Two city dwellers who translocated to Cradock a few years back, have once again spoilt us with a new edition of stories about the Karoo.
Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit’s Karoo Roads ll, More Tales from the Heartland, is just as delightful as Karoo Roads l, which appeared a year or two ago.
They call themselves “self appointed storytellers of the region, who have once again ventured forth in search of a good tale.”
There is no way better than allowing the master to describe the book himself: “We’ve had the time of our lives here at Karoo Space, compiling Karoo Roads ll, the sequel to the popular Karoo Roads I book of travels, encounters and adventures in the Heartland of South Africa.”
“Most of our stories were gathered during the ongoing eight-year drought. They’re about people thriving in the middle of years of ‘dessiccation’, lifting a community through dance culture, being creative in a small Karoo town and committing acts of Christmas charity in a poor neighbourhood.”
“Other stories bring you the inside facts; Why does the Great Fish River flow nearly all year round? Where are the massive herds of trekbokke that used to take days to cross the horizon? What goes on at a Merino ram auction? What’s the skinny on Karoo tequila and are there really UFO’s flying around our skies at night?”
Apart from the 21 very informative, amusing and fact-finding stories that delve deep into the history of the region and it’s people, each story has its own set of photos that bring life to stories like that of the kokerboom that lives for between 80 and 200 years and whose skeleton has a definite cooling effect as air passes through the tissue of the dead trunk.
While Chris tells stories and shows the Gariep and Orange River floods in his photos, Julie describes the intricate workings of building the Orange-Fish River tunnel that brought life to a great part of the Karoo.
Like it’s predecessor, Karoo Roads ll can be recommended for an easy and interesting read or as a gift that will be much appreciated.
- For first-edition, author-signed copies of the book, contact Julienne at Julie@karoospace.co.za.
Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit are storytellers from Karoo Space. See more of their work at www.karoospace.co.za
