The JRB latest
The Johannesburg Review of Books Vol. 4, Issue 1 (January 2020, The Conversation Issue)
Jason Reynolds • Itumeleng Molefi • Nicole Dennis-Benn • Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan • Lauren Michele Jackson • Ebrahim Essa •…
[Conversation Issue] ‘I know what lurks in the bushes. And that’s how I write the stories’—Jason Reynolds talks to Tony Eprile about resistance and the imagination
As part of our January Conversation Issue, author and Editorial Advisory Panel member Tony Eprile is in conversation with Jason…
[Sponsored] ‘Good luck with your murder …’ Read an excerpt from Amy Heydenrych’s twisty new thriller The Pact
What if a prank becomes murder? Jonathan Ball Publishers has shared an excerpt from The Pact, the new thriller by…
[Conversation Issue] ‘I won’t be polite, because there’s nothing polite about patriarchy’—Mona Eltahawy inspires (and triggers) at the Abantu Book Festival, reports Itumeleng Molefi
As part of our January Conversation Issue, Itumeleng Molefi reflects on Mona Eltahawy’s keynote address and conversation with Pumla Dineo…
[Conversation Issue] ‘I wanted to throw back the curtain on some of the things and places that “nice” people avoid talking about’—Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan talks to Ben Williams about her bestselling Singlish novel Sarong Party Girls
As part of our January Conversation Issue, The JRB Publisher Ben Williams chats to Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan about her debut…
[Sponsored] Find out more about Deepa Anappara’s Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line—hailed as 2020’s most powerful debut
In a sprawling Indian city, three friends venture into the most dangerous corners of to find their missing classmate ……
[Conversation Issue] ‘I seek out women who make unpopular decisions in my writing because they’re more interesting to me’—Nicole Dennis-Benn chats to Wamuwi Mbao about her bestselling novel, Patsy
As part of our January Conversation Issue, Wamuwi Mbao chats to Nicole Dennis-Benn about her work, the process of writing…
[Conversation Issue] ‘Appropriation is not in and of itself a bad thing, but the way it’s invoked in the culture makes it seem like it is’—Lauren Michele Jackson talks to Khanya Mtshali about her book, White Negroes
As part of our January Conversation Issue, Lauren Michele Jackson talks to Khanya Mtshali about her new book, White Negroes:…
[Sponsored] ‘Afrikaans-speaking doctor operates on Mandela’—Read an excerpt from Operation Mandela by Willem Laubscher
In Operation Mandela, Willem Laubscher tells the story of the time when he—a white, Afrikaans-speaking doctor—performed surgery on Nelson Mandela, and the…
[Conversation Issue] New creative non-fiction—‘The End of a Conversation’ by Julie Nxadi
Exclusive to The JRB, a new short story by Julie Nxadi. ~~~ The End of a Conversation I remember the first…
[Conversation Issue] [City Editor] Is it possible, or necessary, to write a friendlier and prettier Johannesburg? A conversation between Lidudumalingani and Outlwile Tsipane
As part of our January Conversation Issue, guest City Editor Lidudumalingani chats to Outlwile Tsipane about the literatures of Johannesburg….
[Sponsored] Reggie and Me – the new novel from James Hendry – the author of the bestselling A Year in the Wild and Back to the Bush
James Hendry’s new novel Reggie and Me is out from Pan Macmillan this February! Hendry is the bestselling author of A Year in…
[Conversation Issue] ‘Dispossession is the backdrop to every South African story’—Henrietta Rose-Innes in conversation with Gail Fincham about her forthcoming novel, Stone Plant
As part of our January Conversation Issue, Gail Fincham interviews Henrietta Rose-Innes about her work, including her forthcoming fifth novel,…
[Conversation Issue] On writing about religion, childhood and insecurities: Azad Essa transcribes a conversation between father and son
As part of our January Conversation Issue, journalist and author Azad Essa is in conversation with his father Ebrahim Essa,…
[Sponsored] Announcing the 2020 Dinaane Debut Fiction Award shortlist—three fresh new voices demanding attention
Header image: Previous winners of the EU Literary Award/Dinaane Debut Fiction Award The Jacana Literary Foundation has announced the shortlist…
Three new poems by Simon van Schalkwyk
The Johannesburg Review of Books presents new poetry by Simon van Schalkwyk. ~~~ A Question for the South Atlantic Ocean…
[Photo Editor] Original portraits of Sindiwe Magona, André Brink and Mongane Wally Serote by Victor Dlamini
Victor Dlamini is The JRB’s Photo Editor. We feature his work on our Instagram channel. Visit this ten-year retrospective of his work. Visit victordlamini.com. Header…
[The JRB Daily] Top 10 of 2019—A look back at our most popular articles of the year
This December marked the The JRB’s thirty-second issue, the final issue of our third volume. With the new year—but not…
The Johannesburg Review of Books Vol. 3, Issue 12 (December 2019, The Fiction Issue)
Abubakar Adam Ibrahim • Yewande Omotoso • Lelissa Girma • Sabata-mpho Mokae • Craig Higginson • Mphuthumi Ntabeni • Sifiso…
[Fiction issue] [The JRB exclusive] Read an excerpt from a work in progress by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
Exclusive to The JRB, an excerpt from a work in progress by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim. ~~~ Dinner was a celebration,…
[Sponsored] ‘The summer of 1975/76, somewhere on the border’—Read an extract from Borderline, the new novel by Marita van der Vyver
‘Some things don’t become easier when you grow older, she thinks while letting her cheek rest against his broad chest…
[Fiction issue] [The JRB exclusive] Read an excerpt from a work in progress by Yewande Omotoso
Exclusive to The JRB, an excerpt from An Unusual Grief, a work in progress by Editorial Advisory Panel member Yewande Omotoso. ~~~ Titus…
[Fiction Issue] ‘Middle, beginning or end’, a new short story by Lelissa Girma
The JRB presents a new short story by Lelissa Girma. Middle, beginning or end There was a series of confused…
[Sponsored] Find out more about The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney, the debut novel by Okechukwu Nzelu
The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney, the debut novel by Okechukwu Nzelu, is out now from Jonathan Ball Publishers. How do…
[Fiction Issue] ‘Mad About the Boy’, a new short story by Zanta Nkumane
The JRB presents a new short story by Zanta Nkumane. Mad About the Boy He comes to me one night,…
[Fiction Issue] ‘Georgia’s Errand’, a new short story by Sebastian Murdoch
The JRB presents a new short story by Sebastian Murdoch. Georgia’s Errand ‘Doesn’t that get boring?’ I ask Boone one…
[Sponsored] Join in and share the best in African literature across social media during #ReadingAfrica Week 2019 (1—7 Dec)
What are you reading at the moment? An old favourite? A new find? An undiscovered classic? Fiction, poetry, comics or…
[Fiction Issue] ‘The Survivors Group’, a new short story by Khanya Mtshali
The JRB presents a new short story by Khanya Mtshali. The Survivor’s Group Every Friday morning, just before her earliest…
[Fiction Issue] ‘Letters to a Heart’s Chambers’, a new short story by Jarred Thompson
The JRB presents a new short story by Jarred Thompson. This is the second of his stories to appear in…
[Sponsored] Read an excerpt from Father Michael’s Lottery by Johan Steyn—recently republished as a Picador Africa Heritage Classic
Pan Macmillan has shared an exclusive excerpt from Father Michael’s Lottery by Johan Steyn. First published in 2005, the novel was recently…
[Fiction Issue] ‘The Grass Beneath Us’, a new short story by Agatha Zaza
The JRB presents a new short story by Agatha Zaza. The Grass Beneath Us ‘Let’s start with the heat,’ said…
[Fiction Issue] ‘Take Me Away’, a new short story by Franki Jenkins
The JRB presents a new short story by Franki Jenkins. Take Me Away Hannelie had been working at the Super…
[Sponsored] ‘Here’s the boykie before he becomes a Bolshevik’—Find out more about Catching Tadpoles, the extraordinary coming-of-age memoir by Ronnie Kasrils
Catching Tadpoles: The Shaping of a Young Rebel, Ronnie Kasrils’s new memoir, reflects on the compelling questions that turned a…
[Fiction Issue] Read an excerpt from Sabata-mpho Mokae’s award-winning Setswana novel Moletlo wa Manong
The JRB presents an excerpt from Moletlo wa Manong, the award-winning Setswana novel by Sabata-mpho Mokae. Moletlo wa Manong was…
[Fiction issue] Read an excerpt from Craig Higginson’s forthcoming novel, The Book of Gifts
The JRB presents an excerpt from The Book of Gifts, the forthcoming novel from Craig Higginson. Higginson is the award-winning…
[Fiction issue] Read an excerpt from Sifiso Mzobe’s forthcoming short story collection, Searching for Simphiwe
The JRB presents an excerpt from ‘Ecstasy’, a short story from Sifiso Mzobe’s forthcoming collection, Searching for Simphiwe. Searching for…
