Afrikaans books to read this year

Afrikaans could be called a pretty popular language in South Africa, and there are many people who speak it as a first, second, or even third language. But what if you’d like to find some good Afrikaans books – though have no idea where to start?

Here are some of the most popular current book releases, what they’re about, and why you might want to read them when you’re making up your reading list for the last part of the year.

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AFRIKAANS BOOKS: DEUR DIE TONNEL VAN TWYFEL (KOOS KOMBUIS)

ENGLISH: THROUGH THE TUNNEL OF DOUBT

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‘Deur die tonnel van twyfel’ or ‘Through the tunnel of doubt’ is the new essay collection by masterful singer-songwriter and author Koos Kombuis. If you’re familiar with the Voëlvry-movement or Lisa se klavier, then you’re already on the right track – and if you don’t know what that means, you’re about to discover a whole new facet of South Africa.

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The book explores thoughts of the author’s religious upbringing. He talks about Christanity, identity, the church, and the future of what could be a very confused generation.

ENGLISH: SON OF A WHORE (HERMAN LATEGAN)

‘Son of a Whore’ is the life story of author Herman Lategan, whom you might not know yet (but will want to several pages into the book). It’s a story of a very powerful and interesting life – and this makes it a wonderful exploration of life in South Africa told from the perspective of someone who is living it.

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Originally released in Afrikaans as ‘Hoerkind’, the memoire has also made it to a successful stage production

AFRIKAANS BOOKS: LEO (DEON MEYER)

ENGLISH: LEO

If you’re into hard-boiled mysteries and late-night action movies, ‘Leo’ by Deon Meyer is the Afrikaans novel right up your alley. According to Goodreads, the tale tells the story of several found bodies – and of course, the trail that leads from them to the murderer (or is it murderers?).

From the author also responsible for the highly successful television adaptation of Orion.

AFRIKAANS: ERF EN ELDERS (KLEINBOER)

If you’re into poetry and might be learning Afrikaans, try Kleinboer – a fascinating poet who often jokes that he might be the last white man living in Yeoville. According to an introduction on LitNet. this is his latest poetry collection – about life, the universe, and everything.