THE POETRY OF TIISETSO THIBA

Book: Let’s Take a Walk Mama

By Tiisetso Thiba

Review by Henry Ozogula

The author is a talented, effortless poet and most of the content of this work constitute true poetry. The examples are legion but I’d just point out some samples here including lots of impressive similes.

 "When I cascaded a tear and made the pillows sludge" pg 38  …  

 "I close the book. Before waterfall in my marble"  

 "Desperation is buddy of depression"  

 "His hand to ease me from the cuffs of agony’’ Page 11

 "Mum's Coffee...made by magic hands. And adorned by the cream of profound love"

 "Be my derrick to uplift me from the muck"   Brilliant!

And savour this line, which highlights the sexual flavour of wordsmiths! "I ejaculate my thoughts onto paper" page 46. 

Note the doses of philosophy in this work too, eg "Life is too short, but we'll be here for a while..." pg 18

Similes include, "like python that preys on some animals" page 8.

"Africa vanishing like rubbish in the ocean"   pg 12.

"He was short tempered like a lion" page 16.

"Our love for you burning and boiling like a gold pan"  (33)

However, there are some spelling or printing mistakes in this book, e.g on page 1, "tears running down my chicks" which should be "cheeks". And on page 22 "past compliments the present" - It should be complements. Also, "he pretends to be holly" which should be "holy".

But despite some mistakes, this is a very good book by a sensitive, intelligent South African poet.

MARIA SHARAPOVA's NEW BOOK

Maria Sharapova is one of the greatest tennis players around in the world now; never mind the dominance of the sport by the Williams’ sisters, especially Serena. Maria has just written a book, and though this is an essentially “African” blog, we must take notice of a book written by a talented, lovely, blonde lady who was also perhaps the highest paid woman in sport for years.

The book of course has been flying off the shelves, so to speak. We have been intrigued with some of the initial reviews of the work, but we consider the excerpt reproduced below (published in VOX) as a refulgent gem which would elicit smiles from many in Africa…

“…Williams and her sister Venus Williams are the two most successful tennis players in the modern era. They’re also black. And throughout their careers, every milestone they’ve hit has come with a side of racism and sexism. Their bodies have been scrutinized and lampooned. Their integrity has been questioned, and rumors about them taking steroids have circulated repeatedly. They’ve been called gorillas and likened to men playing against women.

The underlying theme throughout their careers has been centered on one thing: that there’s something incomprehensible and unfair about black athletes beating stellar — sometimes they’ll be mythologized as being superhumanly strong; other times it’s something more nefarious, like being on steroids.

Sharapova’s words about Williams in her book fit this pattern.

“First of all, her physical presence is much stronger and bigger than you realize watching TV,” Sharapova writes. “She has thick arms and thick legs and is so intimidating and strong. And tall, really tall.”

According to their official listed heights, Sharapova is 6-foot-2 and Williams (below) is 5-foot-9. It’s bizarre to see Sharapova refer to how towering another player is when she herself is 5 inches taller.

Further, Sharapova emphasizes her perceived smallness in a couple of phrases about how she thinks of herself as being a “skinny kid,” or her size in comparison to Williams’s: “She was a woman. I was a girl. She was big. I was small.”

Never mind the reality that Sharapova is taller than Williams, or that she was temporarily banned from tennis for taking a performance-enhancing drug; the picture she’s painting is one in which Williams is a physical Goliath and Sharapova is a David…”

* Excerpt courtesy of VOX

LOVE WORKS WONDERS. By Bertha M. Clay

The author Bertha M Clay used to intrigue one when one was much younger. Then one learned later on that such a writer hardly existed although the original author (pseudonym) lived in the 19th century, the daughter added more titles under the pen name, and MANY other writers would contribute to the title across time and generations.

Yet the titles and stories remain quaint, old fashioned and interesting in their own way; concerned with themes of love, class, genteel life with spiralling ramifications and the like. Love Works Wonders is a typical story (novel) under the title. We see the development or metamorphosis of a young lady, Pauline, from a "Bohemian" to an exemplary lady of "class".

And at the end we are proudly told: "Six years had changed Pauline Darrell from a beautiful girl to a magnificent woman; her beauty was of that grand queenly kind that of itself is a noble dowry. The years but had added to it. They had given to her beauty a charm that it had never worn in her younger days."

Apparently this is the perfect culmination of a process, as Pauline had been too raw and "unlady-like". As Sir Oswald stresses early on: "She (Pauline) has lived among the artists. She does not seem to have ever known any of her own sex. She is, I am sorry to use the word, a perfect Bohemian. Whether she can be transformed into anything faintly resembling a lady, I cannot tell. Will you undertake the task...?".

Hence eventually Miss Darrell of Darrell Court attains a refulgent height and stature...and being a Bertha M Clay work, she also finds happiness in love at the end. The lucky man is Vane, who clasps her in his "strong, manly arms, her haven of rest, her safe refuge, her earthly paradise, safely attained at last..." Are you clapping?

-         - Henry Ozogula

BOOKTOWN RICHMOND

Ever heard about ‘BOOKTOWN RICHMOND’ in South Africa? Well. It is a wonderful complement to general literature…or very much an integral part…depending on how the general lover of the written word around Africa views it. What is clear is that for years now, they have added exhilarating fizz, zaniness, creative effervescence, etc to the dynamic South African literary ambience. We wish to introduce them via their latest release, titled:

BOEKBEDONNERD IV

(October 25, 26, 27 & 28th 2017)

I am just back from a wonderful week in the dorp; beautiful sunny days, admittedly the mornings were “fresh” but very tolerable. Stoep sitting on Loop Street in the full sun was superb. The evenings were chilly but with the Aga in full throttle and with the help of a little red wine, the week was fantastic. But then the bloody Cape of Storms decided to send some weather our direction and I could see the black clouds moving in from the south and snow falling on the hills towards Murraysburg…….Northern Cape winter at its best. Bitter cold, well below freezing in the evenings which necessitated sitting even closer to the Aga….and even more red.

The town is looking great and there is a palpable buzz of activity in the dorp. New guest houses, eateries, fresh paint and a hint that the old Masonic Hotel on Pienaar Street may be displaying a “Sold” sign if things go according to plan and it looks set to be a very upper end boutique hotel which will be fantastic for the entire town and its people. We may be just on the cusp of becoming a Karoo winner!

The village is putting up some serious support for BookBedonnerd which looks set to be a bumper 10th anniversary for Booktown Richmond. We are bringing in the whole shooting’ match, with activities and demonstrations at the Richmond Museum, a Connolly Richmond Mile road race running the entire length of Loop Street and offering a thousand Rand first prize. We reckon to find the next Wayde van Niekerk right in Richmond. The younger kids are in a frenzy constructing their famous karretjies for a parade through the dorp. The Kerk will be holding its regular Bazaar on the grounds so you better fast a bit so you can get your mouth around those lovely Karoo choppies. MAP the fantastic art gallery…more than a gallery it’s as big as a shopping mall, will be putting on special exhibits and offering curator tours of the entire premises.  Nicol Grobler local restauranteur and architect will once again be doing a Richmond walkabout and describing the wide range of old buildings in the village , their construction and evolution over time. Local historian John Donaldson will be doing his Boer War walk and talk about town ending at Vegkop with sundowners. We have confirmed that steel guitar blues man Doc Maclean will be performing (admission free) at the BTRHQ on Thursday evening along with complimentary wine tasting / drinking courtesy of Hawksmoor and Strandveld wines. We plan other evenings entertainment ……and of course more wine tasting, which we will announce in the next newsletter. There will be several “Off Broadway” events to keep everyone amused and occupied.

This year as you may know we gave the May, Coetzee / Fugard Festival a miss and a big part of the May gathering was around the Independent Publishers awards and banquet. So, we are holding the grand business of celebrating and honouring the wonderful South African Independent Publishers Awards on Wednesday October 25th. Write this down and put a reminder on your phone!

We are very proud to be the only book event countrywide to honour the best of the best amongst self-published books. This is truly a singular event in the Karoo, and indeed in all of SA because self-published books are special. In most cases they represent a writer’s life-time obsession. Have a gander of what to expect. From books on a cross dressing Indian with the name Hari Pottermari to books on Table Mountain, ‘Mural Man’ Mike Norris’ book on the East African Safari, Rose Willis’ book on one of the most astonishing hospitals in SA a mere 40km from Richmond to Tara the dog that sailed all around the world, BookBedonnerd 10 will have you riveted to your seats.

Certainly one of the highlights of this festival will be the gala awards banquet on Wednesday October 25 at the Supper Klub.

Here is our list of finalists for the Self Publishers awards:

1)     MIKE NORRIS – ARTIST ROUND THE BEND

2)     ELKARIEN FOURIE – VAT JOU HELE HART

3)     ASHWIN DESAI – HARI POTTERMARI

4)     CICELY ANNE VAN STRATEN

5)     ROSE WILLIS/ ARNOLD VAN DYK/ KAY DE VILLIERS – YEOMEN OF THE KAROO

6)     MARILYNN MILLS – TWISTED BLOOD VINES

7)     TOD COLLINS – THE BLACK SHEEP

8)     WERNER SCHMIDT – DEATH BY DESIGN

9)     DEON KNOBEL

10)   JOAN KRUGER – ON TOP OF TABLE MOUNTAIN

11)   MATTHYS STRYDOM - STORIES TEEN MY MUUR

12)   HEATHER CASTORAS – HOW HEATHER GOT HER HAT’NESS BACK

13)   LINDI BAIRD – JOHN BAIRD : FIRST LANDDROST OF BEAUFORT WEST

14)  WERNER SCHMIDT – CHINCHILLAS

15)  JEFF GAISFORD – THE NAVIGATOR TRIANGLE

16)  BARRY SMITH/ ANDREW BLAINE – THE NEXT STEP

17)  JOHN CAMERON-DOW – F.W. DE KLERK BIOGRAPHY

18)  JOE SPIRIT – THE BOOK OF JANE

19)  WYNAND VAN EEDEN – THE BUSHMAN CANDLES

20)  JOHN MATISONN – GOD, LIES AND SPIES

21)  DUDU BUSANE DUBE

22)  JOHN BURGESS- THE ROAD THROUGH THE GROVE

23)  KYLE ALLAN – HOUSE WITHOUT WALLS

24)  ROSEMARY FORRESTER - TARA THE TERRIER WHO SAILED AROUND THE WORLD

25)  CHRIS MARAIS / JULIENNE DU TOIT – EASTERN CAPE ROAD-TRIPPING

26) WILLEM MALHERBE – DIE CAMINO : CHURROS EN CHIRURGIE

27) MADINE SWART – FLORA SE GEHEIME TAAL- STORIES OOR SUIDER – AFRIKAANSE PLANTE

28) BARRY PIENAAR - FREDDIE BOY

29) CARA-LEIGH O’ SHEA – SHADOW WIZARDS

30) HEATHER CASTORAS - FODDER

As Booktown Richmond comes of age so we have been fortunate to get some buy in from participants and supporters.  Yesterday we learned that Hendrik Mentz, a participant at our 2016 JM COETZEE/ ATHOL FUGARD FESTIVAL, (a writer / photographer and some time farmer!) offered his services to record verbally and pictorially  BookBedonnerd 2017. Thanks HM you have made our day! He will also be posting each day’s snaps on line so the audience can interact with the goings on at BookBedonnerd.

A new face in the dorp is writer / poet / IT specialist Angie Gallagher. She will be helping us to organize the local community as well as recording the proceedings on YouTube as well as on Facebook. BookBedonnerd is special, and it is the ordinary people like Hendrik Mentz and Angie Gallagher and many other in the village and elsewhere as well as of course the writers who all make it so very special.

I was reminded of this last night when I opened a book from a total stranger for the SA INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS AWARDS. Only in its third year, what a bumper harvest we have had. I already have my top 3 contenders for the BookBedonnerd Prize penciled in. Number 3 came in yesterday. You know what they say about never judging a book by its cover? Well I got taught that lesson last night……big time. Visitors will also learn that lesson as well when they listen to our speakers. We have no Breyten Breytenbach this year. No Athol Fugard. No Antjie Krog. No Mongane Wally Serote. But if you don’t leave Richmond thinking “wow, what the @#%$! Was that” … These unsung self-published authors will truly make BookBedonnerd the most original book festival in SA, on that I will vouch my manhoodJ

Here then is an almost final indication of what’s on the Booktown Richmond Hit Parade in 2017:

1)     NAOMI MEYER - WEB

2)     ERNS GRUNDLING – EL CAMINO

3)     DONVE LEE – SCARS THAT SHINE – THE SYD KITCHEN STORY

4)     MIKE NORRIS – ARTIST ROUND THE BEND

5)     MATTHYS STRYDOM- STORIES TEEN MY MUUR

6)     JOAN KRUGER - TABLE MOUNTAIN BOOK

7)     GAIREYAH FREDERICKS – T.B.C

8)     FANIE OLIVIER

9)     ANDRIES BEZUIDENHOUT – THE HISTORY OF PICTURES

10)  GARY CUMMISKEY – POET

11)  ANTOINETTE OLIVIER – HAIKOES - OPTELKLIPPIES

12)  ANDRIES BEZUIDENHOUT – COSATU

13)  KEN BARRIS – PHOTOGRAPHIC

14)  SABATA MOKAE – IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SOL PLAATJE – T.B.C

15)   ELKARIEN FOURIE – VAT JOU HELE HART - CHINESE ODYSSEY

16)  VERNON HEAD – NEW BOOK 1

17)  VERNON HEAD – NEW BOOK 2

18)  TONY JACKMAN – COOKBOOK

19)  ROSEMARY FORRESTER - TARA THE TERRIER SAILING AROUND THE WORLD

20)  LOUISE HECKL – THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

21) LUTHANDO LUCAS – I AM

22) ATHOL WILLIAMS – PUSHING BOULDERS

23) PIET MATIPA – DWARSKLAP – T.B.C.

24) KIRBY VAN DER MERWE

25) HEATHER CASTORAS – HOW HEATHER GOT HER HAT’NESS BACK

26) CLINTON DU PLESSIS

27) RINA THERON – SANDVELDKOS: KOSNOSTALGIE EN STORIES VAN GISTER

28) MADINE SWART – FLORA SE GEHEIME TAAL – STORIES OOR SUIDER-AFRIKAANSE PLANTE

29) BARRY PIENAAR - FREDDIE BOY (The Inge Lotz trial through the eyes of defence lawyer Barry Pienaar)

30) BERNARD ODENDAAL – WOORDE HUL STORIE SIEN KEN – ESSAYS EN RUBRIEKE

So there you have it until you hear from us next. Any suggestions or queries please contact DED or PCB.

Book your accommodation as soon as possible as the town is gearing up at a pace.

Be good and if not possible then be careful….

Forever BoekBedonnerd

DED & PCB

Contact

pcbaker@mweb.co.za