OYSTERHOOD is reclusiveness or solitude, or an overwhelming desire to stay at home.
I have such a weak spot for Elgin, the people, the apples, the wine and THE STORIES. And there is, of course, the wonderful Liberty Books in Grabouw (if you haven’t been yet, do go – it is just off the N2, and no reader will regret stopping there to browse!). A few of Lester Walbrugh’s stories in Let It Fall Where It Will are set in the area and the manuscript is nearly ready for typesetting. Can’t wait to see this book on bookshelves, and I hope that we can have a launch in Elgin as soon as it is safe and possible to gather for such events.
Tonight, at the end of an intense Friday, I travelled to Elgin via my taste buds. ONE MAN BAND is a beautiful wine. Just perfect for the feast that was tonight’s dinner.
And thinking of great wines and restaurants: did you hear about the amazing Restaurant Rescue Project? These are partnerships that will probably save hundreds of livelihoods, and the people buying the vouchers are buying incredible experiences at a bargain price. It is one of those rare occasions when everyone involved can win. I love the idea of this initiative and wonder how it could be translated into the book world … I know my love will smile reading this: I might have an idea!
But it will have to wait for after the weekend. I am still working tomorrow, including selling books at the Alma Café Traders’ Market in the morning, but from Sunday, I am taking a few days off. Rest is badly needed. There is no point of working oneself into a stupor. And I am nearly there.
I have returned to book reviewing (pay or no pay – I just find it such an essential part of a vibrant literary community that I will try to fit a review a week into my schedule and focus on local books in the hope that they will find their way into the hearts of local readers). The first appeared in the Cape Times today. See previous post. Review spaces are shrinking, so let’s see how we can keep the ones that are still somehow functioning going.
Be kind. Wear a mask. Support local.
“Physical distancing remains one of the key strategies to curb this pandemic.”
— NICD
Karina Magdalena 