Long Walk To Freedom - The Movie

As the movie "Long Walk To Freedom" continues to gather reviews around the world, people continue to want to learn more about South Africa and the country it was while Nelson Mandela was in prison. The thriller "Operation Genocide" will take you on a journey into the apartheid South Africa of the 1980s. Read it today.

Book Bargains For Christmas

Visit www.stairwaypress.com!

The Joneses

This is supposed to be fiction, but is it? A seemingly perfect family moves into a flash mansion. Soon the neighbours covet their lifestyle: the gadgets, the cars, the clothes. They choose to believe that all those material possessions will help their families become as happy as the Joneses. Now how is that different from our reality? Every magazine advert is designed to make the consumer believe that we will be prettier, slimmer, healthier and happier if only we use a particular lipstick or drink a particular protein shake. An enjoyable movie with an important message, but personally I was hoping for a bit more bang.

Cloudy Cloud Atlas

Anybody else confused by Cloud Atlas, the movie? I couldn’t get through the book (the narration style didn’t suit me), and I watched the first half of the movie with avid interest and a complete lack of understanding what on earth was going on.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the acting, loved the settings, was riveted by the various threads of the story (the futuristic Seoul being my favourite), but as far as putting them all together went, no luck.

Here are some links to help you decipher this brilliant yet baffling story:

• http://au.eonline.com/news/357482/cloud-atlas-five-things-to-know-before-seeing-the-trippy-flick
• http://www.vulture.com/2012/10/guide-to-the-characters-and-connections-of-cloud-atlas-confused.html
• http://www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/six-keys-to-cloud-atlas
• http://io9.com/still-confused-by-cloud-atlas-infographic-featurette-505751083

Writer's Musings On Le Lagon (Port Villa)

It’s been almost a month since our get-away break at Le Lagon in Port Vila, Vanuatu, and still, the memories linger. As far as tropical island holiday resorts go, it’s one of the best this side of the equator. 

Here’s why:

·         The property is vast, it’s almost like a village all to itself, with spotlessly clean bures hiding in  immaculately maintained gardens. It really is like living in paradise, even if you don’t pay extra for a private villa or an over-water island bure.

·         The property is outside the actual city of Port Vila – close enough that a taxi ride takes just a few minutes, far enough that you don’t hear the noise.

·         The staff are all super friendly and super helpful. When my son hurt his finger during our excursion to the waterfall, a concerned Le Lagon receptionist called us to find out how he’s doing.

·         The food at the resort’s Wild Ginger restaurant is out of this world. Seafood and Asian influences dominate, but you also find French influences here when it comes to Crème Brûlée and the general presentation of the courses.

·         The poolside bar will serve you drinks inside the pool. There are even bar stools under the water for your convenience.

·         The spa pool is huge and a welcome relief on cooler evenings.

·         The beach is the perfect place to look at the starfish, hire a kayak or lounge with a book.

I can't wait to go back. Oh, and my latest novel was born there. My daughter was having braids put into her hair (it took two hours as her hair is long and thick), so while I waited, I started to scribble. Watch this space...