAUNCH (JOZI PART 1)   Armed with [...]

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TUESDAY 2nd JUNE (ONE WEEK TO LAUNCH)

TUESDAY 2nd JUNE (ONE WEEK TO LAUNCH)   This may surprise you, but the over riding feeling i have after returning home to Durban after two months in Asia, is one of order. Now order isn’t a word one usually associates with South Africa – but there you have it. I am once again struck by the [...]

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