Magwood on Books

The celebrated columnist Darrel Bristow-Bovey is in top form as he wrestles with the manopause in One Midlife Crisis and a Speedo. Listen to him sounding off about Tim Noakes, Facebook and aphrodisiacs.

I recently spoke to comedy legend John Cleese on the TM LIVE Book Show about his memoir So, Anyway …

Cleese said he first thought about writing his memoir one Christmas while he was having lunch with Michael Caine in Barbados. As one does.

“Michael Caine had been writing his autobiography and saying what an interesting experience it was. He said you recapture all the bits of your life that you’d actually forgotten about,” the Monty Python legend said.

“I was very lucky. Whenever something bad happened something immediately something good happened.”

Listen to my interview with Ray Hartley on his book Ragged Glory: The Rainbow Nation in Black and White.

An interview with Philip Hensher about his latest novel, The Emperor Waltz.

Read my article on the book here: http://bookslive.co.za/blog/2014/10/27/a-benevolent-contagion-michele-magwood-interviews-philip-hensher-about-his-latest-novel-the-emperor-waltz/

Jaco van Schalkwyk is one of the most interesting new authors on the SA book scene, an acclaimed visual artist who has turned his hand to writing. He tells how his debut novel The Alibi Club is based on a real dive bar in New York, and rails at the aftermath of 9/11, which he witnessed firsthand.

PJ Powers is one of South Africa’s most beloved performers, but her new autobiography Here I Am chronicles a dark, desperate period in her life. Here she speaks candidly about her alcoholism, the wreckage of her life and how she has emerged from it stronger than ever.

Glenn Moss relives the intense student politics at Wits in the 1970s in his absorbing book The New Radicals: A Generational Memoir of the 1970s, and speaks here about Steve Biko, the bitter Nusas trial and how the ideals of that generation have become frayed.

The witty Hagen Engler lets rip in Stuff South African White People Like, sending up our predilection for Tasha’s paninis, craft beers – and two-tone shirts. Here he points out that Johnny Clegg’s Zulu accent is “a bit off”.

Amanda Coetzee is making a name for herself with her pacy thrillers, and her fourth, One Shot, has just been published. Here she talks about her intriguing detective, the enigmatic, gypsy-blooded Badger, and how she once worked at Holloway Women’s Prison.

The irrepressible Bongani Madondo has edited a collection of essays on Brenda Fassie called I’m Not Your Weekend Special and here he remembers with affection the maddening, brilliant Ma Brr.