2013 has been horrible. Stupendously horrible in fact, so much so that I don’t actually want to dwell on that. So instead, I thought I would write a little something about the things I have loved this year. And as always, that means music and books. Continue reading

There are some books that just creep into the nooks and crannies of your mind with their evocative writing and complex characters. The Light Between Oceans is just such a book – unspeakably beautiful, and a real gem of a debut novel. Continue reading

So, I’ve loved the Kings of Leon since long before anybody’s sex was on fire, but I’m not one of those rabid purists who hates the albums they’ve made that have been far bigger commercial successes than their earlier work. Still, when I read an article in which Caleb Followill said that their latest offering, Mechanical Bull, would be more reminiscent of their first two albums, Youth and Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbreak, I was super excited. Continue reading

The Shining Girls, Lauren Beukes’ third fiction offering, has generated huge amounts of critical acclaim and general fuss. Indeed, when I was loaned the book, the person doing the loaning prefaced this by regaling me with tales of how much I would love it and how she had read it in one afternoon. I was intrigued. Continue reading

If you only buy one album in 2013, it should be The National’s Trouble Will Find Me. Continue reading

There’s been a definite increase over the last couple of years of brands bringing out bands (say that five times fast!) as part of a marketing strategy. The most recent of these was this weekend’s 5 Gum Experience, which saw Brighton indie kids, The Kooks, gracing our shores. Continue reading

I first fell in love with Jojo Moyes’ writing when I got Me before You as a birthday gift last year. In that book, Moyes tackles the issue of assisted suicide with insight and compassion, and I couldn’t wait to read her next offering. The Girl You Left Behind certainly doesn’t disappoint and is probably one of the loveliest books I’ve read in a while. Continue reading

Set in the seedy underbelly of Cape Town, Jack Hanger is a gritty and compelling novel by local author, James Fouche. The action takes place over just a few days in the run up to the 2010 soccer world cup, and while it gets off to something of a slow start, Fouche manages to jam a whole lot of action into those few days. Continue reading

I love it when people who I know are avid readers suggest books to me, and this one came highly recommended by a very good friend of mine late last year. It took me a while to buy a copy of When God was a Rabbit but it is by far one of the loveliest books I’ve had suggested to me in a while…thanks Jo! Continue reading

It seems more and more independent promoters are bringing out indie acts – definitely something to get excited about! When Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s visit to South Africa was announced a mere few weeks before the dates of the gigs in JHB and Cape Town, I was torn to say the least because I already had plans to see some of my favourite local bands that night. I’m really glad I ultimately chose to watch CYHSY but the whole event was just a bit strange. Continue reading