Available at all good bookstores, courtesy of Penguin Books South Africa.
So,
Chic Jozi. I've been threatening to review it for months and months. But the problem is, I've been too busy reading it, reading it again and re-reading it. I even - no jokes now - keep it in the bathroom, right next to the loo, for ready referral. (And by that I mean to cast no aspersions whatsoever on it.)
Penned by prolific Jozi scribe, Nikki Temkin, this pink-'n-black mini-tome is a resource for must-knows related to shopping, preening, eating, jolling, chilling, decorating and other critical pre-occupations - and its author has clearly done her research.
Which must have been
heavenly [she italicises jealously].
From secret spots for glorious trinkets to top facialists and nail experts; superb restaurants to plain and simple good ideas for sunshine fun,
Chic Jozi has it all. It's also tiny. Handbag-sized, really. Which is useful. And it's good for new info, or to remind you of 'that place' you've meant to check out.
I was particularly smug about the fact that I'd been there and done that, mostly, until I came nose to page with a coupla tip-offs I'd never even
heard of, let alone mastered. So that just goes to show.
One thing, though. I'm a bit puzzled by the constant, albeit thorough, reference to kosher stores, restaurants and resources, as I hadn't thought these to be important to most (waspy) Joburgers - much less
chic. But if, like me, Temkin's readers are mostly kugels, so be it. Good to know. I guess.
Buy it. It's cute.
www.tiffanymarkman.co.za
; Lori Lansens' superlative The Wife's Tale
(think Wally Lamb, but sadder, if that's even possible); and local copywriter Paige Nicks' fiction (I think?) debut: A Million Miles from Normal. Hang in there. I'll get to 'em. As soon as humanly possible, assuming I'm human. Promise.
(Jeffrey Eugenides)
(Gregory David Roberts)
(Audrey Niffenegger)
(Marita van der Vyver)
(Philippa Gregory)
(Wally Lamb)
(Dennis Lehane)
(Isabel Allende)