Launch of The Lucky Bean Tree
The Book Collector extends a warm invitation to the launch of The Lucky Bean Tree by Sheila Pike at their new premises in the Royal Centre, 141 Main Road, Hermanus, on Saturday, 16 December at 12 noon. David Hilton-Barber, publisher of the book, will be in conversation with Patrick Chapman.
This is a tongue-in-cheek, often hilarious account of the dysfunctional lives of a group of expatriates in Mozepwe, a fictitious former colony. Stella, the central character, wonders if she is the Scarlett O’Hara of Africa, as she juggles with her various roles as hostess, fashion designer, lover, secret agent and spy.
Dumped two years ago by her husband Nic, a defected colonel, 40-year-old Stella is now back at 46 Livingstone Avenue, home of her philanthropic father, sewing and cooking for the women of Premier Mpofus corrupt administration. As she works Stella reflects on her failed marriage, the lives of her parents and of her racist, oversexed in-laws. When she is at her lowest she remembers the young son she lost during the recent civil war.
Galloping inflation means extra work at the bridge club, last bastion of the ‘Ancient Britons^ where she falls in love with Dan and for several months life is bliss. Is she going to live happily ever after? No, Ephraim, who is preparing to oust Mpofu, needs her to spy for him. She is well placed for this but continually runs afoul of the Security Police. Then, to add to her burden, she adopts Aids orphans while her father offers shelter to one after another of his indigent friends – all that extra food and gin.
Everything starts to go wrong when Dan disappears and Nic, stoned on marijuana, demands to be taken back. She is persuaded to help to escape mercenaries because, as a child, she
toured the country with her do-gooding mother and knows of back roads to evade the Police. Everything spirals out of control when she is witness to a massacre and Stella realizes she must get away for a while.
Safely in Britain, Dan reappears and offers Stella hope for a brighter future, but Nic is pleading for her to return and she feels the pull of Africa. What shall she do?
About the author: Sheila Pike was educated in what was Salisbury (now Harare) and then at the University of Cape Town (BA Ed) where her only claim to fame was to be Rag Queen. Her career was in teaching and then in accounting. She has seldom lived in any one place for more than 8 – 10 years and now lives in Wales.
New library books available January 2018
ADLER-OLSEN, JUSSIE – The scarred woman
ALLENDE, ISABEL – In the midst of winter
BROWN, DAN-Origin
LEE CHILD -The midnight line
COLE, MARTINA – Damaged
DEMILLE, NELSON -The Cuban affair
FLYNN, VINCE – Enemy of the state
GREEN, JOHN – Turtles all the way down
GREGORY, PHILIPPA – The last Tudor
GRISHAM, JOHN -The rooster bar
HOFFMAN, ALICE – The rules of magic
MANKELL, HENNING – After the fire
PARK, TONY-The cull
JAMES PATTERSON – Haunted
PERRY, TASMINA – Pool house
RILEY, LUCINDA -The pearl sister
ROBB, J.D. – Secrets in death
ROSE, KAREN – The edge of darkness
VINCENZI, PENNY – A question of trust
BRANSON, RICHARD – Finding my virginity
The Friends of Hermanus Library (FOHL) hosted their final Bhuki Cafe on Friday 1 December and will reopen on 19 January 2018. FOHL wish all their friends, supporters and volunteers a peaceful festive season and thank them for their wonderful support throughout the year.