Rant&Rave: We do have the good stuff!!!

Do we as South Africans believe the literary hype around our South African authors? I recently saw a tweet that read, “Kids at a rural school laughed their teacher off as a liar when he introduced me. A writer they studied could not be living.” Posted by  Zakes Mda and this got me thinking, we as the reading public are quick to dismiss the vast quantities of highly skilled writers that walk amongst us on a daily. We are always seeking literary genius in faraway places (the west in particular) on a regular and always proclaim the stuff we brew here at home is sub-standard. I, as well, am as guilty of this as the next person. I sing the praises of the world’s James Frey’s, Toni Morrison’s  and Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ and yes, I will stake my life on the talent held by authors such as these but, I am dumbstruck at just how little we know of or credit the writers of this country or even of this continent.  Majority of us “readers” would sooner slit their wrists than attempt to name, just name, ten African authors.

It is for this reason that I immensely appreciate my chosen field of study because more often than not my set-work is made up of predominantly South African literature and it is due to this that I can confidently say my knowledge of South Africa’s literary landscape has grown massively. I am able to speak of the Andre Brink’s and Wally Serote’s of this here South Africa with as much familiarity as I would about Margaret Atwood or Harper Lee.

It however would do our writers no favour to have us sing their praises just because… In order to grow our literary industries, open but, fair criticism has to be granted a platform of existence.  Readers have to be able to speak out when they feel the stuff they are reading is not up to scratch and writers in turn need to be tuned in to the needs and wants, likes and dislikes of their audiences. 

I appreciate the art contained within the process of creating literature and I also appreciate the ability to be read great works, whether they are produced nationally or elsewhere. I’m a regular old “book Whore” and I suppose all I’m trying to say is it’s all good and well to recognise the efforts of those who stand further than an arm’s length way (this pertains to not just literature but also music, film, art, technology, fashion, cuisine and a host of other things) but, can we also take a minute to enjoy those who tell our stories through our eyes.

Poetry - I asked God to help me forget you

I asked God to help me forget you
The clouds luminous fray and boastful
Can we speak to the bad times
Insist on them
and term them defining moments

I spoke to the creator about you
Validated your existence
For the love you gave spoke rapture
Living love and running ferociously into forever

This is a little something I have been working on for a while now, it is still far from completion (I think) but I really wanted to share it as is echoes the going-ons of my heart and my head so profusely.
I won’t get all self-explanatory or whatever… Read and hopefully enjoy, also, let me kno what you think.  

The Alchemist - The Review

My anticipations were of a deeply prolific and spiritual journey that my mind was going to feast on when I thought of this book. I fantasised about the life changing effect this self-help-book-come-novel would have on me. My experience differed from this in that I found a very mild comfort and my interests had vaguely dwindled to a luke warm sensation.

The Alchemist does not tell of anything we (or rather I) do not already know and that is, in order to achieve anything real and substantial one must be prepared to not only put in the time and effort but, also push aside all deterrents and feelings of self-doubt and pursue your heart’s true calling.

Don’t get me wrong, I liked the book. It was an easy read with a simple story told simply. The author did not attempt to dazzle the reader with a complicated narrative discourse or whatever. He just simply wanted to tell his readers to go after what was rightfully theirs and by that mandate it is safe to say the author achieved his objective. I also think the one overall trick pulled out of the hat by Paulo was his “novel like” writing style, this helped what could have been a fully-fledged self-help book, that I would have failed to read to completion, become a lot more.

Although not the greatest book ever written, The Alchemist is endearing and is a worthy read to anyone who is unsure about their abilities and where to begin to find a starting point for realising their aspirations.

Current Read

The internet says that this "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is Khaled Hosseini's second novel and has huge foot steps to fill.

A review I read said the following; "In case you were wondering whether A Thousand Spendid Suns is as good as "The Kite Runner" , here is the answer: No! It is better.

When i hear such, my mind goes insane crazy until i get my hands on the item/s refered to, so with great anticipation and eagerness like one could never imagine, I peal back the cover and start on what I am hoping will be a great freaken read.

Artist of the month - JM Coetzee

The first ever novel I read by JM Coetzee was courtesy of my Languages and Literature degree and I must say I am thankful to the person that makes my prescribed reading list because once again I discovered a brilliant South African Author. Although he now lives in Australia, Coetzee manages to tell honestly South African stories and this I attribute to this land being his birth place.

 Born John Maxwell Coetzee to School teacher mother and Lawyer father, JM Coetzee grew up in an English speaking Afrikaans home and I think this was a great basis and beginning for a young man’s love affair with the English language and the lustrous writing career that came as a result.

Coetzee’s work is critically acclaimed and he has received numerous literary awards including winning the booker prize, twice as well as the prestigious Nobel Prize for literature.

Some of his greatest novels include the above mentioned “Disgrace”, “In The Heart of The Country”, “Elizabeth Castello” and “Foe” amongst many others.