Tree Tales Of Zimbabwe Volume 2
by Jonathan Waters
There are few natural phenomena – terrestrial, certainly; the ocean gets much more attention – that are as culturally interesting as trees. They live for long periods, often in locations where human activity begins, evolves and sometimes even ends, overseeing history with all of its nuances, and often playing an extra role as home to any number of creatures along the way.
Jonathan Waters’s deep appreciation of the significance of old or otherwise traditionally entrenched trees shines through in both the scale of the endeavour behind this book – he has visited and researched scores of different trees and locations and collected them in a chunky coffee table book format – and in the detail of his research and storytelling, with his personal interest in and affection for his home country clearly evident. Baobabs feature heavily, unsurprisingly, but there are a range of other species (one is called a ‘snot apple’!) – many not as visually spectacular, but just as central (physically and metaphorically) to the places and stories they are part of.
For all the changes and struggles a country goes through, trees give it a continuity and, well, rootedness that few other things can. This book will make any visit to Zimbabwe more interesting for any engaged traveller and enrich the experience of any locals who may pass these trees regularly without understanding their importance.
by Sarah Pinsker
Written the year before COVID-19 stopped the world, putting a temporary end to public gatherings and wiping out most of the means for artists of all ilk to make a living, A Song For A New Day lands twice as effectively for both capturing the angst caused by a pandemic and for being the product of the author’s imagination, not her observations. Sarah Pinsker’s story weaves together threads about the power of music and community, struggling as outsiders and prioritising commerce over creativity and integrity. It’s rich and entertaining, simultaneously science fiction and yesterday’s news, and thought-provoking on both fronts.
This Disney+ series takes viewers back to old Hollywood – to the glamour, yes, but also to the behind-the-scenes politics, gossip and machinations that kept the star system ticking over. Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon star as Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, respectively, with Alfred Molina as the long-suffering director Robert Aldrich, tasked with not only handling the actresses’ formidable egos but also the realities of them both entering the twilight of their careers. There are a number of major actors in other minor roles too, making a storyline about the challenges of acting and filmmaking very enjoyable in a pleasingly meta way.
Trap (16LV)
The new film from M Night Shyamalan, available on Showmax, reminds viewers of the director’s skill in presenting a scenario that is not what it seems, while also suggesting the frustrating choices he has made outside of his best work. Josh Hartnett plays a father who is accompanying his daughter to a pop concert in an arena. He’s made uncomfortable by what seems an unreasonably heavy police presence, and how and why he reacts informs the rest of the film. Even with the occasional moment that doesn’t fly as likely or possible, Trap is a solid thriller, especially in the moments around the main twist.
Most bingeable series come with a good central concept, and in Showmax’s The Hunting Party, the premise is that an explosion takes place at a prison housing a large number of truly terrible people, who, now free, go about wreaking unimaginable havoc according to their specific, warped agendas. The team on their tail includes an expert profiler (Melissa Roxburgh), whose insight helps to narrow the gap between her and her colleagues and the psychos they’re seeking. This set-up allows each episode to be a tight, pacey thriller while continuing a nominal narrative over the course of the series. More of a focus on action than intellect, but enjoyable in that context.
