Much has already been said and written about Prince Harry’s book Spare and as a result when my review copy arrived, I sat staring at it with a strong sense of trepidation.
I have found almost all of the post-Royal Harry and Meg. starting with their Oprah interview, to be ill-advised, would Spare fall into this category? I am afraid the answer is a resounding yes.
A book that should not have been written, a book whose narrative should rather have been then fodder for lengthy sessions with a psychotherapist rather than being aired in the public domain.
The books flyleaf says: “For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw unflinching honesty. It is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the power of love over grief.”
In the book, Harry expresses a dislike for almost everybody he encounters, even Princess Margaret is in his target range.
Yes, the book is well ghost-written making it easy to read. However, as the more controversial content has received much exposure, what is left borders on the banal.
Although I am sure there will be many who read Spare and will find it interesting. I found it rather boring, trivial and on the whole rather sad.
Prince Harry (in his own ‘write’) besides having something negative to say about all, even has no qualms about sharing anecdotes about his penis. (Really, Your Highness, your penis should not be of public interest). He comes across as an extremely tortured soul, so troubled that he doesn’t seem to even like himself and that is an all-encompassing and serious problem.
And if you will allow me this misquote from Hamlet: Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince…..may your future be filled with better judgement and much happiness.
What a pleasure to be able to start 2023 with a magnificent book.
Academy Award winner for Fences, Emmy Award winner for How to Get Away With Murder and Tony Award winner for both Fences and King Hedley11, Viola Davis was most recently seen on our screens in Ma Rainey’s Fat Bottom and as Michelle Obama in The First Lady.
Her new memoir, Finding Me is: “My story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose but also my voice in a world that didn’t always see me.”
“I’m the little girl who would run after school every day in third grade because these boys hated me because I was not pretty…. Because I was Black.”
Davis shares so much in her memoir. Her humble beginnings, being a black woman, the tortuous path to claw oneself upwards, the long road to establish herself as a leading actress. Her ongoing quest to ‘find her true self’ is inspirational.
“I’m holding her now. My eight-year-old self. Holding her tight. She is squealing and reminding me, “Don’t worry! I am here to beat anybody’s ass who messes with our joy! Viola, I got this.”
Finding Me delivers a magnificent reading experience, one that should appeal to a broad range of readers. Viola Davis has managed to deliver an unforgettable memoir, one of a stature commensurate with her stellar and much lauded acting career. No easy feat. It is one of the finest I have read and one which I highly recommend.
“My hope is that my story will inspire you to light up your own life with creative expression and rediscover who you were before the world put a label on you.”
If, like me, you ever had the privilege of seeing Taliep Petersen perform live, you too will have basked in his wonderful singing, warmth, and rapport with his audience. One left one of his shows with a smile and a warm glow.
But behind his engaging smile and warm stage performance lurked a more serious persona and a complex story.
In her new book, Mr Entertainment, Paula Fourie tells that largely unseen, other side of the Taliep Petersen story.
“This book asks and tries to answer the important questions posed by Taliep Petersen’s life. It dispenses with an artificial division between ‘life’ and ‘work, embracing the messiness of lived experience and celebrating that everything is always already intertwined. This is a story about a man whose life and work constituted rich, mutually replenishing wellsprings. To write about Taliep Petersen without submitting to their entanglement is unthinkable. As the biographer who never met him, I owe any such success to the collective memories of my interviewees.”
“There were the ones that basked in his broad smile, and soared on his voice, who were inspired by his enthusiasm, humbled by his work ethic, and sometimes found themselves at the receiving end of his legendary impatience.”
Fourie’s lengthy period of research and many interviews have resulted in a book that is masterly in its thoroughness, frequently ‘academic’ in tone, and also includes many wonderful passages (with footnote translations) of interviews written in the style and language of the interviewees. These interviews and the sections dealing with the Taliep Petersen-David Kramer collaborations, as well the book’s brilliant concluding chapter, were for me its highlights.
There is so much to savour in the broad scope and detailed brushstrokes of Paula Fourie’s treatment, her writing is exquisite, even when it veers more towards the academic in style.
I offer this as a regret, not a criticism – had Fourie met Taliep or seen him perform live, she may have been encouraged to be a little more showbizy in her treatment as the title “Mr Entertainment” suggests. As it is, the narrative is often socio-political heavy and overall, the showbiz spotlight does not dominate. I believe it would have added much value and counterbalance to have included interviews with some of Taliep’s fans.
There is much we learn not only about Taliep, but also the times in which he grew up and this gives the story context and weight.
I found the chapters leading to his murder in December 2006, still very harrowing to read – time has not lessened the shock of his tragic death.
As the Cape Times reported about his funeral: “The streets of Athlone came to a standstill yesterday as thousands of mourners gathered to say farewell to internationally acclaimed entertainer, Taliep Petersen.”
Mr Entertainment is certainly not light reading, but it is a magnificently written, detailed and thorough look at the life and times and complexities of Mr Taliep Petersen and as such, a fitting tribute.
Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide has revealed the recipients of its sought-after and esteemed pinnacle awards – the Wineries of the Year, Wines of the Year and Five Star Wines – for the latest (2023) edition.
This 43rd edition of South Africa’s favourite wine guide features well over 900 producers, merchants and brands, including 37 new ones, and over 8,000 locally produced wines, as well as brandies, husk spirits and sherry-style wines.
A highlight of any new edition is the trio of prestigious Winery of the Year awards, the highest accolades bestowed by Platter’s. The Top Performing Winery of the Year goes to the winery that achieves the most five-star ratings after the annual final tasting round. This year the worthy recipient is Mullineux, with an astonishing run of eight five-star results. This is the stellar Swartland-based venture’s fifth time as Platter’s highest achiever, having been best-performing winery in 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2020.
The Editor’s Award Winery of the Year recognises a winegrowing individual or team who, based on performance in the current edition as well as their track record, are ambassadors par excellence for South African wine. This year the award goes to Cape Winemakers Guild member Duncan Savage and his Cape Town boutique winery Savage Wines. Last year Savage Wines achieved a remarkable seven five-star ratings. An amazing five such rankings this year, once again proving Duncan’s consistency as a trailblazer and undoubtedly one of the Cape’s foremost winemakers.
The Newcomer Winery of the Year is awarded to the producer who debuts in Platter’s this year and achieves the highest scores. The well-deserved recipient of this distinction is Trade Winds Wine, owned by friends and long-time serious wine aficionados Martin Voigt and Richard Wells, with a brilliant five-star Cabernet Sauvignon blended by Colin Frith, an honorary Cape Wine Master and one of the most experienced men-about-the-winelands.
Of the 5-star-awarded wines, the top performers within each category receive the coveted accolade, Wines of the Year. This time there are 26 category winners. They are:
Cabernet Franc
Mulderbosch Single Vineyard 2019
Cabernet Sauvignon
Le Riche Reserve 2019
Cinsault
Rall 2021
Grenache Noir
Kruger Old Vines 2020
Merlot
Longridge Misterie 2017
Petit Verdot
Benguela Cove Vinography 2020
Pinotage
Kanonkop Black Label 2020
Pinot Noir
Cap Maritime 2021
Shiraz/Syrah
Patatsfontein Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2021
Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux
Fleur du Cap Laszlo 2019
Red Blends, with Pinotage
Beyerskloof Faith 2018
Red Blends, Shiraz/Syrah-based
Sadie Columella 2020
Red Blends, Other
Leeu Passant Dry Red 2019
Chardonnay
Hamilton Russell 2021
Chenin blanc
Mullineux CWG Trifecta 2020
Hárslevelü
Lemberg 2021
Sauvignon Blanc
Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2021
Semillon
Thorne & Daughters Paper Kite 2021
White Blends, Cape Bordeaux
Benguela Cove Vinography Semillon-Sauvignon
Blanc 2021
White Blends, Other
Sadie ‘T Voetpad 2021
Cap Classique
Anthonij Rupert L’Ormarins Private Cuvée 2014
Dessert Wine, Fortified
De Krans Muscat Blanc 2022
Natural Sweet
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2018
Noble Late Harvest
Paul Clüver Riesling 2021
Vin de Paille
Mullineux Olerasay Straw Wine NV
Port-style
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2020
KWV 12 Year Old Barrel Select
KWV 10 Year Old Vintage
Tokara XO Potstill
Van Ryn 20 Year Old Potstill
Van Ryn 15 Year Old Potstill
Van Ryn 12 Year Old Potstill
Husk Spirit
Dalla Cia 10 Year Old Celebration Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot
Platter’s 2023 hardcover is available from selected bookstores and retailers nationwide from the end of November 2022. The recommended retail price is R399.00 inclusive of VAT.
After enjoying a walk about and their Camphor Forest picnic, I have fallen for Vergelegen Wine Estate in a big way. So much so that I couldn’t resist picking up a copy of their splendid coffee table book, A Cape Table by Vergelegen, to savour at leisure.
At its heart, the book features recipes that show how Vergelegen’s kitchens all work with the seasons’ rhythms. “Our dining experiences are each quite unique, but they are all focused on taste and quality.”
The Vergelegen estate, beyond its excellent range of fine wines, is a ‘many splendored thing…” Its magnificent gardens and array of historic buildings set the scene for some diverse dining experiences that source many of their ingredients from the estate itself.
A Cape Table features recipes from the refined cuisine of Camphors (which at present is closed for reimagining), Stables and from their Picnics.
From Camphors there are recipes such as: Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Cream, Smoked Venison with Plums and Fennel Chutney and Bay-leaf Panna Cotta with Strawberry, Oat and Cashew.
From Stables one finds amongst others: Venison Carpaccio with scented red wine reduction, and Slow-roasted Duck Ravioli with Mushroom Sauce.
And gracing the Camphor Forest picnic offering, you might enjoy: Zucchini pickles, or Watermelon, Mint and Feta salad.
Although filled with tempting recipes, some very doable others a little more challenging, as a book A Cape Table is much more than a gastrocelebration of things Vergelegen. The photography and artwork are magnificent, and the book is a visual celebration of the magnificence of one of the Cape’s most splendid wine estates.
Kudos too must go to the team at Quivertree Publications who put it all together.
As I write, the book sits next to me, with a glass of Vergelegen Reserve Semillon as company. Life is good.
A CAPE TABLE IS AVAILABLE FROM THE VERGELEGEN TASTING ROOM ONLY
Her life partner pleads: “Now, don’t let this book be like one of your Graham Norton interviews where all you do is talk smut – it’s got to be about things that matter.”
The author of the autobiography This Much Is True, (thankfully) says of it:” There will be some smut inevitably, and it might be a bumpy ride, but I promise you the REAL Miriam Margolyes.” And she certainly has delivered on that promise.
Known globally for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, Miriam Margolyes OBE is a BAFTA Award winning actress, a veteran of stage and screen and an internationally acclaimed voice artist.
I haven’t seen her in the Potter films but have relished each and every one of her appearances on The Graham Norton Show. Those were enough to have me hooked on Margolyes and this fine autobiography book has only enhanced my admiration for her.
Her autobiography is a wonderful adventure. Her telling of both her professional and private lives is told with the no holds barred candour of someone who is totally comfortable with being their own real self.
She says that at eighty she is not close to being done.” And if my work has entertained people, that makes me happy. I’m determined to keep stretching myself.” Please Miriam, we want some more.
I have never been given to laughing out aloud, but the funny bits in This Much Is True had me in bed-rocking tear-inducing fits of laughter. It is an autobiography rich in its diverse content. One to be treasured and enjoyed, and written by an actress who describes herself as an Eighty-year-old fat, Jewish lesbian.
Miriam Margolyes is a treasure and I think after reading This Much Is True, you will agree.
The young boy felt peckish. Home alone he headed for the fridge and found a container of ice cream and put it on the kitchen counter. He had noticed some bottles of dark liquid on the fridge’s top shelf. Took one down and poured some of the liquid over his bowl of ice cream. That liquid was coffee liqueur, and it ignited a love for desserts that became life changing. The family’s name is Poernomo, the boy’s name is Reynold.
Today, Reynold Poernomo is the creative genius behind family business Koi Dessert Bars in Sydney Australia and we in South Africa know him from his appearances in the iconic MasterChef Australia series and for the jaw-dropping creations he created.
His South African fans will be thrilled to hear that Reynold has written his first book, The Dessert Game.
Now if you are aware of his iconic, breath-takingly spectacular MasterChef Australia desserts such as White Noise, Forbidden Fruit and The Snitch, you would be forgiven for assuming that there would be no way you could even think of attempting any of the desserts in his book.
The Dessert Game’s subtitle should offer you some comfort – Simple tricks, skill-builders, and showstoppers to up your game. The book thankfully is in three sections: Level 1 is called Taking It Easy, which introduces one to some of the skills and tips key to the art of dessert making. Recipes in this section include Brownies, Chocolate Mousse, Crème Caramel and Citrus Meringue Tart. And Level 2, Kickin’ it Up a Notch puts those skills to use at a higher level. Here you’ll find recipes for Chocolate Lava S’mores, A Slice of Irish Cream, Watermelon Jar and The Ultimate Praline Tart. The book’s Level 3 title is self-explanatory, For the Serious Cooks, this is dessert making at a majorly elevated standard. It includes the recipe for Reynold’s famous, White Noise and his Moss amongst other sweet ‘sensation’als.
As a person who always looks at a restaurant’s dessert menu first, Reynold Poernomo’s The Dessert Game is an absolute treasure chest of temptation to which I hope to yield not infrequently. Its three skill levels make it accessible to cooks of all levels. If you want to enjoy being a dessert MasterChef in your own kitchen. Let the Master of Dessert, Reynold and this fine book lead you on the path to sweet success.
Like for many of my generation, my interest in books about African wildlife was kindled by Joy Adamson’s iconic, Born Free. Since then, I have read and enjoyed many such books.
Occasionally a new book arrives, one that’s title suggests something quite different, one that sets itself apart from most, that book is Helena Kriel’s Meditating With Rhinos.
In her new book, she tells of a return home to Johannesburg to take a much-needed break after the end of a marriage. Through her sister Lexi, she is encouraged to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary near the Kruger Park.
There Helena meets Petronel Nieuwoudt, the founder of the sanctuary, who is with ‘a sick baby’. It’s a ‘rhino scene’ says Lexi. Rhinos?
Helena is immediately in awe of the Charlize Theron-esque Petronel and of the work she does with rhinos. Before too long, after immersing herself fully in working with the rhinos, she realises she is committed and has inherited ‘the Rhino Portfolio’ and it changes her life.
Those of you who got to know Helena through her excellent, The Year of Facing Fire, will already know a couple of things about her. She writes like a dream, is multidimensional, intellectually curious, passionate, and courageous. Her new book reflects these qualities throughout.
“I was told by an animal communicator that if one wants to communicate with an animal, one does it through the heart, not the mind. One communicates through love, the feeling of love in the heart. I am not in my mind, not thinking this through, but allowing myself to be taken.”
A particular stand-out are those parts of the book that deal with Helena meditating with a distressed baby rhino, this is African wildlife writing of immense stature. Passionate, insightful, and captivating.
Meditating With Rhinos is a rich and extraordinary book, one that I will never forget and it is one of my Top 3 books of 2020.
Louis Jansen van Vuuren was born in 1949 in Middleburg, Mpumalanga. He studied art and design at Stellenbosch University and has participated in numerous exhibitions in South Africa and around the world. He and his partner, Hardy Olivier have lived in the French countryside for many years.
His new book. Almost French – A life of fanfare and faux pas tells of his and Hardy’s gradual immersion into all things peculiarly French.
“After my blissful student years, life cartwheels me around a little until – in 1998, eventually – I land in France, still in one piece, on the eve of my first exhibition in Paris’s Rue de Seine. The gallery window proclaims the exhibition in full colour. I stand preening on the other side of the street, feasting my eyes on the posters with my name all over them”
Louis and Hardy come across as gentlemen of exquisite taste with an enthusiasm for all life has to offer. Their initial love of rural France and their decision to lay down roots there 21 year’s ago is the starting gun for this delightful, charming, and witty book.
By the end of Almost French, you will feel a strong desire to be a friend of Louis’, or second best, to visit the part of France that Louis and Hardy call home. Their passion for the rural French lifestyle is contagious and may have you running to buy an appropriate beret.
“It’s been a good morning, but for now the work is put aside. Á bientôt, until we meet again. I must run, Hardy say the food is on the table.”
Almost French is ‘bakgat!’ and I am sure you will join me in saying: ‘Please come back soon, Louis Jansen van Vuuren, we wish, once more, to savour your company ‘
Sometimes, there are things on our doorsteps, things that we have never heard of, fascinating things at that – waiting for us to discover them. Blombos is one of them…
Until fairly recently, Blombos on the Southern Cape coast was mainly known as a superb spot for angling.
“A remote stretch of privately-owned coastline where access was restricted to a privileged few. Some of whom were families that had acquired the land the land back in the 1930s. One of these families was the Henshilwoods.”
Professor Christopher Heshilwood is a third Blombos generation of that family and a world authority on Middle Stone Age archaeology. His discovery in a Blombos cave that a small red stone on which a pattern had been etched, dated back 77, 000 years and unlocked a period of ancient history. Archaeological experts agree that it could only have been the work of an intelligent human being who thought and behaved as we do.
As told by historian Marius Diemont, “Blombos – Dawn of Modern Human Behaviour is the story of this unique stretch of coast – not only its archaeology but of the people who have lived there during the past century. There are tales of the isolated Afrikaner farmers and of the modern recreational owners, and of fishing catches such as will never again be known.”
For me, that intro conjures up an image of Diemont stoepsitting, pipe in hand, a Southern Cape Coast version of Hendrik Charles Bosman’s Oom Schalk Louwrens.
And his painstaking research and passion for the subject matter, has resulted in a captivating and beautifully illustrated book of local history and folklore.
Blombos is a rich, absorbing, and fascinating book, its addition to our knowledge of our part of the world, is eye-opening and invaluable.
Take this rewarding reading journey, you will not be disappointed.
Julian Richfield's Savourite Things 