Book: Een Lewe 'n Biografie geskryf deur Professor Dr C N Barnard enCurtis Bill Pepper

Ever since my first visit to the Heart of Cape Town museum a couple of years ago, I was fascinated by the first heart transplant. They played a video as part of the tour and I was hooked on the story, charm and achievements of Prof Barnard. So I was thrilled to pick up this book at a second hand book store. 

A wonderful December holiday read. I wondered whether I would still finish it this year. I battled to put it down! And was way ahead of schedule to finish it. It is a wonderfully well written Afrikaans book. I am in awe of his achievements, not too phased with his private life, although it is not too clear how much support his first wife gave him. 

There is a sequel, Die Tweede Lewe.

Die Tweede Lewe, Chris Barnard

I was absolutely thrilled to have found the follow up to Dr. Chris Barnard's "Een Lewe", as it felt that it just ended in mid-air. As I have mentioned before I am in awe of his achievements as a heart surgeon. What an incredible feat to be the first person to transplant a heart! He had a brilliant mind and was incredibly innovative with new techniques in heart surgery and even coming up with a solution to have two hearts in a chest if one heart was not strong enough.

In my review of Een Lewe, I indicated that I wasn't too sure how much support his first wife gave him; I don't think that was fair. I actually feel incredibly sorry for her. I think fame and the excitement of all the opulence took centre stage in Dr. Barnard's life (which one can understand taking his humble beginnings into consideration); at functions he would be socialising with everyone, and instead of making sure that Louwtjie (his wife), was by his side, she was pretty much sidelined and had to fend for herself. Now if networking and socialising is not your cup of tea and you don't know anyone, this could be hell. So, instead of keeping an eye on her, he pretty much kept an eye on all the other skirts in the room. 

Personally, I felt that there was waaay too much about his private life shared in this book that was just too much information [TMI]. 

I do like his writing style and again worked through the book quite quickly. 

Book: Number 10, Sue Townsend

On my journey to catch up on classics last year, I started reading the Adrian Mole diary series by Sue Townsend and was hooked. 

I was keen to read one of her other, non-diary books as well and gave Number 10 a go. Sadly I did not enjoy it as much. In the true, beautiful, literary sense to phrase it as eloquently as possible, it was "meh". 

Book: The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, Sue Townsend

Such a fun series, looking forward to the next installment.

Book: Star Wars, The Courtship of Princess Leia, Dave Wolverton

This is a very different genre to what I normally read. Mark is a massive Star Wars fan and suggested I read this book. I have managed to sit through Episode four, five and six and did like Han Solo (or Hans Olo as I like to tease Mark). I do like his oneliners. It did take me some time to get into the book, did however enjoy it. 

Book: Sh*t My Dad Says, Justin Halpern

A wonderfully sweet book, showing the relationship between the youngest son (Justin), and his 73 year old dad.  

Book: Gang Town, Don Pinnock

For me, this book was a bit like swimming in syrup. Not exactly light Christmas reading. In 'The President's Keepers' reference was made to gang  involvement, which was incredibly interesting. I was keen to learn more about the gangs. I suppose I was expecting a slightly different read. This book does give good and fairly detailed information about the gangs in Cape Town; I think I was hoping to read about more specific examples and insights.

The last two/three chapters about drugs and also what needs to be done was the most interesting.