CONVERSATION STARTERS

COLOURED

By TESSA DOOMS & LYNSEY EBONY CHUTEL Jonathan Ball Not black enough, not white enough – it’s a sentiment often expressed in coloured communities in South Africa. The authors of this book are tired of being trapped between two racial constructs, always feeling obliged to prove their worth.

“We ask you to read this book with your head and your heart,” they write.

It’s not only an examination of a difficult history but also a celebration of a distinct heritage and culture through the stories of ordinary people and reflections on food, music and lived experiences.

MILK THE BELOVED COUNTRY

By SIHLE KHUMALO Umuzi

While travelling the country what struck writer Sihle Khumalo was the names of the towns and cities – from Graaff-Reinet to Schweizer-Reneke and Zastron.

By delving into the history of these and other places in SA and the people after whom they were named, he shows that state capture wasn’t something invented by President Jacob Zuma and the Guptas – the state was captured right from the very start and continued to be milked dry by a procession of shady characters.

LEGENDS

By MATTHEW BLACKMAN AND NICK DALL Penguin

It’s easy to get so caught up in SA’s problems that you forget that there are so many good things that have happened in our country. This offers a much-needed burst of optimism.

And it’s not just Madiba of whom we can be proud – there are many other people who have made a big contribution. From King Moshoeshoe and Olive Schreiner to Steve Biko and Thuli Madonsela, there are plenty of other heroes whose stories are celebrated in this accessible, well-researched book.