TGE's Current Read

Historical fiction is the one genre that will get readers Googling post-read to separate fact from fiction. It’s also done way more than school history books to get us thinking about the world and the impact of our actions on people, individuals.

Historical fiction is the best way to get invested in (and curious about) another culture, another story, another way of life, another period in time.

Catherine Menon's Fragile Monsters traces one family's story from 1920 to the present day, unravelling a thrilling tale of love, betrayal and redemption against the backdrop of natural disasters and fallen empires. Written in vivid technicolour, with an electric daughter-grandmother relationship at its heart, this is a stunning debut novel about what happens when secrets fester through the generations.

This inaugural episode of TGE's Current Reads, host Sam Herbst talks to author Catherine Menon about the novel. Penguin Random House South Africa

"What if the worst thing that ever happened to you, led you to the best time of your life?"

There’s a kindred spirit among self-deprecating moms 😅 Those moms who know they’re not as perfect as they once hoped they’d be but are happy (most days) to get just a passing grade in the parenting department.

Well, Sadie Foreman from this favourite feel-good book rec is just such a kindred spirit. Not the world’s best mom by any stretch of the imagination... BUT, she’s the best mom to her Norman. And that’s what counts.

The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman is a book about growing up, feeling pain, feeling loss, and finding your funny bone again when you least feel like you have any sense of humour left.

Join Sadie, her psoriasis-ridden son Norman and their elderly mate Leonard as they traverse the English countryside and book it to Edinburgh so that (shy, timid) Norman can have a go at the world-renowned Fringe Comedy Festival.

You will laugh. You will cry. You will have the warm and fuzzies once you're done.

In this episode we chat to the author Julietta Henderson about her debut novel The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman. Penguin Random House South Africa