Review: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

Rating: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential

What is it? Mythological fiction  

Ideal for fans of: Stephen Fry and Madelaine Miller  

What makes it special? Unique retelling of a well-known Greek myth

Get it in South Africa from: Pan Macmillan South Africa

Medusa’s story is one of the best-known Greek myths. The Gorgon with the power to turn anything that met her gaze to stone, Medusa has been viewed as a monster for centuries. Similarly, the brave warrior who ended her reign of terror – Perseus – has the legacy of a hero, monster slayer and favourite of the gods. In beheading Medusa, he saved mankind from a bitter and evil woman, who relished her petrifying abilities.

But is that really how it all went down?

After all, what makes a monster?

These questions are central to Natalie Haynes’ investigation of Medusa.

In Stone Blind, Perseus is not the golden hero who saves the world from the ravages of a demented Gorgon. Instead, he has been cast as a vicious little thug, who murdered a girl for no real purpose. He is inexperienced, dim-witted and cowardly. And it changes everything.

According to Haynes, Perseus has no idea what he’s doing. He’s not cunning, but cruel.

Stone Blind is a feminist retelling of Medusa’s story. It begins long before her birth, providing context of the tragedies to which she was exposed, purely for the entertainment of the Greek gods.

Because if the inhabitants of Olympus treated people as their playthings, Medusa was their favourite toy. Her life was ruined by a meaningless battle – of egos – between Athene and Poseidon. Medusa did nothing to deserve her fate.

And then came Perseus, to give her an undeserved ending.

Of course, all mythology is open to interpretation and a bit of retelling. It’s what makes these stories linger throughout history. But Haynes has really outdone herself, and retold this piece of mythology in a totally unique way. For the first time, we see the other side of the story – a narrative forgotten or silenced or just never imagined.

In addition to giving us ample food for thought, and reason to want to demolish the patriarchy, this book features several well-known cast members of the theatre that is Greek myth. Altogether, Stone Blind is a vibrant and new way to see an old story, and it’s amazing.

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes is published by Mantle, an imprint of Pan Macmillan.

Review: Leech by Hiron Ennes

Rating: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential

What is it? Fiction  

Ideal for fans of: Iain Reid, Alice Feeney

What makes it special? Totally unique story, unexpected twists

Get it in South Africa from: Pan Macmillan South Africa

The Interprovincial Medical Institute has just sent a replacement doctor to an isolated chateau in the countryside. Nestled deep within the mines and soon to be buried under the winter snows, the chateau is run by an ailing baron, whose previous doctor died unexpectedly. Now, the Institute seeks answers. However, the cause of death could shake the very foundations upon which the Institute stands. Buried deep within the deceased is a parasite of undetermined origin. And that should have been impossible, because the physicians are already under the control of the Institute itself.

As the parasite spreads, the Institute faces competition. It begins to lose its grip on the household, and as a result, deadly secrets come tumbling out.

Have you noticed that these days, the entertainment industry seems to regurgitate the same stories, plots or tropes? It’s often pretty easy to predict the plots and twists of stories these days. In fact, critics might just be tempted to loudly declare, “There are no new stories anymore – it’s all been done!” Thankfully, Hiron Ennes has just proven that to be completely incorrect. Not only have they presented a totally unexpected protagonist in a never-before-seen context, but Ennes has also managed to add a refreshing setting, language, and history to the story, to boot. Leech is the literary equivalent of a breath of fresh air. Even better, it ticks all the right boxes for a perfect thriller.

If this story doesn’t get turned into a film, it’s just because it hasn’t been read by the right people yet. So keep your eyes peeled. I would even go so far as to say it could usher in a new type of storytelling. It’s THAT good.

Also, Leech is more than just a page-turning thriller with a riveting plot. It’s an introduction to a world of endless possibility. Clever, thought-provoking, and chilling, Ennes has penned a work of art that’s also a brilliant piece of social commentary. By the time you reach the final chapter, you’ll be hard pressed not to question what you know about humanity, and the monsters that hide within it.

Leech by Hiron Ennes is published by Tor, an imprint of Pan Macmillan.

Review: An Illustrated Guide to Medicinal Plants of East Africa, by Najma Dharani and Abiy Yenesew

Rating: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential

What is it? Field guide, fact book  

Ideal for fans of: Botany, medicine, herbalism, aromatherapy

What makes it special? Comprehensive, fully illustrated and easy to use

Get it in South Africa from: Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa

Whether you’re a novice to plant-based remedies, or a pro with a degree in botany, I guarantee you’ll learn something from this book. 

An Illustrated Guide to Medicinal Plants of East Africa features a mind-blowing 136 different plant species with medicinal properties. And that number may include some you’d not expect. For example, Blue Plumbago can relieve headaches and treat warts. Also, did you know that the Coral Tree can be used for wound poultices, or to cure ear ache? What’s more, even Jasmine could form part of your ‘first aid’ garden, as it treats parasitic worms and lice.

Najma Dharani and Abiy Yenesew have used their extensive combined knowledge to bring you the ultimate guide to medicinal plants. Moreover, the authors certainly know what they’re talking about. Dharani is an ecologist and senior lecturer in plant sciences, while Yenesew is a professor of chemistry, specialising in organic chemistry. Together, they offer unique insights backed by decades of scientific research and understanding.

Each plant comes with extensive photographs of the plant in its entirety, as well as close ups of the leaves, flowers, and (where relevant) bark. In addition, every entry has a comprehensive description to make sure you correct in your identification. 

Even better, the plant ecology and geographic spread are noted, allowing you to be certain you’re dealing with the right plant.

But the most interesting information is the breakdown of everything you need to know to use these plants. From which plant parts to use, and how to prepare them – while ensuring that you do this using the correct dosage - and a helpful guide to the active ingredients, you’ll be a herbalist in no time at all.

That’s not all. An Illustrated Guide to Medicinal Plants of East Africa also contains info on conservation, as well as an index to both the common and scientific names of each entry.

Finally, there’s also a helpful list of common medical ailments, and which plants can be used for them – saving you time, and helping you learn the major medicinal groupings.

This book is ideal for every home, especially if you’d like to venture towards herbal medicine and cultivate your own first aid garden.

An Illustrated Guide to Medicinal Plants of East Africa, by Najma Dharani and Abiy Yenesew is published by Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa.

Review: A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa, by Johan Marais

 

Rating: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential

What is it? Field guide

Ideal for fans of: the great outdoors, animals, or fact collectors

What makes it special? Comprehensive, fully illustrated and easy to use

Get it in South Africa from: Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa

In South Africa, it’s snake season. Summer means that hikers, nature lovers and gardeners need to be on the lookout lest they end up with a puncture wound or worse.

Thankfully, Johan Marais and Struik Nature have you covered. Whether you’re totally clueless when it comes to snakes or a full-blown herpetologist, this book is ideal for your collection. However, by the time you’ve read through this volume, you’ll go from novice to pro. Marais’ book is essentially a crash course in herpetology.  

Don’t be deceived by the unassuming cover. This book contains a literal treasure trove of snake facts. The contents are divided into five groups for ease of reference. Once you’ve established whether the snake in question is an adder/viper, cobra, mamba, venomous, non-venomous, or blind, you can really get into the nitty gritty details.

For example, I can confirm that a snake we encountered walking our dogs along the river was a harmless brown water snake.

So, thankfully, we don’t need a new walking route. 

However, as an aside, the term ‘harmless’ here is a little subjective. While the brown water snake poses no threat to me or three large dogs, not everyone is free to make that claim. After all, I can’t say the same for the poor frog that’s about to be dinner, as shown here.

But back to A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa. Each entry features SO MUCH information. This includes a full-colour photograph (although most of the snakes have been shown from different angles. They know their good sides, and the camera loves them). Then there’s a map illustrating the animal’s geographic distribution, along with a detailed illustration of head shape. We’re not done. There’s also that all-important note on whether said snake is venomous or not (and if that’s the case, Marais has included first-aid procedure, which could literally save your life!) Finally, there’s a handy size guide –snake lengths are compared to a human arm, making the phrase ‘it was this big’ more valuable than ever.

And, as they say in the infomercials, that’s not all. Each entry has detailed notes on the snake’s markings, colour, habitat, similar species, feeding information, behaviours, scientific and common names, as well as how these critters reproduce.

Honestly, who needs Google?

This book is more than a field guide for snakes. It’s an encyclopaedia that is as easy to use as it is impressive. What’s more, it fits nicely into a backpack, so you’ll never need to be without this information.

A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa by Johan Marais is published by Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa.

Review: Vetplant Fairies, by Fiona Moodie, Ingrid de Kok and Antjie Krog

Rating: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential

What is it? Illustrated, children’s poetry

Ideal for fans of: Fynbos Fairies (Antjie Krog and Fiona Moodie)

What makes it special? Gorgeous illustrations and adorable prose; also available in Afrikaans

Get it in South Africa from: Umuzi, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa

What do you get when you combine two South African literary legends with an illustrator extraordinaire? A visual treat that’s not just for children! Yes, Vetplant (succulent) Fairies might be marketed as a children’s book, but let’s be honest. Plant lovers everywhere will be dying to get their hands on this little volume, too.

Vetplant Fairies isn’t just attractive because it’s the work of a few powerhouse South African literary figures. Of course, the writers and illustrators share a huge amount of accolades, including literary awards, art exhibitions across the globe, and more books than you can count. But this title is special. It comes at a time when South Africans acknowledge the importance, freedom and sheer beauty of the outdoors. 

After a global pandemic that had us holed up inside for months, this call to nature is a breath of fresh air. So why not take Vetplant Fairies on your next great adventure, and see if you can spot all the books' residents. 

This book features fifteen of Southern Africa’s best-known succulents. Euphorbia, lithops, aloe, hoodia and crassula all feature! Accompanying a full-page, full-colour illustration of each plant (with accompanying wildlife and fairies) is a carefully penned poem. Some are whimsical, some sad, but all of them are ideal for read-alongs with little ones.

Aside from the pictures and text, this book also serves to educate young and old readers about some of the region’s most beautiful (and occasionally scarce) plants. It’s a visual diary of a few of natures biggest delights, and it is timeless.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to see about having some of these images copied and framed. They’re that impressive.

Vetplant Fairies, by Fiona Moodie, Ingrid de Kok and Antjie Krog is published by Umuzi, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa.