Review of Mary Manning's Damaged in Transit

There are many odd characters who people the stories in Mary Manning’s debut collection of short fiction, Damaged in Transit. Some are beyond saving: the creepy loner in The Painter, the old woman who decides to give up in Traffic Island, or the two-time criminal in Poor Old Money. Sometimes it’s too late for redemption, as in Love You, while in Black Opal, the events of the story will play out, utterly devoid of mercy. In some stories, such as in Customer Care and The Third Great Bang, Manning explores something beyond realism, segueing into fantasy and elements of science fiction...Read more here 

Bedding down in Jozi

Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa

When I think “five-star hotel in Sandton”, I immediately think “high rise chain hotel” – the ones where the staff have a stock standard greeting for each guest, rooms are decorated in the same way, the service is predictably good, and your stay is comfortable, but not memorable. Fairlawns is the antithesis of this...Read more here