Kayla Thomas: Editor
Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
I think this book is on many people’s favourite list, and it’s easy to see why. I found it difficult to narrow my choices down but I finally settled on Things Fall Apart because it was my first experience with African literature and it set me on a path that really defined much of my English studies, both through undergrad and Honours. This novel changed my approach to literature, and it felt like something clicked when I read it. The depth and layers of the story and Achebe’s writing opened my mind to an entire genre that I had largely dismissed before, and this book was the first of many classics of African literature that have enriched and broadened my mind over the last four years. Everyone should read this novel, and I wish I’d read it before university.
Leah Rees: Digital Manager
The Magic Treehouse Series – Mary Pope Osborne
What a difficult question to answer when you are firstly, indecisive and secondly, really love to read. Do I go pretty basic and say The Lord of the Rings trilogy or do I talk about my favourite childhood novel The Lost Island of Tamarind? Or do I want to talk about how much I’m enjoying reading A Game of Thrones or The Fault in Our Stars for the first time? Although I struggled choosing a favourite book, I settled on the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne. Although this is the unlikely choice of an adult, I chose this series because it made me fall in love with reading when I was five and thought that that was impossible. This series started my love for adventure and made the highlight of my week going to the library to pick up the next book. A trend I’m happy to say has continued.
Giovanna Janos: Marketing Manager
Looking for Alaska – John Green
My favourite book is Looking for Alaska by John Green. It is my favourite because it was the first book to make me cry. It made me realise the power that words hold and how impactful they can be. It also made me realise that a good book that lets you feel a rollercoaster of emotions while reading it will always outweigh a good movie or series that does the same.
Kendra Connock: Social Media Manager
The Beautiful and the Damned – F Scott Fitzgerald
If I had to choose just one favourite book (which is a cruel task to set me) I would have to choose The Beautiful and The Damned by F Scott Fitzgerald. I fell in love with Fitzgerald the way most people do, through The Great Gatsby. I’ve grabbed every copy of his works I could get my hands on over the past few years but The Beautiful and Damned has left a lasting impression. It’s opulent and decadent and over-the-top with Fitzgerald’s signature writing style but the characters are flawed, human, relatable to the reader. Anyone who loves words or wants to fall in love with words should read something by Fitzgerald, anything really, but I’d recommend The Beautiful and Damned.
Kendall Rae- Behr: Head Copy Editor
The Theory of Flight – Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu
My favourite book is The Theory of Flight by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu because it’s a Southern African bit of historical fiction/magical realism that is full of wonderful, strong female characters, magic, and it has a hopeful ending despite some of the harrowing scenes. I think it’s got something everyone can enjoy, whether you like history, fantasy, drama or just a lovely feel good read.
Kelly-Anne Kong Kam Wa: Head of Layout
Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl is a mystery/thriller. Although it’s rather dark, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it’s because it’s different from the typical books that I had read before, but once I started, I was hooked. I could not put the book down at all and ended up pulling an allnighter to finish it. The plot twist was so unexpected and the way it was done was simply ingenious. It forced me to rethink everything I had thought and assumed up until that point.
Bianke Neethling: Features Editor
Talking It Over – Julian Barnes
This book is about a story that’s been told many times before – a not-so-classic love triangle – presented and written in a completely unique way. Anyone looking for unforgettable characters, beautiful writing, and a new favourite author should read this book.
Dani van der Horst: Entertainment Editor
Daisy Jones and the Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid
It’s fitting that my favourite book centres around music and music journalism (I am highly passionate about my section as you can see). If you love the scandalous groupie culture of the 60s and 70s then this is a book for you. It’s drugs, sex, and rock ‘n roll all neatly packed into 333 pages of interview format. A bold choice if I do say so myself! This book played on my music journalist heart strings and being the massive rock ‘n roll gal that I am, I was immediately obsessed! It follows fictional band “The Six” during their heyday and unpacks the group dynamics that led them to success but also, ultimately, led to their demise. Reid even went so far as to write her own lyrics for her band’s fictional songs! Reid drew a lot of inspiration from the drama that went on in Fleetwood Mac (which happens to be one of my favourite bands of all time). This book had me playing Rumours on repeat for weeks after I read it! I am a huge nerd for music trivia, especially that of good old-fashioned rock ‘n roll. So, getting to read something that played on the idea of this (albeit fictional) was the perfect fit for me. I felt like I was a part of all of it: the scandal; the birthing of anthems that would shape generations; the flirting with fame…I love this book. It made me so proud to be a part of the entertainment industry in my small way. It reminded me of the times I used to watch bands like Fokofpolisiekar perform in my small hometown and catch glimpses of the behind the scenes. It reminded me to nurture the fire that started burning in me the day I found out I could actually be a part of it all.
Nokwanda Kubheka: Deputy News Editor
The Lion of Judah: How Jesus completes Biblical Judaism and why Judaism and Christianity separated – Rabbi Kirt A Schneider.
This book was written by someone who is biologically Jewish (ascending from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), grew up Jewish and one day had a vision of Jesus and became a Christian preacher. He asks, if Jesus is a Jew, why is there a wedge between Christianity and Judaism? As someone who sees beauty in the Jewish culture and is Christian, he “squashes” the long running beef between the two religions and basically gives an overview of how Jesus fits into the Old Testament and Jewish books, the Torah, Ketuvim and Nevi’im. He shows how Christianity never calls for the hatred of Jews and rather that there should be more love or appreciation for the Jewish culture since it came from God (in the Christian sense). In some way he calls for unity among these religions and touches on the prejudices that Jewish people face every day. I like it because it touches on the part of Christianity that isn’t much explored. We hear about the Crucifixion and most don’t even know that Christianity comes directly from another religion. It also opened my eyes to the antisemitic attacks Jewish people face around the world, with over 3 billion Christians in the world, we should be doing more to make sure the culture/ religion from which our own ascended from is protected.
Vasalya Moodley: Multimedia Stills Editor
The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
This sparkling book is about two rival magicians that raise and train respective prodigies (unbeknownst to them) in the art of magic for a duel till the death to establish who the superior magician is. However, complications arise where these two young magicians in training unexpectedly fall in love and a whirlwind of magical twists ensue. I absolutely love the tension and unexpectedness of each character’s narrative, a sleek and classy game indeed.
Caitlyn Walsh: Sports Editor
The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
This book is my favourite because it is super accurate on its commentary of the social roles during that time. It also reflects reality to a point that a variety of readers would understand and empathise with the main themes. It is also super descriptive which brings the novel alive.
