James Whyle's Blog, page 2
January 6, 2014
Walk - a fascinating story of survival.
Walk, writes Margaret von Klemperer in the Natal Witness, "contains within its less than 150 pages, a great deal of food for thought."
You can read the whole review here
You can read the whole review here
August 28, 2013
WALK
Walk is the story of a journey taken on foot in 1792, a deadly perambulation down the wild coastline of South Africa. It started at Lambasi in northern Pondoland and it ended not far from what we now know as Port Elizabeth. It is a hike that every South African should have the privilege of taking. For the survivors of the Grosvenor as they clambered onto the rocks on the 5th of August , they might as well have crash landed on Mars.
The epic tale of a boy's survival in the face of impossible odds.
The epic tale of a boy's survival in the face of impossible odds.
August 15, 2013
August 5, 2013
The Book of War on Kindle
The Book of War is available for £5.14 on Amazon UK
"A brilliant, unforgettable debut. Steeped in carnage. ... grips from the outset and soaks the imagination like blood in sand."
Andrew Donaldson in The Times.
"One is thrown ... into the heart of the action, in a state of dread and fascination induced by the dire events, the pristine setting and the perfection of the writing."
Mail & Guardian.
"A plot that circles like a vulture ... it is to the historical novel what David Lynch was to the TV drama."
Charl Blignaut in City Press
"Cuts to the bone."
GQ South Africa
"Can be reckoned with Denys Reitz's Commando."
Die Burger
"A triumphant mix of evocative period detail and modern social and political resonance."
The Witness
"In a sober style made out of short sentences, hand-picked words and balanced rhythm Whyle shows war for what it really is."
Hadrien Diez on AfricaBookClub.com
"Brutal and detailed."
Cape Times.
"A stunning debut novel, well written and... disturbing."
Pretoria News
"Gripping."
ArtsLink
"Whyle can write."
Business Day
"A great book in every sense of the word."
LitNet
"Brings events of yesteryear shockingly close."
Wanted at Large
"A brilliant, unforgettable debut. Steeped in carnage. ... grips from the outset and soaks the imagination like blood in sand."
Andrew Donaldson in The Times.
"One is thrown ... into the heart of the action, in a state of dread and fascination induced by the dire events, the pristine setting and the perfection of the writing."
Mail & Guardian.
"A plot that circles like a vulture ... it is to the historical novel what David Lynch was to the TV drama."
Charl Blignaut in City Press
"Cuts to the bone."
GQ South Africa
"Can be reckoned with Denys Reitz's Commando."
Die Burger
"A triumphant mix of evocative period detail and modern social and political resonance."
The Witness
"In a sober style made out of short sentences, hand-picked words and balanced rhythm Whyle shows war for what it really is."
Hadrien Diez on AfricaBookClub.com
"Brutal and detailed."
Cape Times.
"A stunning debut novel, well written and... disturbing."
Pretoria News
"Gripping."
ArtsLink
"Whyle can write."
Business Day
"A great book in every sense of the word."
LitNet
"Brings events of yesteryear shockingly close."
Wanted at Large
May 2, 2013
The Book of War is Book of the Month at AfricaBookClub
By any account, to entitle a début novel The Book of War can seem presumptuous. Yet, the book (published by Jacana Media in 2012) brilliantly lives up to the promise of its ambitious name. For war is everywhere here – but not romanticized with the usual bravery, indestructible friendship and clear divide between the camps of good and evil that justify the violence. No. In a sober style made out of short sentences, hand-picked words and balanced rhythm Whyle shows war for what it really is. A physical ordeal against nature and fellow humans. A defeat of minds and souls. A horror of which the only beauty lays in the vast, unspoiled landscape it is set in. From this ocean of brutality paradoxically emerges a subtle tale that reads as an engaging reflection on manhood and humanity...
Full review at AfricaBookClub
Full review at AfricaBookClub
April 22, 2013
An oral history interview on African LookBook
"...I was tried very briskly and absurdly and sent to the Mad Ward at Bloemfontein. Which was a wonderful place. There was no one who was mad in the Mad Ward at Bloemfontein; if you were mad, you went into the psychiatric hospital. The Mad Ward was just people who were very sane and didn't want to be in the Army.
Afterwards I wrote a play called “National Madness” which was the start of me being a writer and this line was in it: as I walked into the Mad Ward, I said, “What’s it like here?” and a guy said "Ek weet nie wat gaan hieraan nie, maar dis 'n helse sukses. “I have no idea what’s happening here, but it’s a huge success.” ‘Cause ya, they were the sanest people I’d met in a long time. Everyone knew this Army thing was complete bullshit and they wanted to get out.
AL: Was it actually called the Mad Ward?
JW: Yes, Ward Five, the Mad Ward in Bloemfontein. Ya, absolutely. It would hardly ever happen, but I remember once we went somewhere, we were marched along in our dressing gowns and things, and everyone would do it out of time on purpose and make it as ragged-assed and absurd as possible, cause we were mad! We had that advantage. [laughs]
AL: Could you leave when you wanted?
JW: Mad Ward? No, no, no..."
Full interview on African LookBook
Afterwards I wrote a play called “National Madness” which was the start of me being a writer and this line was in it: as I walked into the Mad Ward, I said, “What’s it like here?” and a guy said "Ek weet nie wat gaan hieraan nie, maar dis 'n helse sukses. “I have no idea what’s happening here, but it’s a huge success.” ‘Cause ya, they were the sanest people I’d met in a long time. Everyone knew this Army thing was complete bullshit and they wanted to get out.
AL: Was it actually called the Mad Ward?
JW: Yes, Ward Five, the Mad Ward in Bloemfontein. Ya, absolutely. It would hardly ever happen, but I remember once we went somewhere, we were marched along in our dressing gowns and things, and everyone would do it out of time on purpose and make it as ragged-assed and absurd as possible, cause we were mad! We had that advantage. [laughs]
AL: Could you leave when you wanted?
JW: Mad Ward? No, no, no..."
Full interview on African LookBook
October 31, 2012
The Book of War on Kindle
The Book of War is now available on Kindle at only $9.89.
"A brilliant, unforgettable debut."
The Times.
"One is thrown ... into the heart of the action, in a state of dread and fascination induced by the dire events, the pristine setting and the perfection of the writing."
Mail & Guardian.
"Cuts to the bone."
GQ South Africa
"Can be reckoned with Denys Reitz's Commando."
Die Burger
"A triumphant mix of evocative period detail and modern social and political resonance."
The Witness
"Brutal and detailed."
Cape Times.
"A stunning debut novel, well written and... disturbing."
Pretoria News
"Gripping."
ArtsLink
"Whyle can write."
Business Day
"A great book in every sense of the word."
LitNet
"Brings events of yesteryear shockingly close."
Wanted at Large
"Bob Dylan ... did not plagiarize or parody people. He borrowed their essence and gave it back to you in a form where we were all gobsmacked and this man has done a similar thing. He loved McCarthy like Bob Dylan loved Woody Guthrie."
Rian Malan
"A brilliant, unforgettable debut."
The Times.
"One is thrown ... into the heart of the action, in a state of dread and fascination induced by the dire events, the pristine setting and the perfection of the writing."
Mail & Guardian.
"Cuts to the bone."
GQ South Africa
"Can be reckoned with Denys Reitz's Commando."
Die Burger
"A triumphant mix of evocative period detail and modern social and political resonance."
The Witness
"Brutal and detailed."
Cape Times.
"A stunning debut novel, well written and... disturbing."
Pretoria News
"Gripping."
ArtsLink
"Whyle can write."
Business Day
"A great book in every sense of the word."
LitNet
"Brings events of yesteryear shockingly close."
Wanted at Large
"Bob Dylan ... did not plagiarize or parody people. He borrowed their essence and gave it back to you in a form where we were all gobsmacked and this man has done a similar thing. He loved McCarthy like Bob Dylan loved Woody Guthrie."
Rian Malan
July 24, 2012
The Book of War - Free Delivery in the UK
The Book of War is now available via Amazon.uk
"A BRILLIANT, unforgettable debut. Steeped in carnage..."
Andrew Donaldson in The Times:
"... one is thrown, like them, into the heart of the action, in a state of dread and fascination induced by the dire events, the pristine setting and the perfection of the writing."
Jane Rosenthal in the Mail & Guardian:
"Candid, compelling, at times engagingly droll and written with a subtlety that packs powerful effects into simple-seeming prose, Whyle's book is a triumphant mix of evocative period detail and modern social and political resonances."
Anthony Stidolph in The Witness
"A stunning debut novel, well written and... disturbing"
Pretoria News
"A BRILLIANT, unforgettable debut. Steeped in carnage..."
Andrew Donaldson in The Times:
"... one is thrown, like them, into the heart of the action, in a state of dread and fascination induced by the dire events, the pristine setting and the perfection of the writing."
Jane Rosenthal in the Mail & Guardian:
"Candid, compelling, at times engagingly droll and written with a subtlety that packs powerful effects into simple-seeming prose, Whyle's book is a triumphant mix of evocative period detail and modern social and political resonances."
Anthony Stidolph in The Witness
"A stunning debut novel, well written and... disturbing"
Pretoria News
July 5, 2012
The Book of War - Amazon and Kindle distribution.
IPG, Jacana's international distributors, have been in dispute with Amazon over slices of the pie. They have now reached an agreement and in the next week or so the book should available from Amazon.com on Kindle.
And, I am sincerely HOPING, physical copies will shortly be shipped to people who have already paid for them on Amazon.uk
And, I am sincerely HOPING, physical copies will shortly be shipped to people who have already paid for them on Amazon.uk
May 23, 2012
The Book of War - Available in Paperback and e-pub.
Here are two sites where the book is available for purchase and shipment.
Kalahari.com
Exclusive Books
Kalahari.com
Exclusive Books
