Book Launch: Resident Alien by Rian Malan

by Claire on Nov 4th, 2009

Jonathan Ball publishers takes great pleasure in inviting you to the launch of Rian Malan’s new book, Resident Alien.

Resident Alien is a provocative and engaging collection of the best of his writings that have appeared in the likes of The New Yorker, Rolling Stone and Esquire, since his bestselling first book, My Traitor’s Heart.

Crisscrossing South Africa – and further afield – in a quest to understand the land and continent of his birth – Malan does time with an extraordinary cast of characters: from vigilantes and outlaws to beauty queens and truckers; from Sol Kerzner to Jackie Selebi; from JM Coetzee to the last Afrikaner in Tanzania.

We look forward to seeing you at the launch!

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Time: 6:00 PM for 6:30 PM
Venue: Radium Beer Hall, 282 Louis Botha Ave,
Orange Grove
Johannesburg | Map
RSVP: Jaclyn, jaclyn.woods@jonathanball.co.za, 021 406 2806

Book Details

Resident Alien by Rian Malan
Book Homepage
EAN: 9781868423569
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Resident Alien

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Cats: Events, Non-fiction, South Africa
Tags: Events, Jonathan Ball, My Traitor's Heart, Non-fiction, Radium Beer Hall, Resident Alien, Rian Malan, South Africa
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Book Launch: Hani: A life too short by Janet Smith and Beauregard Tromp »

Recent comments:

Kevin
November 4th, 2009 @15:01 #

As Mr Trovato did not arrive on the Camps Bay Common for his own dawn duel, I'll say it again - the finest collection of journalism ever published by a South African writer.
ar
November 4th, 2009 @15:13 #

Wasn't Camps Bay deemed too naff, Kevin? In Ben Trovato's defence (what the hell is wrong with me today?), I must protest! It was Mr Malan who did not arrive at Manenberg.
Kevin
November 4th, 2009 @15:22 #

Nope, we chickened out of Mannenberg. And the Parkhurst Scout Hall. We waited, in vain, on the common. As Mr Malan's second, i suggested canapes and bloody mary's at Cubana instead...
ar
November 4th, 2009 @15:44 #

I say we settle this once and for all at the Radium. I already have a party assembled, and we will be armed with banjos.
Ben Trovato
November 4th, 2009 @16:04 #

The Radium? Isn't that in Joburg? I'm coming from Cape Town - will I need a visa? Yellow fever innoculation? A tetanus shot?
ar
November 4th, 2009 @16:15 #

Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. Also you will need a new hat and an umbrella. May we please have your online banking details and pin code so that we can deposit R100 000 into your account for travel expenses. Thank you.
ar
November 4th, 2009 @18:40 #

Oh, a word of caution: It’s probably best not to mention that you’re affiliated with booksa when booking for Mr Malan’s launch. After what happened last time. The regulars were so intimidated by the debauched booksa crowd that they were tjoepstil that day, even the shady Irish metaphysicians, the Lithuanian weight-lifters and the Artfully Decrepit musos, who don’t even usually know what tjoepstil means. Normally at the Radium you get people letting their hair down, breaking furniture and that, with the occasional affronted husband or spurned lover skewering someone through the eyeball with an espetada spike, expletives reverberating off the wonky walls long after closing time. But that day I counted only one swear word and it didn’t count ‘cos it came from Kate. So, book under a pseudoaffiliation. Like, I dunno, Friends of the Chicken, or something.

Ben Trovato: Bring your best banjo ok, that rhinohide one with the whale-eyelash strings and the riverine rabbit-eye varnish. It's going to be tough, because I have seen and heard Mr Malan's band and they rock. Well not rock exactly, more jazz, or something. Be of good courage, sir, and we will prevail.
Ben Trovato
November 5th, 2009 @13:19 #

Industrial music is more my thing, so I'll bring a jackhammer and a few matchboxes full of Semtex to help keep the beat, if that's okay with the folks over at the Radium.