Exclusive Books' recommended June reads
Manako Kajii was once a celebrated gourmet cook now in Tokyo Detention Centre, convicted of murder. Rika Machida, the only female journalist in her news office, works late every night and rarely cooks anything beyond noodles. When Rika writes to Manako requesting her recipe for beef stew, hoping to soften her up and get her to finally speak to the media, the two women develop an unlikely bond.
In the latest addition to the Elements series, Air from John Boyne offers a contemplative exploration of a man's journey towards becoming a better father. Aaron is at a crossroads in life. The trauma of his childhood has shaped the man he is today, but it's also what's keeping him from his son. Stuck on a plane together on a long-haul flight halfway across the world, this trip may bring them closer together or drive them further apart.
If you're in the mood for romance, don't miss Swept Away by Beth O'Leary. Zeke is in town for the weekend to buy back his father's houseboat. Lexi is desperately looking for help caring for her best friend's daughter. After meeting in a local bar, Zeke and Lexi spend what they assume will be one night together. But they wake up the next morning surrounded by the ocean because no one remembered to tie the houseboat to the dock the night before. As they navigate their way back, they'll have to figure out how to get back on land without falling for each other.
The non-fiction selection this month is sure to pique your interest, with major tech titles, moving memoirs and an eye-opening probe into building a safer SA.
In Behind Prison Walls, retired judge and chancellor of Stellenbosch University Edwin Cameron offers a powerful look at the failing prison system, along with insights and reflections on how it might be reformed for the better.
In Apple in China, Patrick McGee delves into the complex relationship between one of the world's most valuable companies and its biggest political rival. After struggling to build its products across three continents, Apple was drawn to China's seemingly vast, low-cost labour force. By 2014, China had produced up to 200-million phones for Apple. McGee tells the gripping story of how a company once celebrated for its rebellious spirit became a compliant player in a tightly controlled regime.
What happened to Elon Musk? In Hubris Maximus, Faiz Siddiqui traces the rise of the richest man on earth, and the cracks beginning to show in his empire. From transforming Tesla into the most valuable automaker to Twitter's rebrand to X, Musk is no stranger to controversy. Siddiqui provides a portrait of the billionaire's rapid ascent and his spectacular public implosion.
On the other end of the spectrum, I am a Girl from Africa is the powerful memoir from Elizabeth Nyamayaro as she reflects on how her near-death experience sparked a dream that changed the world. The book charts Nyamayaro's life from nearly starving to death in Zimbabwe to becoming a senior adviser at the UN. Follow the journey of a young girl who dreamed of change for herself, and for the people who need it most.
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TimesLIVE
25 minutes ago
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Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Aslina Wines challenges Western culture through winemaking
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After graduating from high school Biyela received a scholarship to study viticulture and oenology at Stellenbosch University to pursue winemaking. Upon graduation she worked at Stellekaya Wines in Stellenbosch as a winemaker for 13 years. Moving from rural KwaZulu-Natal to the suburbs of Stellenbosch marked the beginning of Biyela's promising career. Winemaking wasn't Biyela's initial career choice. Instead, the opportunity to study wine encouraged her to pursue the unfamiliar field. Despite this decision to ultimately study wine, Biyela experienced a culture shock. Biyela, a Black South African woman, became aware of the lack of diversity in the wine industry. 'In this industry, for me the hurdles were culture – cultural difference,' said Biyela. 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While interviewing Biyela, she shared that Absie Pantshwa, co-founder of EDGE X VUE, proudly displays Aslina Wines as an opportunity for local and Black winemakers to be highlighted at the restaurant to uplift the economy and support local businesses. 'Wine is playing a role of matriarching, putting people together, but also wine is playing a role of changing the economic aspect of the country,' said Biyela. As the marketing coordinator, Bezuidenhout understands the role winemakers and buyers have in the wine industry. 'Local owned wine brands put food on people's tables. Not only does Aslina give me a good life that I can live because it supports me, but it also supports the farm workers, the people who do the labelling, the people who do the bottling,' said Bezuidenhout. Biyela's wines include a curated selection to cater and complement cultural cuisine such as her grandmother's chicken curry. In KZN, the Indian influence helps to enhance the flavourful Zulu meals. 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The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Ninth Mzantsi Jazz Awards to honour Themba Mkhize and Dr Jonathan Butler
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