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Dept of Arts and Culture Book Club Information Booklet
Dept of Arts and Culture Book Club Information Booklet
1
Promoting the culture of reading
Contents
Page No.
2008 Achievers 18
Messages of Support 29
Books Discussed 35
FOREWORD
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The DAC Book Club was established in Officials from the Department of Arts
2007 as a way of encouraging the culture and Culture, the National Library and
of reading among the employees. After other associated institutions will be
two years of successfully convening available to work with the various
regular book discussions, hosting guest stakeholders in establishing Book Clubs
authors and public lectures the Book in strategic centers across South Africa.
Club proved more than just a leisurely Our public libraries will play a crucial
activity. It adds meaningful value in role in providing space and resources
our endeavour to address the lack of a in ensuring that there are communal
culture of reading, which is one of the Book Clubs in the various locations
pressing challenges that confront us where there are existing libraries. In
as a nation. It is against this backdrop addition to popularising the Book Club
that we embark on a massive reading phenomenon, plans are in place to
campaign using Book Clubs as a means establish National Book Week in 2010
towards the attainment of our national and celebrate other relevant days of
objectives. national and international significance
such as the World Book Day in April
THEMBA P. WAKASHE
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
Libraries are convenient platforms for this venture by providing space and
the establishment and running of book all manner of support to ensure that
clubs in the communities. reading clubs are established in their
communities.
The National Library together with
its associate institutions pledges its
unyielding commitment to the vision of We also make a humble appeal to our
creating a reading nation. The Centre esteemed authors to avail themselves to
for the Book, our outreach unit based their readers. Interacting with authors not
in Cape Town, has piloted a number only enhances the passion for books but
of reading promotion initiatives with is a source of inspiration to our writers
laudable success. The Centre for the as well. The visibility of authors at our
Book has collaborated with several libraries will definitely play a pivotal role
partners to embark on initiatives to in the development of a reading culture
establish reading clubs in public spaces in South Africa.
such as schools, trains and correctional
centres.
Siphiwo Mahala
Chairperson
Winston Mohapi
Vice-Chairperson
books discussed interrogate the modern Moele, author of the award winning
society and grapple with issues that are novel, Room 207. This debut novel by
central in our lives today. One such book the Limpopo-born Moele can be best
is Niq Mhlongo’s After Tears, a novel that described in the words of Doctorow,
bears some traces of the author’s lived “There’s no longer any such thing as
experience and steeped in the concrete fiction and non-fiction, there’s only
realities of the contemporary society. narrative.” This description rings true of
The novel is about Bafana Khuzwayo, Moele’s Room 207, which is a gripping
a University of Cape Town student who narrative of six young men who share
fails all his courses except Criminal Law. the same room in a dilapidated building
The story is set in Soweto and Mhlongo in Hillbrow, Johannesburg.
has been hailed as a writer of the “Kwaito
Generation” because of his ability to
portray vivid images of township life in
his novels.
A scene from the discussion of Thando Mgqolozana’s A Man Who is Not a Man, which attracted well
over forty participants
One of the most vibrant discussions In the past two years the book club
hosted by the Book Club was with celebrated National Women’s Month
Ndumiso Ngcobo, author of Some of by discussing works that address and
My Best Friends Are White. Ngcobo is take as their theme issues central to
an author with a mind of his own—never women. This started in August 2008,
reluctant to comment on unconventional, by hosting three distinguished poets,
sensitive and sometimes controversial Khanyi Magubane, Bandile Gumbi and
issues of gender, ethnicity and race Neo Molefe who are all contributors to
dynamics. “Men are kings at deluding Basadzi Voices, a collection of poetry
themselves that they are in charge but by women. In 2009 Women’s Month was
women are masters at the art of leading celebrated with Angelina N. Sithebe as
from the back,” he says. the guest author. Sithebe is the author
of the novel, Holy Hill, which received
honorary mention at the prestigious
M-Net Literary Awards in 2007 and has
been critically reviewed all over the
world.
The programme for 2009 saw the Don Mattera, distinguished publisher
introduction of the public lecture and former journalist, Mothobi Mutloatse
aspect as an effort to encourage public and the Noma award winning poetess,
participation. The first such occasion Lebo Mashile.
was held on 1 April 2009 at the National
Library, Pretoria. Dubbed Poetry, Memory This occasion was followed by an
and National Consciousness, this public equally thrilling public lecture delivered
debate addressed issues affecting by Vikas Swarup, author of the multi-
youth in a democratic state and drew award winning novel, Q&A, also known
parallels between literature and national as Slumdog Millionaire. The book was
consciousness. Panelists included the adapted into a film that later raked eight
legendary multi-award winning poet, Dr Academies. Given the success of both
2008 ACHIEVERS
(From left to right) Siyanda Toni, Memory Mkuyana, Siphiwo Mahala, Sibongile Nxumalo and
Kego Mbiza.
2008 ACHIEVERS
Selection Criteria
2008 ACHIEVERS
2008 ACHIEVERS
to extend the book club phenomenon One of the most critical steps in
to their communities (i.e. places of establishing a book club is identifying
residence). Book Clubs are established people who are already passionate
with the purpose of creating interactive readers. You must try and get more
platforms where members share their information about their reading interests,
reading experiences and encourage including the frequency of their reading
one another to read for pleasure. and the type of books they read.
Readers are usually receptive when
The following paragraphs present someone shows interest in what they
Five Basic Steps as guidelines for the read and are often keen to share their
establishment and running of book reading experiences. If you have about
clubs especially in the work place. In six people who read regularly you have
presenting this model we combine our the basis for forming a book club. These
experience at DAC Book Club with individuals will form the Core Group of
information that we gathered through your book club.
research, observation and advice.
The guideline is in two parts, viz. the Once you are able to get your core
recommended model which is idealistic group together, the next step would be
in its conceptualization and the reflective for them to encourage their relatives,
model, based on our experience. Each friends or colleagues to start reading
situation is unique and the model that for pleasure. One way to do this is to
we present here is not cast in stone, but make books a familiar and attractive
we hope that readers will take elements object in your institution. What usually
that they find useful for their specific happens is that if a visitor finds a book
purposes. The Five Basic Steps are as lying around they will pick it up and start
follows: browsing. This is the best way to get
people hooked and we encourage that
books are put in visible places where individuals but the average number of
they are noticeable (and not just in the participants in each session is twenty-
library, study or bedroom). Allow trusted five.
colleagues, friends and family to borrow
the book but give them time-frames to
return them. 2. Elect a Committee
When they return the book after reading Committees usually intimidate people
chances are that they will share their and some may be discouraged from
impressions of the book. Listen carefully participating. It is not advisable to elect
and identify aspects that seem to appeal a committee from the onset. Once you
to them the most. Recommend an have a sizeable number of dedicated
author whom you believe they will find members, it is only then that you should
interesting. Now you have potential consider electing a committee. It is
members for your book club and the next important to stress that the committee
step would be to expand the group. is a central structure and that all book
club members must be willing to assist
The Case of DAC Book Club: The especially ahead of major events.
book club started with the exchange of
books among a few officials using their A book club committee does not need
personal collections. The most influential to be comprised of too many members.
readers were front-desk personnel A Convener or Chairperson, the
and this was quite a good display to Coordinator and the Secretary will be
advertise the reading culture. This made enough to form the Book Club committee.
both our staff members and visitors The Chairperson plays a strategic role
curious to know more about the books. and presides over all book club matters.
More colleagues started borrowing The Coordinator is responsible for the
the books and word began to spread daily running of the Book Club and
about certain interesting titles and must takeover when the chairperson is
people started buying for themselves. not available. The secretary performs
More colleagues brought their books all clerical and administrative duties
to the Department and books started and keeps record of all the activities
circulating (and disappearing) among including the borrowed books. These
the staff members. three portfolios are essential to run the
We have membership of over hundred book club and others may be established
12h30 fortnightly. In the first meeting so, they must try to create a friendly
colleagues discuss any book that each atmosphere to encourage everyone to
one of them is reading and after a participate without feeling intimidated.
fortnight we discuss a common read or All members must be aware that they
book of the month. We are fortunate that will be required to facilitate discussions
we have discussed our common reads at some point. The facilitator can either
with the authors. This however is not a volunteer or be elected to do so by the
precondition for a book club discussion book club. It is however important that
to take place. The presence of the you rotate facilitators. The facilitator
author is a unique opportunity to interact must be someone who has read the
with the creator of the story and we are book thoroughly. In preparation for the
grateful to all the authors who have session they must do further research
graced our discussion sessions so far. about the subject, including biographical
information of the author, other
publications by the same author and
5. Host Discussions reviews of the book being discussed.
The most exciting moment in any book The facilitator must be informed at least
club is hosting discussions and this three weeks before the discussion
comes with a lot of anxiety. To minimise so that they can make extra effort to
such feelings, it is important that you prepare for the discussion. It is advisable
delegate duties to the various members that the facilitator writes down about ten
in preparation for the session and ensure questions or so in preparation for the
that everyone reads the book. discussion. Erin Collazo Miller, who has
written extensively about leading book
The key ingredient to hosting a successful club discussions, recommends that the
book club discussion is reading and this facilitator writes down important page
is one of the reasons why you have to numbers. For more information about
agree on the calendar in advance. You preparing for facilitating a book club
must also agree on the lead discussant discussion please visit: http://bestseller.
or facilitator of the discussion. The about.com/od/bookclubresources/
facilitation of book club discussions is not
the responsibility of certain members. Even though there may be a facilitator, it
The duty of the facilitator is to ensure is important to have a backup facilitator
an interactive discussion. In doing for in case there is an emergency
and the appointed facilitator is unable this section, every situation is unique and
attend the session. The rest of the we do not intend to impose our model
members, especially the chairperson, to other book clubs. We have shared
must be equally prepared to facilitate our ambitions and in a more pragmatic
the discussion at any given moment. A manner reflected on our experience in
small group may have what is normally establishing and running the DAC Book
referred to as a “dry-run”, where they Club. We trust that this booklet will be
discuss the book and approaches to a useful resource to inspire more people
facilitating the book club discussion and assist in the establishment of book
session. clubs. In addition to information entailed
in this booklet, some officials will be
The Case of DAC Book Club: We have available to engage in a more interactive
been very fortunate to have authors manner with the various members of our
among us when we discuss their books society.
and this encouraged us to prepare
thoroughly for the discussions. This has
also increased the level of enthusiasm
as a result most of the time members
volunteer to facilitate discussions. We
usually allow the author to read a passage
of their choice as a way of starting the
session. The facilitator follows with two
or three questions before giving the
rest of the participants opportunity to
comment or ask questions.
Conclusion
MESSAGES OF SUPPORT
Through an introduction by fellow author and The Department of Arts and Culture must
friend, Siphiwo Mahala I was invited by the be applauded and welcomed for officially
DAC Book Club as their Women’s Month conceiving and launching the much needed
guest on 19 August 2009. What a pleasure! but long-overdue Book Club project. Not only
Everything was thoughtfully prepared from will it be a double boon that will encourage
the poster by Sibongile Nxumalo and the gift, and stimulate a culture of reading among
lunch and co-ordination by Ayanda August. In the general public per se; and also promote
their packed boardroom, Members engaged education and social interaction among
me in passionate, intellectual though good- the young generation. This may positively
humoured debate. Sandile Memela couldn’t impact on South African communities over
resist pushing my limits. the long term. Reading is a vital cornerstone
in education and in the development of
At the end, my wrist was limp from signing leadership among all spheres of human
books. I left with a warm inspiring feeling for progress.
my writing to be acknowledged in such an I fully commit my time and services to this
honorable way. vital and sterling endeavour. I am honoured
and deeply gratified, and herewith pledge my
Phambili Book Clubs! humble support, endorsement and patronage
Angelina N. Sithebe, author of Holy Hill of the book club project.
MESSAGES OF SUPPORT
People who read are special. They have a Literature enhances cultural exchange,
sense of the world beyond their own. They understanding and friendship among peoples.
develop a sense of history and of themselves In the 21st century literature is produced
within a larger context. Reading should be a more in book form than through the oral art
joy if it is to become a lifelong habit. It doesn’t of eloquence. Books have, logically, become
matter what is being read. If it’s enjoyable, it the indispensable key for unlocking and
will grow the reader. It will show them other opening the doors of learning and of culture.
worlds; other people The DAC book club To make a significant contribution to a culture
encourages reading for fun - which is the of reading and writing is one of the major tasks
only way we will develop a reading culture. A of the Department of Arts and Culture. The
society that reads will never be an ignorant establishment of the DAC Book Club was,
one. And a society that reads will have and remains, a major step in that direction.
imagination and empathy for others. After Let book clubs flower all over the country to
all, how else can we learn to put ourselves enrich our lives.
in other people’s shoes, to feel how they feel,
and understand why they act as they do? Keorapetse Kgositsile, National Poet
laureate
Jo-Anne Richards, author of My Brother’s
Book
MESSAGES OF SUPPORT
I knew how to write a book because I knew One of the most important aspects insofar as
how to read and enjoy them. I have never developing writers is for the culture of reading
been to Nigeria but I have been a Nigerian to be entrenched in our country. Young writers
citizen dozens of times. I was there when the need to become more curious about how the
white man first set foot on African soil. When world is put together rather than allow others
Things Fall Apart, and shed a tear when to interpret it for them. There must be a
the last brave African man’s body fought for broader discussion about books and writing.
breathe.
Mandla Langa, author of The Lost Colours of
I have played with Huckleberry Finn on the Chameleon
the Mississippi river and Maru is the only
romance I know and they said that it is protest
writing. I say it is a love story. You don’t know
how many times I have come within the lines
of that woman but Pretoria evicted me from
Buckingham Palace, District Six and I know
that ‘all animals are equal but some are more
equal than others.’ Because like a certain
donkey named Benjamin, I can READ.
MESSAGES OF SUPPORT
The beauty of a book, beyond the story When we read we enter the minds of the
being told, is that you get to travel. It allows characters. We get dressed in their clothes
you to go where you may otherwise never and open their fridges and eat whatever we
go, experience elements of life that are far want. Through living their lives, when we
removed from your everyday reality. Whether come back to our own set of circumstances,
it’s fiction or not, reading opens you up to a we see new opportunities. Reading gives
variety of life experiences, takes you through us a bank of wisdom and a eight-cylinder
a myriad of relationships and introduces imagination that crosses the world, past,
you to a cast of characters fit for any stage. present and future. There is no charge and
There is a lot to be said for the power of the no petrol needed for us to become truly rich,
imagination and how this can just expand because nobody can steal the wealth of the
your mind. Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code mind. Reading is the original something for
took me on a guided tour of some of Europe’s Mahala.
most historical site while Peter Harris’ In a
Different Time taught me what it takes to be Phillippa yaa de Villiers, Poet and author of
so committed to a cause that you are willing Taller than Buildings
to die for it.
MESSAGES OF SUPPORT
Zakes Mda
Photo by: Gugu Nkosi
MESSAGES OF SUPPORT
BOOKS DISCUSSED
This powerful first novel recounts the Bafana is a young man with a weight
personal trauma of a young Xhosa on his shoulders. After flunking his law
initiate after botched circumcision. With studies at UCT, he now has to find a way
frankness and courage, author Thando to either admit the truth to his family, or
Mgqolozana details the pain and life- somehow find a job that will allow him
long shame that is experienced as a to continue fooling them. What should
result of not just the physical trauma, but Bafana do? Should he bite the bullet
the social ostracism of being labelled ‘a and confess the truth to his mother and
failed man’. He decodes the values and uncle, or should he rather take up Yomi’s
mysteries of this deep-seated cultural suggestion to buy a law degree and start
tradition and calls to account the elders practicing as an attorney?
for the disintegrating support systems
that allow such tragic outcomes to
happen.
BOOKS DISCUSSED
BOOKS DISCUSSED
Focusing on the epic love affair between a Fanie Fourie is a true blue ‘boere seun’
former amateur musician--who happens with an unrepentantly macho approach to
to be a bootlegger, mercenary, and love and life in general. But his worldview
killer--and a shebeen queen, this South undergoes an abrupt reinvention when
African love story traces the couple’s he is ‘bitten by the louse and bedbug
lives and loves through the interweaving of love’ and falls head-over-heels for
of history and memory in the tradition of Dimakatjo Machabaphala, a beautiful
village storytellers. Interweaving history black nurse. With a deft and humourous
and memories in the tradition of village pen the author evokes the colliding
storytellers, Bitches’ Brew delves into worlds of traditional and contemporary
the physical and emotional turbulence culture in a South Africa still struggling to
that characterizes the lives and affairs renegotiate roles and relationships and
of Bra Zakes and Lettie as they unearth shake off the complexes and prejudices
a story that reveals character, conflict, of the past.
principle and, of course, love.
BOOKS DISCUSSED
Two lives are twinned in this unusual This Noma Award winning book is
and disturbing novel: that of Nana, the first published collection of poetry
desperately seeking release from by Lebogang Mashile, known largely
existence, and of Claude, an illegal as a performance poet. Listening to
immigrant from central Africa to whom Lebogang Mashile speak her words is
she is powerfully attracted and whose like having a thrilling silk ribbon drawn
struggle for salvation she undermines through the ripples of your brain. Her
and destroys. Connected with the spirit rhythms are put to paper for the first
world from earliest childhood, Nana time in this collection of her exhilarating
can see what others cannot. Worried poems.
about teaching her right from wrong, her
parents send her to Holy Hill Convent,
a Roman Catholic boarding school in
Zululand, where the Sisters take on
the challenge of raising her, going to
extremes of discipline. After she leaves
the Convent, Nana rebels, drifting
between relationships, jobs and homes
until she meets Claude.
BOOKS DISCUSSED
The novel raises issues concerned This collection of poetry explores the
with moral consciousness with regard theme of love in its various facets – love
to post-apartheid black African youth. for a country, love for freedom, love for
It apparently joins the voices that call a man, love for a child and love for love
for moral regeneration. Magwaza itself. The entire collection is devoted
(2004:41) observes “there is a national to love songs and the often contrary
outcry in South Africa regarding ... emotions that love engenders. The
prevailing low morals” because “South poetry is filled with startling images
Africa is going through a process and provocative phrases. The poetry
which could be described as a form of is woman-centric and celebrates the
moral degradation”. The novel raises feminine from a humanist and womanist
the readers’ awareness of the moral perspective. The American academic,
degradation affecting the youth and it Mary de Shazer, describes the poet as
affirms the possibility of positive change breaking new ground when she writes
among the youth whose values and that: “In her frank expressions of desire
morals have been eroded and corrupted as resistance and resistance as desire,
in the fight against apartheid. Combrinck represents a new breed of
South African women poets”.
BOOKS DISCUSSED
BOOKS DISCUSSED
BOOKS DISCUSSED
Thandiwe lives by her own rules. She A former tiffinboy from Mumbai, Ram
shamelessly sells her body on the Mohammad Thomas, has just got
streets of Yeoville and views her job as twelve questions correct on a TV quiz
no different from those of young black show to win a cool one billion rupees.
graduates who take up affirmative But he is brutally slung in a prison cell
action posts as perpetual juniors under on suspicion of cheating. Because
soul-destroying mentors.Thandiwe’s how can a kind from the slums know
searing views on the post-apartheid who Shakespeare was unless he has
corporate world become public when been pulling a fast one? In the order
she is approached by Kwena, a young of questions on the show, Ram tells us
film-maker who is interested in telling the which amazing adventures in his street-
stories of prostitutes and the shameful kid life taught him the answers. From the
secrets of many.It’s a long way from the orphanages to brothels, gangsters to
poor, rural village where Thandiwe and beggar-masters, and into the homes of
her best friend Zonke grew up, facing Bollywood’s rich and famous, Slumdog
the many challenges of a vulnerable Millionaire is brimming with the chaotic
childhood together. comedy, heart-stopping tragedy, and
tear-inducing joyfulness of modern
India.
BOOKS DISCUSSED
BOOKS DISCUSSED
page 45
BOOK CLUB GALLERY
page 46
Promoting the culture of reading
NOTES
ISBN 978-919965-16-1
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Department of Arts and Culture
Contact Details :
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