Lauren O'Connor-May

Africa Community Media National Production Manager

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 ...

Writer pens grim tale about life on Mars

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Muizenberg author Sam Wilson tells us about his newest book, The First Murder on Mars

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 ...

Watch VideoHow we deal with FARQs: frequently asked rude questions

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.

Q and A with author Serai Dowling

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Muizenberg resident Serai Dowling brings the Western Cape's enchanting tidal pools to life in her new guidebook. From their colonial history to their role in mental ...

Book reviews: anthologies

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Two engaging children's books that spark curiosity and wonder: The Amazing Quiz Book offers 750 interactive questions perfect for screen-free entertainment, while ...

Book review: Pumpkin Spice Cafe

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

If the author’s name reminds you of a popular noughties TV series, you’re not alone. I’ve read that the writer chose this pen name specifically because she is a ...

Book review: Do not feed the monkey!

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

A story and recipe book combined, the quirky book follows the antics of a monkey named Mitch who made an art out of begging at the tables of a restaurant at the ...

Figuratively speaking – finding humour in the loss of my physique

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

"In this month's Living Large column, a mother of seven shares hilarious encounters and heartwarming moments that come with embracing her post-pregnancy body. From ...

Book review: Hamburger Gourmet

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

This book contains 58 recipes, not all of them for hamburgers, developed by the chefs at a restaurant called Blend, which seems to be in America though I really ...

Pre-teen and teen book reviews

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

This sweet and charming book has one of the most original ideas I’ve seen in a long time.

Let’s talk about sex, baby

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

When you're raising a large family, 'the talk' becomes talks - plural. From innocent questions about 'eggies' to creative vocabulary choices, this month's Living ...

Book review: Long Covid

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Nearly five years after the pandemic, the world is still feeling the after-effects of Covid-19’s long fingers.

Book review: Children’s books

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

From helping children cope with first-day school jitters to reimagining classic fairy tales, this collection of children's book reviews offers something for every ...