TRY THIS ONE FOR SIZE. By James Hadley Chase

The winner takes it all... but what if eventually there is no winner at all despite the high stakes? Chase is one of the few writers who can pull such a scenario off! Another brilliant plot with a priceless icon involved; with international ripples.

Many characters made famous by the author are present here; including proficient art thieves, the notorious, ruthless Herman Radnitz, and Tom Lepski the indomitable Cop. As the story unfolds, with the icon stolen, it becomes clear that all the parties involved hardly trust each other, and are ready to double cross each other.

We are introduced to a new, young unconscionable killer, the younger Holtz whose evil mien startles even the cruel Radnitz himself. "Radnitz stubbed out his cigar (shaken). It was as if death had walked out of the room, and Radnitz feared death..." The action reaches a peak - with everybody somehow losing

-         Paul Lothane

GLIMPSES INTO AFRICAN LITERATURE. By I. Mzwandile Soqaga

This book swiftly introduces the reader to African writing generally over the years, and decades; including many key writers, and books. It is unfortunate that some writers who might be household names in their home countries might not be known at all in other African countries. But it is good to learn.

A negative here is that too few female writers are focused on in this book, though in general quite a number of them are mentioned. At least there is a chapter on Grace Ogot, an early outstanding east African woman writer. I also liked the tribute to Assia Djebar, a truly brilliant north African female scholar and creative writer.   

Essays here include pieces on Ola Rotimi, Sonne Dipoko, Don Mattera, Peter Abrahams, Amos Tutuola, Njabulo Ndebele,  Flaxman Qoopane,  Pule  Lebuso, Okot p'bitek, Mbulelo Mzamane, O Bolaji,  Asare Konadu, and Camara Laye. There is also an interesting piece on Literary Criticism/Critics in Africa.

-         Madolyn Chukwu