Lauren O'Connor-May

Africa Community Media National Production Manager

Book review: Death in Pretoria

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Delve into the haunting stories of political prisoners in 'Death in Pretoria,' where Peter auf der Heyde reveals the dignity-stripping realities of apartheid while ...

Book review: We Are All Guilty Here

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

In 'We Are All Guilty Here,' Karin Slaughter weaves a tale of suspense and emotional turmoil as Emmy Lou Clifton, the sheriff's daughter, navigates a small town's ...

Book reviews: Children's books

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Explore delightful children's book reviews, featuring 'I Hate Everything' by Sophy Henn, a charming tale perfect for toddlers, and a retelling of 'Heidi' that reimagines ...

Spy fairy: The evolution of the tooth fairy in our home

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Join us as we explore the evolving role of fantasy characters like the tooth fairy in parenting, revealing how they can comfort children through life's challenges. ...

Book review: The Interpreters

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Discover why The Interpreters is a must-have for every library, as Lauren O'Connor-May highlights the anthology's compelling narratives and exceptional writing. ...

Book review: Fading Footprints

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Fading Footprints a heartfelt tribute to the Khoi culture and its enduring legacy.

Watch VideoBook review: Till This Night and Better Once Than Never

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Discover the spicy Shakespearean-inspired romance in Nuhaa Bardien's novels, 'Till This Night' and 'Better Once Than Never,' which blend love, rivalry, and unexpected ...

Book review: All Dhal'd Up

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Discover the delightful world of Kamini Pather's All Dhal'd Up, where simple ingredients meet glamour. This review explores not just the recipes but also invaluable ...

Chasing Chewie: How I lost nerd cred at Comic Con Cape Town

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Join me on my Comic Con Cape Town adventure, where I discovered just how much my nerd cred had slipped while chasing Chewie and navigating a sea of cosplayers.

Book review: Book People

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

In Book People by Paige Nick, laughter meets chaos as two authors navigate the tumultuous world of publishing, social media, and unexpected police inquiries.

Children's book reviews: Ben and the Big Game and Tippie reading series

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

This review explores two South African children's book series: Ben and the Big Game by Zuleika Smit, which teaches young readers about overcoming failure through ...

Divvying up the boasting pie for my new author hat

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

When Lauren O'Connor-May's children's book was published, people expected pride. Instead, she found profound gratitude - to her children who inspired the story, ...

Book review: Khaki Fever

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Lindsay Norman's Khaki Fever defies easy genre classification, blending adventure with personal quest elements in a distinctly South African setting.

Book review: 100 Poems to Help You Sleep

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Lauren O'Connor-May reviews a soothing collection of lullabies, hymns, and gentle verses in 100 Poems to Help You Sleep, designed to guide you into a peaceful slumber. ...

Review: Onyx Storm

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Onyx Storm is the third book in the Empyrean Series, captivating romantasy fans with its thrilling twists and complex characters.

Children's book reviews: from unicorns to classics

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

From bubblegum-flavoured unicorn tales to beloved classics reimagined, this collection of children's book reviews spans magical adventures, teen diaries, and a fresh ...

Book reviews: The Wild Robot and Uglies FTIs

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Two beloved novels get the Hollywood treatment: Scott Westerfield's dystopian young adult novel Uglies arrives on Netflix, while Peter Brown's heartwarming tale ...

Book review: The First Murder on Mars

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Dive into the gripping dual narratives of The First Murder on Mars, by Sam Wilson, where dystopian realities clash with privileged lives, leading to a shocking revelation. ...

Cape Town author writes gamers romance because she loves love

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Lauren O'Connor-May chats to author Shameez Patel, from Goodwood, who has written her fourth book but first romance - about gaming, Comic-Con, Lord of the Rings, ...

From the mouths of babes

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

From misheard lyrics to philosophical observations, these candid conversations with my seven children offer a heartwarming glimpse into the delightful chaos of large ...

Warning: this column talks poop a lot

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Living Large explores the unspoken, often messy realities of raising a large family in modern times. From bathroom boundaries to unexpected public moments, this ...

Book review: Ellie Pillai is not done yet

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Ellie Pillai is a British, Sri Lankan, Catholic, Tamil teenager who is juggling adolescent anxieties about her ex-boyfriend, possible new crush, the girl that had ...

Review: Playing Flirty

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

I got very excited when I saw this book. A brown Capetonian author, writing about a leading, brown romance character. I wondered, are we finally getting a brown ...

Appliances which have surprised me

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Living Large, is a monthly column about the strange (at least from the outside looking in) lifestyle of a modern, large family.

Children’s book reviews for the holidays

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

In this follow-up to Ben Goes to School, Lea, Ben’s little sister, faces similar challenges as her brother did during his first week of school. With the help of ...