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LATEST RELEASES FROM JODI PICOULT & LIANE MORIARTY TO RICHARD OSMAN & E L JAMES VOLUME 44 THE MAGAZINE ABOUT BOOKS FOR BOOK LOVERS MOUNTAIN STORIES David Bristow follows the Cederberg’s trails, tales and people BRAAI DAY MENU Recipes that prove great braai food is all about bold flavour AT MY DESK John Boyne asks how Oscar Wilde’s fate rested on one choice ON MY MIND Carla Venter challenges the financial beliefs we take for granted Yotam Ottolenghi YOUR FREE COPY! “Sometimes the simplest route really is the better one.” WIN Over R4 000 in prizes up for grabs!Ideas that continue long after the final pageDear reader There’s a lot to be said for keeping things simple. Not because life is simple – it rarely is – but because sometimes we make things harder than they need to be. That idea runs through this issue in unexpected ways. Yotam Ottolenghi makes a case for taking the pressure out of everyday cooking, while our Braai Day menu is a reminder that good food doesn’t need to be fussy to be memorable. A few good ingredients, a fire and great company can go a long way. We look at the people and ideas behind leadership. David Bristow takes us into the Cederberg, while Justin Fox heads further afield to the islands of Africa that have stayed with him. We have stories about reinvention, too. John Boyne considers the consequences of one decision in Oscar Wilde’s life, while Richard Osman talks about characters who surprise even their creator. And when it comes to money, Carla Venter asks us to question our assumptions. I hope this issue gives you something useful, something thought-provoking and, perhaps most importantly, something you’ll want to share. Happy reading! contents 02 BOOKSCAPE The relationship book we all need, out now in paperback and five minutes with Justin Fox 06 COVER Yotam Ottolenghi on the secret to cooking with more confidence and joy 10 FICTION Exclusive interviews with John Boyne and Richard Osman, and the latest in new fiction 14 AFRIKAANS Wanneer Jan Braai en Idees vol vrees ontmoet, wag vlymskerp humor belig met prettige illustrasies 18 NATURE David Bristow on the Cederberg and his enduring connection to this magical and intriguing place 21 INSIDER The people, movements and ideas shaping how leadership is understood, shared and remembered 24 FOOD Fire up the grill and make these recipes your own this Braai Day 32 ON MY MIND Carla Venter challenges the financial beliefs many of us accept without question Johannesburg | 1 Weaver Avenue, Unit 3, Midpoint Business Park, 162 Tonetti Street, Halfway House, Midrand, 1685 | 011 327 3550 Cape Town | Estuaries No 4, Oxbow Crescent, Century Avenue, Century City, 7441 | 021 460 5400 © Copyright Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd. The Penguin Post is published by Penguin Random House South Africa. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the editor is strictly forbidden. Editor Lauren Mc Diarmid Designer Sean Robertson Sub Editor Frieda Le Roux Contributors Liza Meyer, Justin Fox, Yotam Ottolenghi, John Boyne, Richard Osman, Ronel du Plessis, David Bristow, Carla Venter Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Lauren Mc Diarmid ThePost@penguinrandomhouse.co.za 06VOLUME 44 2 Loneliness has become one of the defining challenges of modern life. We’re more connected than ever through technology, yet many people report feeling increasingly isolated. In Vibe, bestselling author and organisational psychologist Adam Grant examines why meaningful human connection has become so difficult – and, more importantly, how we can rebuild it. Drawing on the latest research, real-life case studies and his trademark ability to translate complex ideas into practical insights, Grant challenges many of our assumptions about relationships. He argues that genuine connection doesn’t depend on finding people who are just like us, instant chemistry isn’t essential, and strong relationships can develop in unexpected ways. From astronauts learning to trust teammates they don’t naturally like to a comedy troupe that discovered time apart strengthened their bond, the stories throughout the book reveal that meaningful relationships are less about luck and more about intentional habits. Grant also shares his own experiences as a self-described introvert, offering a personal perspective on learning to connect more confidently with others. At a time when conversations around community, belonging and wellbeing are taking centre stage, Vibe arrives with a timely message: the skills that help us build stronger relationships can be learned. Whether you’re looking to strengthen friendships, improve teamwork or simply feel more connected in everyday life, this thought-provoking book offers a fresh perspective on one of the most important aspects of being human. Vibe hits shelves in November. bookscape news | snippets | what’s new Everyone’s talking about … Why Vibe Could Be the Relationship Book We Need Right Now IT’S FREE! Visit www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/ catalogues/the-penguin-post/ and sign up to receive each new edition directly to your inbox. DOMINATING THE BESTSELLER LISTS “Packing the plot with dark, gasp-inducing twists, McFadden outdoes herself in a story about how highly emotional people engage in risky behaviour to get what they want – but in this novel, for better or worse, not everyone will survive. Trust no one in this over-the- top tale of deception and revenge.” Kirkus ReviewsVOLUME 44 3 UPFRONT Liza Meyer loves psychological thrillers, gritty crime fiction and Nordic noir, with the occasional romantasy thrown in. When she’s not reading, you’ll find her walking on the beach or baking something delicious in the kitchen. “If you previously enjoyed epistolary novels, such as Meet Me at the Museum and 84, Charing Cross Road, you will love Virginia Evans’ The Correspondent. The main character, 73-year-old Sybil Van Antwerp, is not a lovable character – some call her rude and condescending, others go so far as to say she’s narcissistic – but as you read through her letters, it’s almost impossible not to come to love her. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at 10:30, and sometimes on a Saturday, Sybil sits down and writes letters. She writes to her daughter, her son, her brother, her friend and even to authors whose books she has just finished reading. We follow her story over the span of a decade with a series of correspondence. Mainly letters, but with the occasional email thrown in, and one unfinished letter written to an initially unnamed person. I loved this book, as did everyone else in my book club.” The Correspondent is out now. MUST of the MONTH OUT IN PAPERBACK WHEN EVERYONE KNOWS THAT EVERYONE KNOWS … by Steven Pinker An eye-opening examination of the hidden role shared knowledge plays in shaping human behaviour, from revolutions and markets to relationships, social norms and everyday interactions. MIDNIGHT CURFEW by Penelope Douglas A simmering enemies-to- lovers romance unfolds across rival Florida communities, where a storm lockdown, family loyalties and forbidden attraction make breaking the rules impossible to resist. 4.2k followers @books.bubbles.beach #bookstagram THE LIZARD by LJ Ross A dramatic rescue off the Cornish coast leads to an unforgettable mystery when the only survivor of a sinking yacht washes ashore with no memory and countless unanswered questions. PHOTOGRAPH: Joanne Olivier A hamper of books from this issue valued at R1 500 is up for grabs to one lucky reader. To enter, scan the code using your phone camera, or visit www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/ competitions. Ts & Cs apply. Entries close 31 October 2026. WIN! WIN! WIN! Local romance fiction explores social issues, reflects our realities and creates meaningful connections with readers. It deserves respect, recognition and celebration. Most importantly, it deserves to be seen as an essential part of South African literature. – Takalani M, author of Divine ArrangementsVOLUME 44 4 UPFRONT of my post-grad studies. There was the idea of perfectibility, of a Crusoe or a Prospero (or a coloniser) stepping ashore on some desert isle and trying to make the world anew. Then there was the creation of prison islands throughout Africa, most notably Robben (Mandela) and St Helena (Napoleon). Spice and sugar plantations, combined with the scourge of slavery, was also a recurring theme, most notably on Mauritius, Reunion, Zanzibar and Sao Tome. book. After writing four World War II novels (the Jack Pembroke series) in fairly quick succession, I decided to take a break from fiction and return to travel writing. This island project was the obvious choice. To reach the islands, you used an array of methods of transport. Which was the most memorable? On my travels in Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya, I tried to make use of dhow transport as much as possible. The most memorable journey was sailing a chartered dhow from Lamu up the Kenyan coast to Kiwayu Island, which lies near the Somali border. We slept on deck, swam over the side and explored the sandbars, atolls and mangroves of this beguiling corner of Africa. Is there something to the islands of Africa south of the Sahara that ties them together (apart from geography)? Certain themes kept recurring, which often coincided with the themes encountered in the fictional islands How many islands do you cover in Treasured Islands? And when did your travels begin? The book deals with more than fifty islands visited over a period of thirty-nine years. On 7 November 1987, I began writing a journal about the voyage I was embarking on from Lisbon to Mossel Bay in a Renaissance caravel. The Bartolomeu Dias reenactment voyage made four memorable stops along the way: Madeira, Cape Verde, Ascension and St Helena. These islands, captured in my youthful notes written at sea, form the core of the first chapter of Treasured Islands. When did you realise there was a book in your adventures? The topic of both my master’s and doctoral theses was ‘islands in literature’. I felt there was a book somewhere to be had in the research I’d conducted, but nothing came of it. During my time as a travel journalist, I tried to inveigle my way into any island assignment that was going and, over time, began thinking about collating the various journeys into a After taking us to places special to various South African authors in Place, Justin Fox is now venturing a bit further in Treasured Islands. Treasured Islands hits shelves in October. Five Minutes With … JUSTIN FOXwww.roalddahl.com @roald_dahl @roald_dahl THE WONDROUS WORLDS OF © 2026 The Roald Dahl Story Company Ltd / Quentin BlakeWHY SIMPLICITY MATTERS MORE THAN EVER Cooking should make life easier, not more complicated. Yotam Ottolenghi shares why everyday meals don’t need endless ingredients or elaborate techniques – and why lowering the pressure in the kitchen might be the secret to cooking with more confidence and joy.COVER “W hen I wrote Simple, my goal was to make my style of cooking more accessible. I spent a lot of time thinking about what people actually mean when they say they want to cook simply. Is it fewer ingredients? Less preparation? Meals that come together quickly? Recipes you can make ahead? The answer, I realised, was all of those things. With Simple Too, Verena Lochmuller and I wanted to take those ideas even further. We challenged ourselves to create recipes where almost every definition of simplicity applied. The ingredient lists are shorter, the ingredients themselves are familiar, and there are fewer barriers between deciding to cook and sitting down to eat. More than anything, I wanted to create as many entry points into cooking as possible. There really shouldn’t be a reason to reach for your phone to order takeaway because cooking feels overwhelming. I wanted to show that it is entirely possible to make comforting, satisfying food with very little fuss. That has meant embracing shortcuts, and I don’t see shortcuts as compromises. We use more one-tray cooking, fewer unnecessary preparation steps, and ingredients that have already done some of the work for you. A good tin of chickpeas saves you from soaking and boiling. A well-made pesto or dressing means much of the prep has already been taken care of before you even begin cooking. without feeling that you’ve devoted your entire evening to making it. Social media hasn’t helped. We’re constantly exposed to beautifully edited videos that make elaborate recipes appear effortless. They create expectations that simply aren’t realistic for daily life. My advice is always the same: give yourself a break. Cook a pot of rice. Fry a piece of fish. Open a tin of beans. Add a sauce you’ve already prepared. Dinner doesn’t need to be a performance. One of the greatest pleasures in cooking comes from repetition. We sometimes convince ourselves that every meal has to be completely different from the last one, but there’s enormous comfort in returning to recipes you know well. The more often you cook something, the easier it becomes and the more confidence you build. Recently, I’ve been making one particular tomato sauce over and over again. It couldn’t be simpler. Tomatoes, olive oil, two heads of garlic with their tops sliced off, whatever hardy herbs I have on hand, and into the oven everything goes. An hour later, the tomatoes have collapsed into themselves, the garlic has become sweet and soft enough to squeeze straight from its skin, and a splash of vinegar brings everything together. That sauce becomes pasta one evening, poached fish the next, beans the day after. It reminds me how often I used to spend time chopping onions, celery and carrots before even getting to the tomatoes. Sometimes the simplest route really is the better one. This way of thinking really took shape during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Suddenly, people were cooking three meals a day at home while trying to juggle work, children and everything else life was throwing at them. It simply wasn’t realistic to start every meal entirely from scratch. That’s when I realised just how valuable these ‘fundamentals’ could be. You make a marinade once, a dressing once, a tomato sauce once, and it serves you again and again throughout the week. They become building blocks rather than extra work. I also think we’ve made cooking far more complicated than it needs to be. I probably share some of the responsibility for that. Over the years we’ve set an incredibly high bar for everyday cooking. There is absolutely a place for ambitious recipes. If you’re hosting friends, celebrating a special occasion or spending a leisurely Sunday in the kitchen, then by all means take your time. But everyday cooking serves a different purpose. It is about getting nourishing food onto the table Next >