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I've had an interest in the country of South Africa for a long time, and (coincidentally) wound up reading some books that took place there, which has only proved to make me want more.

Does anyone know of any books, fiction or memoir/autobiography, that are set in South Africa, AND (preferably) written by people who live or lived there?

Books I've read are: The Other Me by Suzanne van Rooyen, and Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius.

I also plan to eventually read Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela.

Any help is appreciated!

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith is one. It is one of my favorites series ever! It is set in South Africa, and the author was born in what is now Zimbabwe. I highly recommend this series.

I'll have to give them a look

I went in search of what Google could offer me (not much unless you trust goodreads, which I really don't, and only use as a last resort), and found some promising titles as well.

Still very much looking, though

gali wrote:The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith is one. It is one of my favorites series ever! It is set in South Africa, and the author was born in what is now Zimbabwe. I highly recommend this series.

This is an interesting series! I haven't read any of it recently, but it's definitely on my list.

I have one called Rags of Glory by Stuart Cloete. Its a sweeping novel of the Boer War. Its one of those books I got because it looked interesting, but after many years still haven't read it. One day....

I found what looks to be a promising author.

Lauren Beukes:
Zoo City, set in Jo'berg, about people being tied to animal familiars.
The Shining Girls, set in Chicago, about a time traveling serial killer.
And Moxyland, set in Cape Town, is a distopian/cyberpunk.

Thank you all! I'm still looking, but I'm planning to check out your suggestions

Try Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I haven't read it yet though it's on my to-be-read-soon pile. The premise seems interesting and it's set in Nigeria.

Gravy wrote:I found what looks to be a promising author.

Lauren Beukes:
Zoo City, set in Jo'berg, about people being tied to animal familiars.
The Shining Girls, set in Chicago, about a time traveling serial killer.
And Moxyland, set in Cape Town, is a distopian/cyberpunk.

Thank you all! I'm still looking, but I'm planning to check out your suggestions

I have read and loved "Zoo City". I have started "The Shining Girls" but quit it, since it bored me. The last one is on my list.

Zoo City and Moxyland would be my first choices of the three, and now I'm even more intrigued

gali wrote:The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith is one. It is one of my favorites series ever! It is set in South Africa, and the author was born in what is now Zimbabwe. I highly recommend this series.

This is an awesome series! However it is set in Botswana. The television adaptation is very entertaining, too! Even though it is not South African, it is still a good read, and there are many similarities between countries in that part of Africa. I encourage you to read the series.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a modern masterpiece. A wonderful book, I strongly recommend this

dickens 100 wrote:Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a modern masterpiece. A wonderful book, I strongly recommend this

Sounds like a great book! But it looks like this one is set in Nigeria?

South Africa is such a beautiful place.I always wanted to go

I have not read these, but I have read about them and they are definitely on my to-read list. Hope they help.
Out of Africa by Isak Dienesen
I Married Adventure by Martin and Osa Johnson

For sharp, funny satire you could try early Tom Sharpe, Riotous Assembly etc. For gritty realism you could try Hemingway (mostly Kenya I think, but with the safari theme) His short stories definitely are worth reading.