“The last two years have proved yet again how perennial favourites are classics for a reason – their appeal is timeless and always relevant.

Two books on this month’s Exclusive Books Recommends illustrates the unmatched appeal of classics but reimagined for the next generation of readers.

Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree – a brand new story by Britain’s favourite contemporary author, Jacqueline Wilson, but based on Wilson’s favourite book as a child; and Axel Sheffler’s Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes – classic nursery rhymes but fresh and original from Sheffler, the Gruffalo’s magic illustrator.” Batya Bricker – Exclusive Books Marketing, Loyalty and Procurement – General Manager.

Fanatics members earn a whopping 200 bonus points on their purchases from the list during July.

Exclusive Books recommended titles are merchandised in front of all their stores every month and are carefully curated in different categories. The aim is to assist customers to see at a glance, and in a short space of time, titles that are new, trending and have caught the eyes of the Exclusive Books buyers in among 1000’s of titles. There are choices for all genre tastes, and now the dedicated EBR for children will offer an even wider and deeper rage for younger readers. https://www.exclusivebooks.co.za/page/exclusive-books-recommends

“Of course, new and future classics are in the making all the time, and the EBR List features dozens of these.”

In fiction:

Clare Pooley’s book The Authenticity Project gained cult status. Here is her new one – The People on Platform 5. With nothing in common but their commute, an eclectic group of people learn that their assumptions about each other don’t match reality. But when Iona’s life begins to fall apart, will her new friends be there when she needs them most? And if you fell in love with Jessie Burton’s old Amsterdam in The Miniaturist, here is the follow up – The House of Fortune. In it, Thea Brandt is turning eighteen, and is ready to welcome adulthood with open arms. At the theatre, Walter, the love of her life, awaits her, but at home in the house on the Herengracht, winter has set in – her father Otto and Aunt Nella argue endlessly, and the Brandt family are selling their furniture in order to eat. Atmospheric, gripping and rich.

In non-fiction titles, two key titles amongst the 12:

A Brief History of Equality is an opportunity for readers to see Thomas Piketty bring his larger argument about the origins of inequality and his programme for fighting it into high relief.

 Rhino War tells how Jooste, facing an unprecedented assault on a national park and a single species, turned a force of demoralised men and women into arguably the finest anti-poaching unit on the African continent.

 

 

EB recommends for children

“To build on the popularity of EB Recommends, and to enhance our offering in children’s books, we have introduced Exclusive Books Recommends for children. Already customers have jumped at the benefits we have seen in the adult recommended books – a curated list, a customer quick reference, Fanatics points, and inside info on the best books for young readers.

Some characters bound to become future classics include Jaco Jacobs’ Krok en Dil; Refiloe Moahloli’s Morena in her new book Part of a Team; Owen Hendry, David Baddiel’s Billy Smith, Andy Griffiths Tree House crew and more.