Monday 1 February 2016

Book Announcement: Kaleidoscope Song by Sarah Benwell

Today is an incredible day for bookish news, because one of my very great awesome friends has announced news of her second novel. Simon and Schuster (US) will be publishing "Kaleidoscope Song" by Sarah Benwell.

This is a huge deal, firstly because Sarah's debut novel 'The Last Leaves Falling' was stunning, heartbreaking, and one of the best books of 2015. But secondly, because for so long Sarah didn't think this novel would ever be released out into the world.

The full story in Sarah's words is over on Dahlia Adler's Blog please do go and read a bit more about this important and exciting book. 

I'm not going to lie, I cried a little bit when Sarah told me the news that S&S were going to be publishing her second novel, because this book is so important. It is a story that needs to be told. We keep on yelling for more diverse books, for more stories that show every facet of humanity, and whilst we are starting to see more, there are so many more that we're not seeing. Publishers, take note, we want these books. These books will sell. I am so glad that S&S are listening and sharing Sarah's novel with the world.

South Africa is loud. Listen. Do you hear the song and dance of it? The chorus of Khayelitsha life? Every voice is different, its pitch and tone and intonation as distinct as the words we choose and how we wrap our mouths around them. But everybody has a voice, and everybody sings…Fifteen year old Neo loves music, it punctuates her life and shapes the way she views the world. A life in radio is all she’s ever wanted.When Umzi Radio broadcasts live in a nearby bar Neo can’t resist. She sneaks out to see them, and she falls in love, with music, and the night, but also with a girl: Tale has a voice like coffee poured into a bright steel mug, and she commands the stage.It isn’t normal. Isn’t right. Neo knows that she’s supposed to go to school and get a real job and find a nice young boy to settle down with. It’s written everywhere – in childhood games, and playground questions, in the textbooks, in her parents’ faces. But Tale and music are underneath her skin, and try as she might, she can’t stop thinking about them.

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