Sol y Sombra deur Uys Krige

Afrikaans soos dit moet wees, soos Dana Snyman vandag, voor die afdwingers ons begin voorsê het hoe om te skryf. Afrikaans, lewendig, kleurvol, kragtig.

Uys Krige skryf uit Spanje sketse van Barcelona, Valencia en Almeria, asook die omliggende platteland.

As ek my hand uitsteek, lê die dag soos ‘n warm lui akkedis in my palm.

Who Hath Desired the Sea memoirs of Peter Gerard

Peter Gerard is the nom de plume of Mrs Charles Pears. She has started sailing at an early age, reportedly being entirely self-taught.

The book is in effect a collection of descriptions of cruises she undertook between the two World Wars, starting with dinghies at Torquay, and ending with her own ship, confined to harbour by wartime activities.

Despite my rather uninspiring description of the theme of the book, the language is colourful and the reader gets a good introduction to the sailing life. In addition there are intereting sidelights on the progress in women's rights.

Return with Honor by Captain Scott O'Grady with Jeff Coplon

Scott O'Grady ejected from his F-16 fighter aircraft over Bosnia on 2 June 1995, after it was hit by an SA-6 anti-aircraft missile. He was rescued on the 8th of June, by a team of US Marines.

Despite the dust jacket blurb, Captain O'Grady's story is not too harrowing. He had been taught the rules of survival, and survived because of that. He moved at night, staying hidden during the day. His main problems were cold and thirst.

The book is a good read, and seems to some extent to be a US Air Force recruitment publication. Not surprising, really, because he would not have been free to publish at will while still serving. Nevertheless, O'Grady is a patriotic and loyal American, and I believe the story accurately reflects his values. The story is as much about the escape as about O'Grady's career in the Air Force. It gradually builds the picture of what made him believe that his people would come to fetch him. This belief, as much as his tenacity, is what made his rescue possible.

Churchill's bodyguard by Tom Hickman

This book is "The authorised biography of Walter H Thompson, based on his complete memoirs."

Walter Thompson was Churchill's bodyguard throughout the Second World War. He learned to work with Churchill long before, from 1921 guarding him from Sinn Fein threats. Churchill got him back for the War, and they spent more time together than with anybody else.

The Enlgish Patient by Michael Ondaatje

I've seen the movie, now I've read the book, and I am no more wiser than I was. To start with, it makes no sense to me that I seriously wounded person, presumably civilian, would be brough from the Desert war to Italy to be cared for in a military hospital.

It may be pretty, but it's mostly weird to me. Maybe I'm just too stupid to understand.