Our publicist Jean Fryer tell us what she thinks:
Rahla Xenopoulos’ debut novel is a beautifully written fictional account of what might have been the life and death of Bubbles Schroeder - the good-time girl with stars in her eyes who met her tragic end in 1949 at the tender age of 18.
I first read an early draft of Below Luck Level at the beginning of 2011. I distinctly remember, at certain points, stifling my chuckles (so as not to bother anyone in our open plan office) and at other points, swiftly wiping away a tear (before I worried anybody terribly).
This week is chock full of author events and book launches, so we thought we'd list them below for your convenience. Come and mingle with other book-lovers, meet wonderful authors and grab a bite to eat and drink as you hear more from these fascinating writers:
Wednesday 16 May
If you live in Johannesburg and are looking for something special to do this Mother's Day, join us at 2pm on Sunday 13 May for a tea with bestselling author Elizabeth Noble.
We're giving away three copies of the awesome The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide to you comic book fans.
If you've watched the recent movie starring Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson you'll be as excited about this incredible Marvel collection as we are!
Although Below Luck Level isn’t only about illness, Alzheimer’s and how it affects its sufferers (and their loves ones) is a central theme to the book. Do you write from any personal experience or did writing the book require a large amount of research?
On 10 April we launched The Wall – a Penguin Facebook page aimed at Young Adult readers in South Africa. This is a place where people who enjoy YA fiction can unleash their creativity, talk about the books they are reading, become book reviewers and generally debate any topic under the sun (plus win some great prizes!).
The birth of Christianity, nearly 2000 years ago, has shaped the whole course of human history. Yet historians still cannot explain how it all really began. What made Jesus’s followers claim to have seen him alive again, three days after his crucifixion? Why did Christianity take off so quickly?
It is one of the biggest and most profound of all historical mysteries. This extraordinary book, based on seven years of secret research by a brilliant historian, finally provides the answer. And it lies with an enigmatic relic long assumed to be a fake: the Shroud of Turin.
Feeling lucky?
We've got three sets of books to give away, each containing one copy of Jane Green's latest book The Patchwork Marriage and one copy of The Extraordinary Book of South African Rugby by Wim can der Berg.