Welcome to the Book Club: Explore. Reflect. Connect.
Connect with other readers. Meet the people who inspire the characters in the book.
The Book Club is open to all paid subscribers.
Book Club #1: Apartheid South Africa
Saturday, November 9, 10am ET (US) 5pm South Africa
Book Club #2: The Messy Middle, with Guests
Saturday, December 7 10am ET (US) 5pm South Africa
Book Club #3: The Bold and the Beautiful—Young Diplomats for Mandela, with Guests
Saturday, January 4, 2025, 10am ET (US)/ 5pm South Africa
It was the dawn of the new era. Freedom had come. And we were young and literally right there, starting our careers as diplomats.
Sober? Generally. Sedate? Sometimes. Hopeful? Overflowing.
Our guests this month will be two other South African diplomats.
Book Club #4: Egypt in the 1990s, with Guests
Saturday, February 8, 2025, 10am ET (US)/ 5pm South Africa
Eleanor is now in Cairo, immersed in studying Arabic at the British Council.
With guests we’ll explore vibrant and complex Egypt—a country on the cusp of change, navigating its own challenges while playing a key role in the region’s geopolitics.
Book Club #5: The Oslo Accords—the Hope; the Reality, with Guests
Saturday, March 8, 2025, 10am ET (US)/ 5pm South Africa
Fresh from Egypt and newly posted to Palestine (1997–2001), Eleanor arrives filled with optimism, believing in the promise of the Oslo Accords.
This was a time brimming with hope. However, as Eleanor quickly discovers, the reality on the ground is far more complicated, with rising tensions, unmet expectations, and a fragile peace.
With guests, we'll reflect on what the Oslo Accords have truly meant for Palestine.
Book Club #6: Not So Fast. Parallels Are Tricky, with Guests
Saturday, April 3, 2025, 10am ET (US)/ 4pm South Africa
Eleanor encounters many comparisons between South Africa and Palestine, and makes them herself. While these parallels can provide insights, they can also oversimplify the complex histories and lived experiences of these regions.
Book Club #7: Faith in the Holy Land, with Guests
Saturday, May 3, 2025, 10am ET (US)/ 4pm South Africa
The Holy Land, a place revered by many for its spiritual significance, also presents Eleanor with the harsh realities of division, conflict, and injustice.
Book Club #8: Not All Work and No Play— Discovering Joy in Palestine, with Guests
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10am ET (US)/ 4pm South Africa
Too often, the narrative of Palestine is dominated by conflict, but in this month’s book club we’ll explore the vibrant, everyday life that flourishes amidst it—the friendships, the laughter, the beauty of the landscape, and the rich culture that is Palestine.
Book Club #9: Shock, Change and Loss, with Guests
Saturday, July 5, 2025, 10am ET (US)/ 4pm South Africa
Now acting head of mission, Eleanor must confront the upheaval of the Second Intifada.
This month we reflect on themes of resilience, adaptation, and the complexities of leadership in times of crisis—issues that resonate deeply in our own world today.
Book Club #10: Life after Trauma—the Hope of Post-Traumatic Growth, with Guests
Saturday, August 9, 2025, 10am ET (US)/ 4pm South Africa
Eleanor’s finished her posting. She’s embarking on her new life. What have we learned through her story? Is it possible to emerge from trauma not just to survive, but to thrive?