The Book Lounge will host the launch of The Blackridge House: A Memoir, by Julia Martin, today, Thursday March 28 at 6pm.
The book tells the story of Elizabeth Martin, who spends her days in a retirement home in Cape Town, watching the pigeons and squirrels on the branch of a tree outside her window.
Bedridden, her memory fading, Elizabeth can recall her early childhood spent in a small wood-and-iron house in Blackridge, on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg.
Her daughter, Julia, resolves to find the Blackridge house.
The author, Julia Martin, will be in conversation with Duncan Brown.
On Friday March 29, there will be a talk, 1001 SA Stories: Addiction, featuring speakers Desiree-Anne Martin and Marion Thomas.
Ms Martin is an author, poet and an addictions counsellor, postgraduate student, wife, full-time mother, part-time warrior-woman.
She is a recovering addict who dabbles in an unpredictable mood disorder. Her memoir, We Don’t Talk About It Ever, was published last year.
Ms Thomas is a social worker who specialises in working with the homeless. She is employed by the Kalk Bay St James Special Rating Area and the Muizenberg Improvement District. Both women will be sharing their experiences with addiction.
All events at the Book Lounge are at 6pm, unless stated otherwise. All events are free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required for catering purposes. Seats are unreserved. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.booklounge.co.za