CONVERSATION STARTERS

EMPEROR OF ROME

By MARY BEARD PROFILE BOOKS The British academic sets out to bust many of the myths about the emperors of Rome. Although she revisits some of the excesses of the Roman rulers – from Julius Caesar in 48BC to Alexander Severus in 222AD, her main aim is to explore their daily lives – from what they ate to how they ran their courts and ruled over a system which Beard says “made no sense at all”. Even if you’re not a history buff, you’ll be totally enthralled by this fun and accessible book.

THE TETRIS EFFECT

By DAN ACKERMAN ONEWORLD Over the past 33 years Tetris has generated more than a billion dollars, paving the way for other games such as Bejeweled and Candy Crush. But back in 1986 it was only known to game addicts who lived behind the Iron Curtain and was largely distributed for free. This is the story about how three competitors from the West flew to Moscow in 1989 intent on getting their hands on the highly addictive game. It’s a tale of international intrigue that reads like a fast-paced thriller.

PLACE

By JUSTIN FOX

UMUZI

Travel writer Justin Fox takes you on a journey to the places featured in classic South African books. From Herman Charles Bosman’s Marico to the forests of Dalene Matthee’s Garden Route, Olive Shreiner’s mountainous eastern Karoo and Zakes Mda’s Wild Coast. In between you get the backstory of how these books came to be written as well as fascinating snippets about their authors. Fox’s passion for his subject matter shines through on every page.