Page 25 - IFV March Issue 2025

Book Reviews

Patriot
BY ALEXEI NAVALNY

he powerful and whilst recovering from his
moving memoir of poisoning; it ends with his
Ta fearless political prison diaries, seen here for
opposition leader who the first time.
paid the ultimate price for We witness the growth
his beliefs. of his nationwide support.
Patriot is the exhilarating We see his many arrests
life story of one of the and harassment and,
most fearless and inspiring in stunning detail, the
figures of our time, who attempt on his life. We
became a beacon to millions and the sole understand why he felt he had to return to
political threat to Vladimir Putin. Russia. In prison, he shows a spirit and a sense
Love and Fury This is Alexei Navalny’s life in his own words: of humour that cannot be crushed.
his Soviet childhood, political awakening, Patriot is as dramatic as its author’s life
BY MARGIE ORFORD
his marriage and beloved family, his total – passionate that good and freedom will
commitment to taking on a corrupt regime and prevail. It is Alexei Navalny’s final letter to the
ove and Fury is the
compelling and intimate his enduring love of Russia and its people. His world, a rousing call to continue his work, an
Laccount of the life, 2020 poisoning by the Russian security services unforgettably positive account of a life that
loves and furies of Margie was a global news event. In 2024 he died in a will inspire every reader.
Orford. In this brave memoir, brutal Siberian prison. He began writing Patriot Price: R665.00
the renowned South African Character Limit: How Elon Musk Twitter’s founder, Jack Dorsey, who idealistically
crime writer divulges some Destroyed Twitter dreamed of building a ‘digital town square’
of the harrowing experiences but detested Wall Street and never built a
that have shaped her life BY KATE CONGER AND RYAN MAC profitable business, and Musk, one of the site’s
and influenced her writing. n a world of viral ideas and emotion, who most influential users with over 70 million
Through sexual assault, divorce, gets to control the narrative, who gets to followers. To Musk, Twitter—once known for its
depression and personal loss, Ibe heard, and what does power really cost? almost absolute commitment to free speech—
Orford illuminates the trauma This is the story of the showdown between had utterly lost its way. Blaming it for the
she has navigated. Elon Musk and Twitter and how the richest man proliferation of what he called the “woke mind
Tender and courageous
chapters vividly recall memories on earth suddenly came to control one of the virus”, he claimed that the survival of humanity
itself depended on the future of the site.
most powerful media platforms in the world.
of what she has been through as In Character Limit, award-winning reporters In January 2022, Musk began secretly
a woman, mother, wife, feminist Kate Conger and Ryan Mac draw on exclusive accumulating Twitter stock. By April, he was
and ambitious writer. Love and interviews, unreported its largest shareholder, and,
Fury shows why trauma in our documents and internal soon after, he made an
past can have such an enduring Twitter recordings to unsolicited offer to purchase
and debilitating effect on provide a revelatory, the company for the
women’s lives. It also unpacks the three-dimensional, and unimaginable sum of $44
healing power of love, creativity, definitive account of what billion. Backed into a corner,
courage and self-reflection, really happened when Twitter’s board accepted
ultimately offering a profound Musk showed up to take his offer—only for Musk to
message of hope and joy for any over Twitter, spoiling change his mind, forcing
woman who has ever questioned for a brawl and intent Twitter to sue him. Drawing
themselves, their trauma and on revolution, with his on unparalleled sources, this
who they are in the world. merciless, sycophantic is the defining story of our
This book is every woman’s
love and fury. cadre of lawyers, investors, time told in vivid, cinematic
and bankers.
detail.
Price: R310.00
In part, this is the story of Price: R420.00

The Villager • March 2025 • 23