Exclusive Books have tempting holiday reads of fiction, non-fiction, young adult and children’s titles on the recommended reading list for April – available instore at one of their 42 branches, online, phone and Uber Eats!
Exclusive Books recommended titles are merchandised in front of all their stores every month and are carefully curated in different categories. The aim is to assist customers to see at a glance, and in a short space of time, titles that are new, trending and have caught the eyes of the Exclusive Books buyers in among 1000’s and 1000’s of titles. There are choices for all genre tastes, and now the dedicated EBR for children will offer an even wider and deeper rage for younger readers. https://www.exclusivebooks.co.za/page/exclusive-books-recommends
All titles are presented on dedicated Exclusive Books Recommends display units where the books are grouped together with shelf talkers in-store for the entire month of the promotion. Fanatics members also earn a whopping 200 bonus points on their purchases from the list during April.
There are 13 fiction titles for April. A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe is extraordinary. Brilliant writing, completely fresh and unique, moving, elegant and memorable. Booth is a triumph! No one writes like Karen Joy Fowler. With wit, heart, and revelatory insight, she teases ghosts from their shadows, transforming the way we see the past, shedding new light on our troubled present. Packed with edge-of-your-seat suspense, memorable characters, explosive action and razor-sharp plotting, Dark Horse confirms Gregg Hurwitz’s place alongside Lee Child, David Baldacci, James Patterson and Harlan Coben as a master of the modern thriller. Daughter Of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is a vivid, unputdownable debut effortlessly whisking readers into the celestial realms of Chinese high fantasy. A captivating treat for lovers of Chinese fantasy dramas and newcomers alike.
The Dictator’s Wife by Freya Barry is a fascinating exploration of absolute power, female agency and the complexities of complicity. Atmospheric, claustrophobic and elegantly written. The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs is a sensual feast of a novel, written with elegance, beauty, charm and skill in a voice that is both lyrical and unique. This book is an intriguing story with characters that leap off the page and live, but what sets it apart from its contemporaries is Abbs’ outstanding prose. In Lessons of Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus character Elizabeth Zott is an iconic heroine – a feminist who refuses to be quashed, a mother who believes that her child is a person to behold, rather than to mould, and who will leave you, and the lens through which you see the world, quite changed. Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson is the story of Clara Button who is no ordinary librarian. While the world remains at war, in East London Clara has created the country’s only underground library, built over the tracks in the disused Bethnal Green tube station. Down here a secret community thrives with thousands of bunk beds, a nursery, a cafe and a theatre offering shelter, solace and escape from the bombs that fall above. Author Quraisha Dawood of Stirring the Pot dives into the swirl of madams and maids, women and their husbands, children, grandchildren, and in-laws, a world bristling with life and vitality, amid judgments and forgiveness, secrets and lies, expectations and disappointments.
Love Marriage by Monica Ali is a gloriously vibrant and tender novel packed with wit, intelligence and wisdom. It has everything – clashing cultures, family rifts, suppressed addictions, desire, passion. Her two junior doctor protagonists are superbly drawn – flawed, courageous, flailing, human. Just brilliant! In Run. Rose, Run by Dolly Parton with James Patterson every song tells a story. She’s a star on the rise, singing about the hard life behind her. She’s also on the run. Find a future, lose a past. Nashville is where she’s come to claim her destiny. It’s also where the darkness she’s fled might find her. And destroy her. In The Man Who Loves Crocodile Tamers by Finuala Dowling, Gina knows hardly anything about her father apart from the fact that he was once engaged to Koringa, a crocodile tamer, and that he is buried in an unmarked grave. In between shifts at a call centre, with doubt always looking over her shoulder, she works on a novel about him, ultimately drawing back the curtain on a complex, sad but also funny and enchanting life. “I wasn’t sure Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart could live up to Shuggie Bain, but it surpasses it. Deeply harrowing but gently infused with hope & love. And so exquisitely written. It’s a joy to watch, in real time, as Douglas Stuart takes his place as one of the greats of Scottish literature.” —Nicola Sturgeon.
There are 14 non-fiction titles in April. In I Recce , volume 3 – Through Stealth Our Strength by Alexander Strachan (also available in Afrikaans) the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale has been a source of fierce contestation and emotion for decades, but up to now little was known about the Recces’ presence and impact during this controversial battle. Packed with suspense, adrenaline, high drama and unforgettable accounts by ex-Recces who experienced these adventures personally. In Abundance, Deepak Chopra offers a simple seven-step plan to help you reset your focus, become the agent of your own life and strive for life’s unbounded possibilities. The Betrayal of Anne Frank author Rosemary Sullivan introduces us to the investigators, explains the behaviour of both the captives and their captors and profiles a group of suspects. All the while, she vividly brings to life wartime Amsterdam: a place where no matter how wealthy, educated, or careful you were, you never knew whom you could trust. Better Choices Ensuring South Africa‘s Future by Greg Mills is a must-read, accessible and skilful account of South Africa’s socio-economic challenges, policy and governance choices.
Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership by Dr. Tim Elmore helps leaders of all kinds navigate increasingly complex, rapidly changing environments, as well as manage teams who bring a range of new demands and expectations to the workplace that haven’t been seen even one generation prior. In climbing the Seven Summits, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado author of In The Shadow of the Mountain did nothing less than take back her own life—one brave step at a time. She will inspire untold numbers of souls with this story, for her victory is a win on behalf of all of us. In this brilliant and concise exposition, Francis Fukuyama author of Liberalism and Its Discontents sets out the cases for and against its classical premises: observing the rule of law, independence of judges, means over ends, and most of all, tolerance. Pithy, to the point, and ever pertinent, this is political dissection at its very best.
Great cities are complex, chaotic and colossal. These are cities that dominate the world stage and define eras; where ideas flourish, revolutions are born and history is made. Ten Cities by Paul Strathern is an important book. Too White to be Coloured, Too Coloured to be Black by Ismail Lagardien is a hybrid narrative, blending memoir with social commentary and political analysis. Always in search of “home”, the book tracks Lagardien’s vast experiences of a deeply lived life, always against a backdrop of “unbelonging”. Liz McGregor author of Unforgiven has always been a great journalist but only South Africa could have wrung out of her this single-minded account of the murder of her beloved father. The book is an indescribable duty, exquisitely done. In Witnessing – From the Rwandan tragedy to healing in South Africa author Pie-Pacifique recounts his childhood and his experiences of the genocide. He prepares to flee and ends up in South Africa. He works as a car guard in Durban, dreaming of university. Despite obstacles, he enrols at university and receives the Mandela-Rhodes Scholarship. In this rewarding journey of self-discovery, we witness Pie-Pacifique reach for his dreams.
EB recommends for children
“To build on the popularity of EB Recommends, and to enhance our offering in children’s books, we are launching Exclusive Books Recommends for children. This will offer all the benefits we have seen in adult books – a curated list, a customer quick reference, Fanatics points, and inside info on the best books for young readers. Each month, the EBR kids will be published, and will receive the same attention we give to adults EBR – through newsletters, online, publicity, Fanatics, social media and instore display.” – Batya Bricker – Exclusive Books Marketing, Loyalty and Procurement – General Manager.
There are two titles in the 0 – 5 children’s category. These titles are displayed in the children’s section with shelf-talkers. Marmalade the Orange Panda by David Walliams is a gorgeous and endearing story and a celebration of family love, being yourself and finding your place in the world. It is the perfect story to share with your special someone – big or little. Empowering and inspiring, Wonderfully Made by Tshwanelo Serumola is a book of positive affirmations for brown girls of all shades, sizes and shapes. This book teaches girls to not only embrace, but to truly celebrate their unique appearance and talents while encouraging them to dream big and to be creative.
There are 3 titles in the 6 – 13 age category. Wilbur Smith’s Shockwave describes how Jack on the pretext of making a film for his mother’s environmental protection work wangles an expedition to the Arctic with his friends Amelia and Xander and cousin Caleb. But Xander’s investigations into the mysterious backers funding their adventure raises Jack’s suspicions. Is the renewable energy investment company really as environmentally responsible as it claims to be? While sledding with dogs, ice fishing, driving snowmobiles and sleeping in a self-made igloo, accidents beset them. Touching on themes of historical racism, The Lion Above the Door by Onjali Q. Rauf shines a light on the stories our history books have yet to contain and the power of friendships that can last through generations. What’s New, Harper Drew? By Kathy Weeks fizzes with fun. From friendship dramas to family catastrophes, it’s a perfect choice for fans of funny.
The last 5 titles are Teens and YA. In Anatomy by Dana Schwartz the reader will root for the lionhearted heroine from page one? Check. Dark academia vibes? Check. Cheeky romantic banter that will make you blush? Check, check and CHECK. Read this gripping, ridiculously clever tale only if you’re fully prepared to be haunted by its revelations about life and death while also swooning at the idea of flirting with someone in an open grave. In One Of Us Is Lying (TV Tie In) by Karen M. McManus five students go to detention. Only four leave alive. Yale hopeful Bronwyn has never publicly broken a rule. Sports star Cooper only knows what he’s doing in the baseball diamond. Bad boy Nate is one misstep away from a life of crime. Prom queen Addy is holding together the cracks in her perfect life. And outsider Simon, creator of the notorious gossip app at Bayview High, won’t ever talk about any of them again. In Mieke 2: Spikkelsterre op Mtwana deur Christien Neser Mieke se pad kruis met Sasha Dyssel, Miss Eco Warrior Limpopo-finalis, wat die skool en Mtwana se gas is. Fen en al die graadsewe-seuns verloor hul hart op die mooie Sasha. Maar dis Mieke wat die dieper kant van die meisie leer ken, en uitvind waarom sy en Smiley, die outjie wat gedurig ‘n nuwe blouoog het, soveel in gemeen het. Die ontkoping is die finaal van Miss Eco Warrior, met afskeid en oorgang vir beide Mieke en Fen wat deur die storie verweef is. The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder finds two girl treasure hunters. One sleeping prince. A hundred-year-old curse and one very angry witch. Fantasy with m/f and f/f romance for fans of CINDERELLA IS DEAD. A pacey, fractured twist on a classic fairy tale! In The Sky is Everwhere by Jandy Nelson seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to centre stage of her own life – and suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two boys.
Under the current Lockdown 1 Covid-19 restrictions Exclusive Books are hosting real-life book launches again – albeit with restricted number. Exclusive Books are still hosting authors on webinars and everyone who is signed up for fanatics will receive news about events https://mailchi.mp/exclusivebooks/our-outstanding-July-digital-events-826790?e=f1bb69eb69 or alternatively can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ExclusiveBooks/ , Instagram https://www.instagram.com/exclusivebooks/ , Twitter http://www.twitter.com/exclusivebooks or www.exclusivebooks.co.za Visit www.exclusivebooks.co.za for their new and improved gift voucher offering – beautiful templates for every occasion and the ability to personalise messages and time delivery.
Ways to order books from Exclusive Books:
- Exclusive Books powered by Uber-Eats is the most exciting new way to purchase books. Food for the mind and soul! Simply order your book on the Uber-Eats platform – you will find us as one of the vendors along with your favourite restaurant, order your book as you normally would for food, and get it delivered (still hot) within an hour.
- Exclusive to Exclusive Books, and available in all SA towns and cities, where there is an Exclusive Books, except Botswana, Namibia and Nelspruit.
- Phone-in is a new option. Would you love to chat to a real bookseller, but not so keen to come into the store? Simply phone your local Exclusive Books and complete your transaction over the phone. Your order will be delivered to your doorstep in 36 hours.
- In-Store is still the best place to browse and the Exclusive Books staff will take due care to ensure the safety of their staff and customers in line with the government, WHO and the NICD. All stores are open will implement weekly deep cleaning, face masks for staff, instore sanitisers and encourage social distancing.
- Online via the website www.exclusivebooks.co.za and delivery to your doorstep in 36 hours.(free delivery for order R450 and up) or phone your favourite local store – we will deliver within a 20 km radius of the store for orders R450 and up.
Exclusive Books trading hours are:
Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Sunday: 9am – 1pm
Exclusive Books is one of South Africa’s largest bookselling chains with stores throughout South Africa, and one store in Gaborone, Botswana and in Namibia.
JOIN FANATICS | BUY BOOKS | EARN POINTS | GET REWARDS
Jan's Book Buzz 
Leave a Reply