Exclusive Books' recommended May reads
For anyone looking for the perfect book club read, Emily Henry delivers that in Great Big Beautiful Life. Writers Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson are tasked with competing for the chance to write the memoir of once-famed, now-reclused socialite Margaret Ives. With six months to write a compelling draft each, Alice and Hayden's own story starts to tangle as they grow closer as they spend more time together.
Push the limit in Unsolicited, a thrilling debut from Andrea Shaw, with twists and turns sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. We meet Fatima Matthews, a quick-witted and sharp-eyed detective juggling a murder case, a plagiarism scandal and the chaos of menopause. Detective Matthews must face her frailties as the threats escalate and the chance to redeem herself starts to slip away.
Their non-fiction selection for May is a combination of topical reads for anyone wary of AI, inspiring stories for much-loved figures and reflective reads for rainy days. Find comfort with Sameer Rawjee in the growing integration of AI in our daily lives in Taking the Anxiety out of AI, a helpful guide outlining the co-existence of human talent and the power of technology.
Oprah's Book Club pick The Tell by Amy Griffin is a heartfelt memoir exploring memory, trauma and the healing power of time. Prompted by Griffin's 10-year-old daughter wishing to close the distance between them, Griffin is propelled to confront what she spent her life running from.
Feel inspired by the journey of the greatest Formula One driver of all time in the definitive biography of Lewis Hamilton, Sir Lewis by Michael E Sawyer. From karting on local tracks to becoming a seven-time world champion, this biography examines the legacy of an icon on and off the grid.
Markus Zusak brings a poignant, funny and disarmingly honest memoir of family, love and companionship in Three Wild Dogs and the Truth. Zusak shares the story of his family's adoption of three wily rescue dogs and the madness, hilarity and inseparable relationships that ensued.
Discover the history of the SA film industry in Hollywood on the Veld by Ted Botha. Secretive millionaire IW Schlesinger had ambitions to rival Hollywood from a film studio in Killarney. This is the never-before-told story of the rise and fall of the strangest, most unique empire ever.
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The South African
23-05-2025
- The South African
Max Verstappen skips Brad Pitt 'F1: The Movie' to stay home
Max Verstappen caused a stir in Formula One's most glamorous paddock on Thursday after choosing to attend to his duties as a new father instead of going to an exclusive screening of the new Brad Pitt film 'F1: The Movie'. Red Bull's four-time world champion and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll were the only absentee drivers for the preview showing of the Hollywood movie in Monaco on Wednesday evening – all part of the build-up to this weekend's Grand Prix. Max Verstappen, who is no fan of promotion and marketing work beyond the needs of his own team, said he had declined the invitation well in advance. As to changing nappies, he made no comment. 'I told Formula One Management (FOM) that I would not be there,' he said. 'They knew about it. I just wanted to spend more time at home. It wasn't a mandatory event and it was my private time. 'And I prefer to spend that private time at home especially as in F1 you're away from home so much already. It's pretty normal, I think. Now my family is growing, I definitely prefer more time at home.' Stroll said he was doing 'just stuff', adding that: 'At some point, I'll watch it.' Both drivers, and the 18 who attended, are in the principality for the Monaco Grand Prix, the second of three races in a 'triple header' of three consecutive events in Italy, Monaco and Spain, following six season-opening flyaway races in Australia, Asia, the Gulf and Florida. The long-awaited film is due to go on general release next month and stars Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. It was directed by Joseph Kosinski, who made 'Top Gun: Maverick' among others, and the producers include Jerry Bruckheimer and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari. Hamilton attended the screening after which most drivers were enthusiastic about the production, many praising the authenticity of the racing sequences. Carlos Sainz of Williams said: 'I truly enjoyed it… For us F1 experts, we're going to see things that we sometimes see with Netflix that you can tell are a bit Hollywood-esque. 'But I truly believe that for a new fan, it will attract an audience and will do very well with people who don't know anything about F1. For the hardcore fan, for the journalists and us (drivers), we see things that maybe are too American or a bit too Hollywood.' He added that the filming of racing sequences were 'insane, honestly insane' and 'for me the best part.' 'F1: The Movie' star Damson Idris at the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' in New York at the start of May © Dia Dipasupil / AFP Drivers, team bosses and other guests attended the showing which Hamilton's Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc described as 'really cool'. 'Honestly, I didn't know what to expect,' he added. 'No idea. But the story-telling is really cool and the images are just incredible. I really enjoyed it.' Pierre Gasly of Alpine said: 'Beautiful! It was really cool to see it for the first time. I think it is a real dive into our world of Formula One so I'm sure people will like it.' Williams' team chief James Vowles said: 'I thought it was absolutely fantastic. They did a really good job of being authentic to who we are and how we go racing. 'I rate films by goosebump moments and I had three or four of them that were just really brilliant build-ups that then ended in a fantastic way. It is a fantastic package.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
TimesLIVE
23-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Hamilton says he has more movies in the pipeline
Lewis Hamilton is planning more movies after working with Brad Pitt on F1 and also documentaries and possibly a TV series with his Dawn Apollo production company. The seven-times Formula One world champion, a co-producer and consultant on the upcoming F1 movie starring Pitt, told reporters at the Monaco Grand Prix there was more to come. "I've gone in very high, I couldn't go any higher for the first movie, but we will produce more movies over coming years," he said. "I've got three concepts I'm writing," said the Ferrari driver, who launched his company in 2022. "I'm going to write with a writer because I've never written a movie before. I've got concepts, ideas I've come up with for movies. "At least two will be animations and one is in a phase of the first part of the script, so it's exciting. "There will be documentaries, maybe a TV series at some stage, but mostly movies. I like the development of movies. That's what I love the most." Hamilton joined his fellow drivers for a special pre-release screening of the Apple Original film, due out next month, in Monaco on Wednesday. He said though he had seen the film many times it had been a stressful and proud moment when the Dawn Apollo logo appeared with other production companies. "All of a sudden I've got all the drivers there and I was sat in the middle, I was nervous. I was like 'everyone is seeing it for the first time', and it was great to look around and see some reactions, particularly from the drivers," said Hamilton. "I care about what the drivers think and I want them to think highly of it."
TimesLIVE
22-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Drivers hail Brad Pitt's F1 movie as a hit after Monaco screening
Formula One drivers declared Brad Pitt's new F1 movie a winner that would bring fresh fans to the sport after being given an exclusive pre-release screening at the Monaco Grand Prix. The Apple Original film, with action scenes filmed at race weekends with the sport's co-operation, is due in cinemas internationally on June 25 and in North America on June 27. Formula One is hoping it will be an even bigger hit than the Netflix Drive to Survive docu-series that has helped raise the sport's appeal globally and take it to a new and younger demographic. 'Honestly, I enjoyed the whole thing,' Williams driver Carlos Sainz, sworn to secrecy on the plot like all those present, told reporters on Thursday. 'There were things that really surprised me. Not talking about the story, but the quality of footage they got. It's insane. Honestly insane. That's for me the best part of all of it. 'The team have done an outstanding job in putting together a very good Hollywood movie.' Haas rookie driver Oliver Bearman, 20, agreed. 'I think it really depicts in a great way what we go through, in a bit of a Hollywood way as you would expect, but that makes it really interesting,' said the Briton. 'I think the goal of the movie is going to be achieved. I think it's going to be a huge hit and it's going to make people want to watch F1, which is really the goal of it.' Directed by Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick fame, the movie also stars Javier Bardem as owner of a team on the verge of failure. British actor Damson Idris is hotshot Joshua Pearce alongside ageing redemption-seeking racer Sonny Hayes, played by Pitt who is 61 in real life. Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, a co-producer, has said the movie will deliver an authentic feel. 'The storytelling is really cool and the images are just incredible,' said Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who won his home Monaco race last year. Red Bull boss Christian Horner also gave a glowing verdict. 'We are probably the worst possible audience to watch that movie because you're going to look and scrutinise every detail, every gear change, every pit stop, and it was very authentic,' said the Briton. Red Bull's reigning four-times world champion Max Verstappen, new father of a baby daughter, was a prominent absentee. 'I wanted to spend more private time,' he said. 'There was the opportunity to watch it but if we watch it now or in three or four weeks it's fine as well.'
