Reading Matters 28 January 2025

Have you seen The Penguin Post, available either in print, or on line? It’s a stunning little magazine, put out by Penguin Random House, in South Africa. It’s glossy, colourful and filled, no surprises, with the latest titles from the publisher, ranging from now until September.

I interviewed its editor, Lauren McDiarmid, about its contents – ranging from romance to crime novels, cooking (with recipes) to nature, health, sports and our consciousness. It’s out right now so type The Penguin Post into your search engine and up it will come.

I’m sure the name Sir Herbert Baker sounds familiar to you – he’s the great British architect who designed the Union Buildings, St George’s Cathedral, Groote Schuur and the Kimberley Monument – to name a few of his buildings. British author and architect John Stewart has now written his first full biography (Jonathan Ball) filled with fascinating stories and history.

The delicious Jamie Oliver, who has revolutionized British cooking, and impacted the world with his simple yet powerful recipes is back with Simply Jamie (Penguin Michael Joseph). It’s a hardcover, seriously glossy book and most of the dishes take between 15 to 30 minutes to put on the table. He even has a chapter on tinned food… totally my kind of cook book!

Reading Matters with Sue Grant-Marshall