March 2011 - Book 8

 Room by Emma Donoghue

Jack lives with Ma in Room - a space of 11 feet by 11 feet. Everything on TV is not real our "out in space on another planet". The only person Jack ever sees or talk to is Ma and evil Nick is just a voice and a shadow. 

Just after his 5th birthday Ma makes a confession and Jack's whole idea of the world is blown apart. Driven by anxiety of her son growing up in total isolation, the delicacy of their safety and extreme dental pain, Ma plots a plan for Jack to escape outside of Room.

Told in Jack's own words and voice, this is a thrilling story about one woman and her son's ordeal at the hands of a mad man and monster. It is however also the story of how they adapt back into the outside world. I can see why is was on the Man Booker Prize 2010 short list at is truly brilliantly written.

A unique story well told - 9/10

April 2011 - Book 9

Proteus van Deon Meyer
'n Xhosa man op 'n groot BMW motorfiets, genaamd Thobela(Tiny) Mpayipheli, jaag na Lusaka met 'n harde skyf gevul met staatsgeheime. Hierdie oenskynlik eenvoudige handeareider by 'n motorfiets winkel ontglip keer op keer die elite Presidensiele Intillegensie eenheid, bewapen tot die uiterste met die beste wat tegnologie kan bied.

Soos die storie ontwikkel, ook in die media word sy agtergrond as ex KGB sluipmoordenaar  oopgekrap tot die frustrasie van Janina Mentz en veral Tiger Mazibuko.

'n Spannende en meesterlik geskryfde riller uit die wereld van spioene , tipies van Meyer se ongekompliseerde styl. Totaal aangrypend, selfs met 'n tweede lees.

'n Welverdiende 10/10. Briljant.