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VOLUME 42 THE MAGAZINE ABOUT BOOKS FOR BOOK LOVERS PERFECTLY GRILLED Jamie Oliver brings the heat with his most exciting cookbook yet A NATURALIST’S LIFE John Manning marvels at the indifference of the natural world FIVE MINUTES WITH Sally Andrew talks to us about her brand-new Tannie Maria novel ON MY MIND Rishad Ahmed reflects on the dangers of humanless leadership “GO ON, BE GREEDY” YOUR FREE COPY! Jenny Morris invites us into her world WIN Over R5 000 in prizes up for grabs!Back Yourself For courage, clarity and big life questionsDear reader What do you reach for when you need a little more feeling in your day? This issue leans into that instinct; the pull towards stories that steady, distract, and quietly stay with you. From Jenny Morris’s generous reflections on food and joy to Sally Andrew’s return to the Klein Karoo with her beloved Tannie Maria, there’s comfort here, but never at the cost of intrigue. We step into Mary Watson’s writing space, where routine meets ritual, and into Felix Mosse’s imagined world, where power, politics and uncertainty feel eerily familiar. Debut author Elizabeth Arnott unpacks the layered lives of women bound by secrecy, while Irma Joubert begins a new historical journey rooted in character and place. There are moments of escape – sun, surf and 1970s Durban with Mike Larmont – and moments that ask you to pause, from the inner workings of connection and conformity to reflections on leadership in an AI-shaped world. And, because no good reading session is complete without something delicious nearby, you’ll find warmth in recipes from Jamie Oliver – yes, a new Jamie! – and Yudhika Sujanani. So settle in. There’s more here than a story. There’s a mood, a rhythm, a way to spend your time well. Happy reading! contents 02 BOOKSCAPE Fifty years of Patterson, the book dominating the bestseller list and five minutes with Sally Andrew 06 COVER With warmth, humour, and a touch of sass, Jenny Morris invites us into her world 10 FICTION Mary Watson on what shapes her writing life, a novel that follows the wives of convicted murderers, and top new fiction 14 ENCHANTED SHELF A mysterious wind that powers the world fades and war looms in Felix Mosse’s epic fantasy 16 AFRIKAANS Stories wat reis – en jou saamneem 18 NATURE Botanist John Manning reflects on the humbling indifference of the natural world 22 INSIDER Mike Larmont transports readers to Durban’s golden era of surfing, the legendary summer of 1971 23 WELLBEING The psychology of connection and conformity 26 FOOD Jamie Oliver’s epic braai recipes, and flavour-packed comfort food from Yudhika Sujanani 32 ON MY MIND Rishad Ahmed reflects on leadership in the age of AI, and urges a return to humanness Johannesburg | Growthpoint Business Park, Unit 12A, 162 Tonetti Street, Halfway House Ext 7, 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 Sally Andrew, Jenny Morris, Mary Watson, Irma Joubert, Chanette Paul, Sunet du Plessis, John Manning, Rishad Ahmed 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 42 2 bookscape news | snippets | what’s new This year marks an extraordinary 50 years since the publication of James Patterson’s debut novel, The Thomas Berryman Number (1976), which won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. That early success set the tone for a career defined by pace, productivity and global appeal. Over five decades, Patterson has built some of the most recognisable series in modern publishing, including Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, Maximum Ride and Michael Bennett. His storytelling spans genres and audiences, from high-stakes thrillers to romance, non-fiction and hugely popular children’s books like Middle School and I Funny. Remarkably prolific, Patterson has written more than 200 novels and over 400 titles in total when including collaborations, non-fiction and children’s literature. His books have sold upwards of 425 million copies worldwide, making him one of the best-selling authors of all time. His accolades reflect both literary impact and industry influence. Among them are the National Book Award’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service, the National Humanities Medal, and multiple International Thriller Writers honours, including the prestigious ThrillerMaster Award and the Silver Bullet Award. As he celebrates this milestone in 2026, Patterson’s legacy extends beyond his own writing – through initiatives supporting bookstores, literacy and emerging authors – cementing his place as not just a bestselling author, but a driving force in the world of books. Everyone’s talking about … James Patterson Celebrates 50 Years of Novel Writing IT’S FREE! Visit www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/ catalogues/the-penguin-post/ and sign up to receive each new edition directly to your inbox. Patterson’s latest novel in his Women’s Murder Club series, 26 Beauties, is out now. DOMINATING THE BESTSELLER LISTS “The prose is beautiful, and the sense of place is exceptional. Readers who enjoy historical fiction with layered characters, moral complexity and a touch of tragedy will likely find much to appreciate here.” – Roelia Schoeman, Roelia Reads PHOTOGRAPH: RankinVOLUME 42 3 UPFRONT Monique is a fantasy book lover with a particular weakness for the enemies-to- lovers trope. She loves sharing the magical worlds, angst and stories she reads on Instagram whilst cuddling with her kitties. “Cruel is the Light throws you headfirst into a centuries-old war, packed with relentless action and expertly written fight scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat. This book was easy to devour – and devour it I did. Completely unputdownable. The world-building is rich, immersive and beautifully detailed. Sophie Clark’s writing brings the setting vividly to life; it truly felt as though I was standing beside the characters, witnessing every battle, choice and consequence firsthand. I’m always a sucker for dual POVs, and this book absolutely delivered. The wit, tension and angst between Jules and Selene were delicious, and their character development was handled with such care. Watching them grow individually and together was incredibly satisfying. I do want to briefly note the mild sexual content – tasteful and well done, but worth mentioning for unsuspecting readers. I am desperately awaiting the sequel and cannot wait for others to fall in love with this story the way I have.” Cruel is the Light is out now. MUST of the MONTH 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 30 June 2026. WIN! WIN! WIN! OUT IN PAPERBACK WE ALL LIVE HERE by Jojo Moyes Overwhelmed single mum Lila juggles chaos, deadlines and family tensions, until a charming Hollywood stranger arrives, revealing himself as the father who vanished 16 years ago, turning everything upside down. EXIT STRATEGY by Lee Child & Andrew Child Reacher makes three stops: a Baltimore coffee shop, a coat store, and wherever this bend in the road takes him after discovering a plea slipped into his pocket, pulling him into trouble he chooses to pursue. 12.8k followers @abooklovingleo #bookstagram THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTUNE by Richard Osman After a quiet year apart, our favourite four friends reunite when a wedding guest fears for their life. Drawn into a dangerous case, they must outwit a ruthless villain chasing an unbreakable code. “Everything that had happened to me in Epstein’s world had only confirmed that certain privileged men existed in a liminal space outside the law, no matter how dastardly their behaviour.” – Virginia Roberts Giuffre, Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for JusticeVOLUME 42 44 UPFRONT supports him in running gun battles in the wilds. Then there is a murderer to catch. And Tannie Maria’s life is threatened repeatedly. In between his dealing with Maria’s night terrors and her seeming reluctance to set a wedding date. Poor chap. Will they ever get married? This book has a theme of connection that runs through it. Connection to food (particularly sourdough bread). Connection to nature, Earth and stars. Connection to self. And then of course the connection between Maria and Henk. As Maria works through her personal issues she becomes more able to connect with her beloved. But as for whether they will actually tie the knot, you’ll have to wait for book six to find out. not simple to replant them. Or even to find the exact location they were stolen from. And do you have a favourite? I won’t answer that directly, for fear of feeding into poaching trends. Certain plants become ‘in fashion’ and then get targeted in the wilds. For this reason, I invented a favourite rare vetplantjie: Stellae lunae. It has flowers like stars and leaves like moons, and sparkles in the moonlight. You have quite a line-up of characters! Please tell us about the one you like best – and least. I do love Tata Sele, the sangoma professor in a leopard skin who gets the guests to connect with Earth and stars, and to understand humans are part of nature. And I love to disapprove of Rodney, the flamboyant and insensitive couturier who foists his fashion advice on Henk and Maria. Henk! How is he doing? Does he have the energy still to keep up with unsavoury characters? Henk is full of energy in this action- packed story. He and Maria are spying on guests who may have poached the Stellae Lunae plus he’s working with the anti-poaching unit to catch insurgent gangsters. Maria This is Tannie Maria’s fifth outing. Did you expect her to be so popular when you started the series? I expected nothing but dreamed of everything. I am still hoping the love for Tannie Maria will continue to grow, as people become more open to kindness, healing and beauty. The main focus of book five is the poaching of succulents. What made you decide to focus on this topic? I just love those vetplantjies. They have such personality. Fat, tenacious and cute, like Tannie Maria herself. Succulent poaching is rife across the country. Millions of plants stolen or destroyed. Recently the Klein Karoo has been hard hit. Whole species are rapidly going extinct. I wanted to spread awareness of this. In the book, I invented a Succulent Symposium on the Karoo Wilderness Reserve to find solutions to this problem, in the hopes that if we work together with care, we can halt this destruction. The symposium comes up with many practical (and wild) solutions. Are there any interesting facts you came across in researching South African succulents? Many succulent species are endemic to a particular area, or even one small koppie. Once uprooted it’s Tannie Maria, the intrepid sleuth-cum-cooking queen from the Klein Karoo is back, this time to help protect endangered succulents. Author Sally Andrew answers our questions. Wild Things Never Die is out now. Five Minutes With … SALLY ANDREW PHOTOGRAPH: Thierry CassutoCOVER With warmth, humour and a touch of sass, Jenny Morris invites us into her world, reflecting on a life of cooking, joy and the messy, delicious magic behind every dish. GREEDY FOR (AND SECONDS!) “I ’ve always believed my kitchen is more than just a place to cook, it’s a place to feel. With Greedy Girl, I wanted to throw the doors wide open and invite people in, to sit at my table, to laugh, to taste, and most importantly, to let go. Because being ‘greedy’ in my world isn’t about excess, it’s about embracing joy without apology. It’s about being greedy for flavour, for connection, for those long, laughter-filled meals where nobody is in a hurry to leave. If a dish makes someone close their eyes and sigh with happiness, then I know I’ve done my job. Of course, none of that happens without a good sense of humour. Kitchens are wonderfully imperfect places – things burn, sauces split and recipes don’t always behave. But that’s part of the magic. If you can’t laugh, you’ll never relax enough to enjoy the process. And when people feel relaxed, something shifts. They cook better, they eat better and they connect more deeply. That’s the energy I’ve carried through every page of this book. This is my seventh cookbook, but Greedy Girl feels different. It’s more like a kitchen diary. It’s filled with memories, the people I love, the places that have shaped me and the stories that live behind the food. It’s cheeky, indulgent and completely honest – an invitation, really, to experience food the way I do: emotionally, generously and with a little bit of sass. Because food, for me, has always been about connection. Some of the most powerful recipes in this book are the ones tied to family. Dishes that carry the spirit of grandmothers’ kitchens, or the warmth of meals shared with friends. There’s something magical about how a smell or a taste can transport you back in time in an Next >