Page 27 - Boardwalk Meander Issue 5 2022

BOOK REVIEWS

ifting someone with a book is always a treat, more so during SPACEBOY
the festive season. This is the time that people are looking for
Gways to relax – and what better way than curling up with a
good book? By David Walliams and Adam Stower

Here are a few of the latest titles on the shelf: Go back to the Space Race
with bestselling author David
FAF – THROUGH FIRE Walliams for a breathless
cinematic adventure full of
mystery, action, laughs and
By Faf du Plessis and Marco Botha surprises – and a secret that
could change the course of
This is not a book about cricket. It is the history...
story of a man who just happened to
play cricket at the highest level. Through It’s 1960s America, and
Fire is at times a brutally honest and 12-year-old orphan Ruth loves
always fascinating work of introspection climbing trees, making a mess
and critique that provides readers with and throwing stones. But the
unrestricted insight into the mind and thing she loves most is space.
heart of one of South Africa’s most The girl is obsessed, and
interesting and charismatic national spends her days reading comics
captains. about alien invasions, doodling
UFOs, watching B-movies about Earth being invaded by
There is the public persona of the tattooed, creatures from Mars and gazing at the stars through her
fashionable, mentally tough, immensely old, battered telescope.
popular, and yet at times misunderstood
Du Plessis. And then there is the authentic Stuck on a remote farm with her awful aunt, Ruth spends
Faf. Du Plessis reflects on his growth from every night gazing at the stars, dreaming of adventure.
being a youth with a questionable moral
compass outside of cricket to becoming a leader known for his integrity, One night, Ruth creeps out of bed in the attic room of her
values, honesty and empathy for his teammates and country. rickety old farmhouse to watch the stars as usual, and is
just dozing off when she spots something blazing across
He reflects on how influential leaders such as Gary Kirsten, Stephen the sky. Something that looks like a flying saucer!
Fleming, Mohammed Moosajee, Russell Domingo, Ottis Gibson and
MS Dhoni moulded him as a man who leads with grit, purpose and a Is she dreaming? No! And the flying saucer is on fire...
love of people.
When the UFO crash-lands in a cornfield, Ruth rushes
But he also explores destructive relationships, providing his perspective to help. She finds herself caught up in a mystery and an
in devastating detail on his final years of international cricket. Neither adventure beyond her wildest dreams.
the changing room nor the boardroom is ever off limits.
Walliams was named Britain’s no. 1 bestselling children’s
Through Fire is a no-holds-barred autobiography offering exceptional book author earlier this year following the release of his
insight into the core being of an elite sports personality. previous book, The World’s Worst Pets.

Retail price: R328.00 Retail price: R255.00

ZAPIRO ANNUAL 2022: IT’S NOT HOW IT LOOKS!

By Zapiro brilliantly capture the craziness of yet final Zondo report delivered (late), two
another wild year in South Africa and the Gupta brothers finally arrested and a
It’s Not How It Looks! is the 27 annual world. brazenly crooked ex-spy chief revealing
th
collection from South Africa’s legendary that millions of dollars in cash have been
cartoonist, Zapiro. And it is set to be It’s Not How It Looks! covers the sweep of stolen from Cyril’s game farm. And that’s
yet another best seller as his cartoons 12 months of momentous events through just one week of our lives!
Zapiro’s piercing eye and his sharp pen.
His award-winning cartoons make you “Meanwhile overseas, Russia’s President
laugh out loud while often wincing at Vladimir Putin is making a mad war,
the same time. Now more than ever, his Boris Johnson has been completely Boris
work is important, relevant and hugely [during his tenure as the UK’s prime
entertaining. minister] and the US Supreme Court has
gone back 50 years on women’s rights.”
Zapiro says his main challenge is keeping
pace with the constant chaos of life in Zapiro’s annual collections always make
South Africa: “Every time I think things for excellent gifts as they provide both
cannot get any weirder, they go and an historical and hysterical record of our
get twice as weird. Not even my crazy turbulent times.
mind could invent a country where, at
the same time, we have the devastating Retail price: R195.00

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Boardwalk Meander Estate Issue 5 · 2022