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You may be wondering what "Book Notes" are as opposed to "Book Reviews". Allow me to explain.

Because I know how much of yourself goes into writing a book; because I am yet to publish a book myself and because I haven't read nearly enough, I felt that I was not qualified to review and pull apart other authors' works.

So instead, I am writing short notes on what I found interesting in the books I read.


French Women Don’t Get Fat – Mireille Guiliano

Book: French Women Don't Get Fat
Author: Mireille Guiliano
Year: 2007
Kindle Price: $12,79
Pages: 304




Two matters left me just a tad embarrassed every time I told someone I was reading “French Women Don’t Get Fat”.

Harry Danced Divinely – Marian D. Schwartz

Book: Harry Danced Divinely
Author: Marian D. Schwartz
Year: 2014
Kindle Price: $3.99
Pages: 247




Book Club Pene

Serves 4

This recipe is really simple and the best part is that you can use your hands and healthy judgement as measuring tools. It’s a mix of what I had in my house and garden, and something I had in a restaurant.

I’ve Started a Book Club: Part Two

Harry Danced Divinely… and he ate and he drank wine


Not quite, but almost a month ago, I hosted a book club at my house in the hope that it would inspire a group of interesting ladies to read and also give them a real excuse to get to together for a fattening meal.

“I’ve started a book club”

Say that at any worthy social gathering and you’re sure to get at least one envious response, “Oh, I’ve always wanted to be part of a book club.”

The trouble usually is there aren’t enough interesting people who are interested.

The Thieving Crows

Cold bodies inside


Looking back, a few things should have alerted me to the fact that a single and frightening story was hatching in two different worlds simultaneously. Linked by a dweller in both. 

The very end of the month petrol stop



I zeroed the odometer. Apparently any good car has 40 k’s left in the reserve when the light goes on…. A proudly South African story of how Ubuntu beat payday to it.



Why was everyone complaining about the price of petrol?

Where Does Kudos Go?

I heard an interesting story the other day about where kudos comes from.  


“How would you spell ‘kudos’?” someone asked.  I was both on the spot and the defence.  It wasn’t a question – it was a challenge.  If I didn’t get this right she would forever doubt my credibility as a writer.