Cape Argus

A copy of the Girl from Simon's Bay

- Barbara Mutch

I CATCH up on a lot of reading over Christmas and New Year, and my standout book of the season has been

a brilliant novel by Anthony Doerr that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2015.

It’s set during the World War II, so fitted well with my newly published novel,

also a wartime story. Doerr’s book is inspiratio­nal and is written with exquisite style.

If you’re looking for non-fiction, don’t miss by Gavin Francis, an account of a year spent at the British Antarctic base as the camp doctor. The book is a fascinatin­g reflection on life – both human and penguin – at the bottom of the world.

It’s back to fiction again for my next choice. Robert Harris’s latest novel,

explores the cloistered world of the Vatican and the election of a new pope. Five lucky subscriber­s stand the chance of winning a copy of Barbara Mutch’s To enter, SMS: CA SIMON’S BAY followed by your name, surname, subscriber number, cellphone number and e-mail address to 33258. Question: Who was the first governor of Simon’s Town? Rules: Competitio­n opens today and Faith, intrigue and politics have never been so explosivel­y combined.

My final book is something a little different, described by compiler Shaun Usher, as “correspond­ence deserving of a wider audience”. Here you will find a letter from Beethoven to his brothers; from Elvis Presley to US President Richard Nixon; from Ernest closes on Wednesday, 15 March at 9am.

The prizes are not transferab­le or redeemable for cash. Terms and conditions apply. Winners will be notified by e-mail. An SMS costs R1.50. Free minutes do not apply. All participan­ts, by entering this competitio­n, agree to be bound by these competitio­n rules. Hemingway to Scott Fitzgerald; and the communicat­ion from the Titanic to SS Birma (“We are sinking fast”). Some correspond­ence, indeed! The Housemaid’s Daughter, COMPETITIO­N The Girl From Simon’s Bay. All The Light We Cannot See, The Girl from Simon’s Bay, Empire Antarctica Letters of Note,

Barbara Mutch was born and brought up in South Africa, the grand-daughter of Irish immigrants. Her first novel, has been translated into 13 languages. ● Conclave,

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 ??  ?? CATCHING UP: Barbara Mutch
CATCHING UP: Barbara Mutch

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