BrightLights@BookBuddy

Afrikaans is my moedertaal en my skryfstyl is 100% loslit met die verengelse weergawe daarvan omdat geen ander taal tog ooit kan kompeteer met van ons segoed nie. Vat nou maar my oorle ouma se favourite segding: ''Jy soek ook heeltyd net die binnevet van die boud.'' Vir die oningeligtes, ons praat nou hier van die Ingelse benefit of the doubt . Ek lag my nounag nat daaroor, maar daai is 'n storie vir 'n ander dag wanneer ek julle die staaltjie van die Die Hartebreker van Keidebees sal vertel.  Vandag wil ek eers galbraak oor die naarmaak kultuur van condonement , of te wel kwytskelding, in ons bruin gemeenskappe. Op hierdie manier leer ken julle my, Weirdo Heks van Stofbesemlaagte, in al my gawes en glorie.  Sit en chat ek die annerdag te heerlik met my hoof-heksebrouer, Bekende Gesie, oor alles en nog wat, toe die gesprek in die rigting van ons kinderjare dwaal. Die Basters van Rehoboth en die Coloureds van Gobabis gaan my hierna dalkies wil stenig, but ...

A riveting read, Lauri Kubuitsile's historical novel, The Scattering , about love lost, is intense, bitter-sweet and unforgettable. For any Namibian, it will not be an easy read for essentially one reason: the story cuts too close to the bone. For as I am writing this review, the Herero and Nama cultural groups of Namibia, with the support of the Namibian government, are in the process of engaging the German government of Angela Merkel, regarding the 1904 - 1907 genocide.  The Scattering has two female protagonists, Tjipuka and Riette, and their poignant stories develop against the backgrounds of the Herero-Namaqua genocide in German South-West Africa (DSWA), 1904 - 1907, and the Second Anglo-Boer War in the South Africa, 1899 - 1902, respectively. Tjipuka is a member of the Herero tribe of Okahandja and Riette, an Afrikaner woman from the farming community in South Africa. Their lives, dreams and ambitions are irrevocably changed by the onset of war, Tjipuka, and, in Riette...

One of Namibia's popular writers, Johan J. Beyers, author of the eco-fantasy dystopian novel, The Kupferberg Mining Company (2013), shared with us a list of his five most memorable books. 'This wasn't easy to do,' Mr. Beyers wrote in a mail to us, 'because different books impact one's life differently at various stages. In other words, a so-called good book then will perhaps not have the same impact and value now. And, besides, the list you have requested is unfair.' We have to agree with the  last, of course. Asking a reader-writer for a list of only five books to recommend is tremendously unfair given the immense number of books a person may read in her/his lifetime. That said, we are very grateful Mr. Beyers sent us his list. 1. To Build a Fire and Other Stories by Jack London 'I really enjoyed this collection of short stories by American novelist, journalist and social activist, Jack London.' To Build a Fire and Other Stories is the m...

'Here she comes, guys!' Someone screamed from the other side of the construction site. And, like hungry rats after a tasty morsel, they scurried over to where their mate gesticulated, suggestively. Their daily dose of amusement had arrived. Casually, she made her way through the temporary wooden structure erected on the pavement as thoroughfare for pedestrians while construction on the new shopping-centre was ongoing. As it had become something of a habit by then, Jerry Jacobs led the small procession of men. Among this gang on the construction site, he boasted the most lurid and vulgar vocabulary with the concomitant temerity to direct it at others, also. To the delight of his colleagues, he let rip with a blend of colourful pick-up lines, repugnant references to the female anatomy and all things obscene he could think of. Inspired, his colleagues in turn shouted a variety of abuses of their own, wolf-whistled, then roared with delight and self-induced exuberance....

From one of several pockets on her cargo pants Caroll Dunham extracted with some difficulty, a scruffy, postcard-sized book. Gold-embossed numbers, 2009, were stamped into its threadbare leather cover. 'Read this,' she said to the woman seated next to her on the flight to Singapore. 'It's beautiful.'  She removed a flattering photograph of Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar from the centre of the book. The delicate, attractive face was arresting and magnetic, the eyes alert and intelligent. Caroll turned the photograph over and showed the other woman what she wanted her to see, text printed on the back. 'As a mother, the greater sacrifice was giving up my sons, but I was always aware of the fact that others had given up more than me. I never forget that my colleagues who are in prison suffer not only physically, but mentally for their families who have no security outside - in the larger prison of Myanmar under authoritarian rule.' For a moment, the two wom...

Cartoon by: Volkmann & Hill Lead-a-Sheep by Andre Izaaks The comrade-in-chief declared that money woes are over Said things are on the mend. E'en though the peasants are struggling in an abyss Neck-deep Holding out and hoping for lead-a-sheep. The minister trumpeted 'free learning for the youth'! Said the ministry doesn't need parents' fees. But education doesn't come cheap And as lay-offs become the new disease The learned and learning cry out for lead-a-sheep. The authorities decreed an increase Said a thousand-and-a-half to catch fish. Anglers say the hike is too steep They only want to reel in a dish You'd have to sail the seven seas for lead-a-sheep. Fauna and flora are decimated As the nation turns a blind eye Poachers do not sow what they reap Soon, there won't be a bird in the sky... But the mute turn their gaze toward lead-a-sheep. Caree...

The Elephants are Coming! Written by Lindsay Norman Illustrated by Izak Vollgraaff N$ 65 Ten-year old Themba dreams of joining his father and older brother in chasing the elephants away if they should come to eat their corn, as they did last year. Sadly, everyone tells him that he is too young and must stay at home to protect his mother, sister and grandfather while his father and brother are away. But danger lurks much closer to home! Find out if Themba will be brave enough.  Little Red Riding Hood by Classic Fairy Tales N$ 50 Join the lively and talkative Little Red Riding Hood on her thrilling adventure to Grandma's house. But watch out for the wily wolf who is on the hunt for a little-girl-sized snack! The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason N$ 135 The success secrets of the ancients and the most inspiring book on wealth ever written. Countless readers have been helped by the famous 'Babylonian parables', hailed as the greatest of all ...