PAGECAST

Join Karina Szczurek this week on Pagecast as she delves into the captivating world of art and passion with author Louisa Treger, discussing her latest novel, "The Paris Muse." This gripping tale explores the tumultuous relationship between Dora Maar and Pablo Picasso, set against the vibrant backdrop of 1930s Paris. Dive into the complexities of love, art, and identity in this unforgettable story.

More about the book:

Paris, 1936. Dora Maar, a talented photographer and painter, meets Pablo Picasso and is instantly drawn to his intense creativity. Their passionate relationship, marked by love, sadism, and Picasso's infidelities, pushes Dora to the edge.

The Paris Muse, by Lousa Trejar is a fictional retelling of Dora's journey, set against the backdrop of Paris and the French Riviera. As Picasso paints Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, their relationship darkens. With World War II approaching and the Nazis invading, Dora suffers a breakdown and is hospitalized.

Atmospheric and powerful, The Paris Muse sheds light on Dora's life, ensuring she is no longer a forgotten figure in Picasso’s story.

#Pagecast #TheParisMuse #LouisaTreger #DoraMaar #PabloPicasso #ArtAndLove #HistoricalFiction #ParisianArtScene #BookTalk #AuthorInterview #KarinaSzczurek #LiteraryPodcast #BookPodcast

In this episode of Pagecast, Jo Prins sits down with South African icon Ian Roberts to discuss his memoir, Nomad Heart. Known for his unforgettable roles as Sloet Steenkamp in Arende and Boet in the legendary Castrol adverts, Ian delves into his extraordinary journey from a free-spirited childhood on an Eastern Cape citrus farm to becoming a celebrated actor and musician.

Nomad Heart offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of theatre and television, capturing Ian’s colourful anecdotes, fearless approach to life, and masterful storytelling. Whether you’re an aspiring actor or simply love South African history and culture, this conversation is not to be missed.

#Pagecast #IanRoberts #NomadHeart #SouthAfricanIcon #MemoirMagic #TheatreLife #TVLegends #ActingJourney #BookPodcast #JonathanBallPublishers

In this episode of Pagecast, award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis interviews Professor Jonathan Jansen about his powerful memoir, Breaking Bread. Known as a professor, pundit, and self-proclaimed “public nuisance,” Jansen has long been a fearless voice on South African schools, universities, race, politics, and society.

In Breaking Bread, Jansen reflects on his formative years growing up in a deeply evangelical family on the Cape Flats, the life-changing influence of an inspiring teacher, and his journey as the first in his generation to attend university during apartheid. With incisive analysis, humour, and compassion, this memoir explores the complexities of South African society while offering profound insights into leadership, reconciliation, and humanity. Don’t miss this engaging conversation about one of South Africa’s most thought-provoking figures.

#Pagecast #JonathanJansen #BreakingBreadMemoir #RebeccaDavis #SouthAfricanBooks #LeadershipLessons #CapeFlatsStories #EducationMatters #BookPodcast #JonathanBallPublishers

In Beeld 50 samesteller Erika de Beer, vertel dié geliefde koerant se joernaliste hoe hulle juis dit gedoen het deur die dekades en wat hulle steeds bybly van daardie ervaring.

“Nooi, ek praat nie met julle nie. Julle lieg van bladsy een tot die

einde . . . maar ek is nie so seker van die sport nie.”

– “Kommandant-generaal” Fritz Meyer van die Wenkommando aan Carolien Saayman van Beeld

Die afgelope halfeeu het meer as 15 000 uitgawes van Beeld verskyn met derduisende stories in woord en beeld. Regdeur hierdie 50 jaar is ’n mantra in die redaksie: “Slaan die groot storie hard.” In Beeld 50 vertel dié geliefde koerant se joernaliste hoe hulle juis dit gedoen het deur die dekades en wat hulle steeds bybly van daardie ervaring.

Die boek neem die leser op ’n reis deur van die grootste nuusgebeure sedert 1974 en weerspieël die geskakeerde leefwêreld van die Afrikaanse gemeenskap in die noorde van die land. Beeld is die Suid-Afrikaanse dagblad wat al die meeste as die mooiste aangewys is – daarvan getuig die foto’s, voorblaaie, spotprente en grafika op dié blaaie. Tog is dit nie ’n beste-voetjie-voorsit-soort boek nie, want dis in die eerste plek joernaliste wie se stemme jy hier hoor.

Op die ou end is die belangrikste element die leser. Soos Pieter du Toit in 2014 as nuusredakteur gesê het: “Ons lojaliteit lê by die briefskrywer wat ons kapittel oor ’n onbesonne hoofberig, die intekenaar wat kla oor sy nat koerant op die grasperk en die leser wat dankie sê vir die nuwe Saterdag-Beeld.”

Join us on Pagecast as bestselling author Pieter du Toit delves into the complex legacy of the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa. In his latest book, The Super Cadres, du Toit examines the party's journey from its early promise to its current state of dysfunction. He explores pivotal questions about the ANC's rise to power, the inevitability of its failures, and the impact of each presidency from Mandela to Ramaphosa. Du Toit argues that the ANC's policy of "cadre deployment" has been at the heart of its downfall, leading to corruption and incompetence. Tune in as Pieter discusses these critical issues with CapeTalk radio presenter John Maytham.

#ANC #SouthAfrica #Politics #AfricanNationalCongress #SouthAfricanPolitics #CyrilRamaphosa #StateCapture #CorruptionInSouthAfrica #SouthAfricanHistory

#PoliticalAnalysis #BookPodcast

In this episode of Pagecast at Open Book Cape Town, we’re excited to dive into the vibrant world of the Open Book Festival—a celebration of South African literature within an international context. Each year, the festival brings together a diverse range of voices, offering readers and writers alike the opportunity to connect with thought-provoking stories, groundbreaking ideas, and inspiring authors.

In this special episode, Jonathan Ball Publishers' Publicity Manager, Jean-Marie Korff, sits down with Mervyn Sloman, the owner of the beloved indie bookshop, The Book Lounge, and the director of Open Book. Mervyn shares insights into the festival's journey, its role in cultivating a thriving literary community, and the challenges and triumphs that have shaped Open Book into one of the most anticipated events on the literary calendar.

Join us as we explore the festival’s evolution, its impact on South African literature, and the powerful narratives that continue to captivate audiences. Whether you're a longtime festival attendee or a first-time visitor, Open Book Cape Town offers an unforgettable literary experience, bringing stories that shape the world closer to home.

Welcome to Pagecast at Open Book Cape Town, a special edition of the regular podcast brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. Usually, we explore the latest in literature year-round, but today, we're coming to you straight from the heart of the Open Book Festival—Cape Town's annual celebration of South African literature in an international context. In these festival-exclusive episodes, we sit down with some of the most inspiring voices in literature to delve into their stories, insights, and the powerful narratives that shape our world. Let's dive into the pages together!

In this episode, we are joined by the acclaimed Niq Mhlongo, born in 1973 in Soweto. Niq’s debut novel, Dog Eat Dog, was published by Kwela in 2004 and later translated into Spanish as Perro Come Perro in 2006, earning the Mar des Lettras prize. Beyond his novels and short stories, Niq has contributed as a screenwriter for the animated children’s TV series Magic Cellar and created scripts for the comic magazine Mshana, which debuted in 2007. His most recent novel, The City is Mine, was published in 2024.

Join us as we explore Niq’s incredible body of work, his creative journey, and the storytelling that continues to resonate with readers around the world.

Welcome to Pagecast at Open Book Cape Town, a special edition of the regular podcast brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. While we usually explore the latest in literature throughout the year, in this episode we're broadcasting directly from the Open Book Festival—Cape Town's annual celebration of South African literature in an international context. In these festival-exclusive episodes, we sit down with some of the most inspiring voices in literature to dive deep into their stories, insights, and the powerful narratives that shape our world. Let's journey into the pages together!

In this episode, Jonathan Ball Publishers Publicity Manager Jean-Marie Korff sits down with the phenomenal Qarnita Loxton.

After studying law at the University of Cape Town and graduating in 1997, Qarnita worked as an attorney, primarily in the financial services sector. More recently, she transitioned into the field of executive coaching, bringing a fresh perspective to her work.

Qarnita's literary career began in 2017 with the release of her debut novel, Being Kari. She followed it with Being Lily, Being Shelley, and Being Dianne, captivating readers with her nuanced storytelling. She is also the co-author of Chasing Marion, written alongside Amy Heydenrych, Pamela Power, and Gail Schimmel. Her most recent novel, What’s Wrong with June, was published in 2024.

Join us as we explore Qarnita’s writing journey, the evolution of her characters, and the themes that resonate through her work.

Welcome to Pagecast at Open Book Cape Town, a special edition of the regular podcast brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. While we usually explore the latest in literature throughout the year, in this episode we're broadcasting directly from the Open Book Festival—Cape Town's annual celebration of South African literature in an international context. In these festival-exclusive episodes, we sit down with some of the most inspiring voices in literature to dive deep into their stories, insights, and the powerful narratives that shape our world. Let's journey into the pages together!

In this episode, Jonathan Ball Publishers Publicity Manager Jean-Marie Korff sits down with Lesedi Molefi, a Soweto-born writer, documentary filmmaker, photographer, and entrepreneur. Lesedi’s work spans multiple disciplines, capturing the essence of South African stories through various mediums. As a storyteller with a unique perspective, he uses his creative talents to shine a light on the complexities and beauty of everyday life in South Africa.

Join us as we explore Lesedi’s creative journey, his approach to storytelling across different forms, and the narratives that have shaped his remarkable career.

Welcome to Pagecast at Open Book Cape Town, a special edition of the regular podcast brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. Usually, we explore the latest in literature year-round, but in this episode, we're coming to you straight from the heart of the Open Book Festival—Cape Town's annual celebration of South African literature in an international context. In these festival-exclusive episodes, we sit down with some of the most inspiring voices in literature to delve into their stories, insights, and the powerful narratives that shape our world. Let's dive into the pages together!

In this episode, Jonathan Ball Publishers Publicity Manager Jean-Marie Korff sits down with the talented Shubnum Khan, a South African author and artist. Her debut novel, Onion Tears, was shortlisted for both the Penguin Prize for African Writing and the University of Johannesburg Debut Prize for Writing in English. Shubnum holds a Master’s degree in English and has earned several prestigious literary fellowships, including the Octavia Butler Fellow at Jack Jones Literary Arts and the Mellon Fellowship at Stellenbosch University. When she’s not travelling, Shubnum resides in Durban, where she writes and draws for a living.

Join us as we explore Shubnum's literary journey, creative process, and the stories that have shaped her remarkable career.