Chops chutney with curry and bread

The dish at the top is called Chops Chutney, which was also the title of one of the stories in Pravasan Pillay's debut collection, Chatsworth, which was published by Dye Hard Press in 2018. Dye Hard Press also published Pillay's most recent book, Curry and Bread, which is available from select Exclusive Books outlets, Love Books in Melville, Clarke's in Cape Town and madeindurban.co.za.

It will also be on sale at the upcoming Durban International Book Fair.  

Curry and Bread is still on the boil!

Pravasan Pillay's latest book, Curry and Bread, was published in 2025 by Dye Hard Press. It is still available from selct Exclusive Books branches, Clarke's in Cape Town, Love Books in Melville, and madeindurban.co.za.

 

Curry and Bread still available at Sandton City

Pravasan Pillay's Curry and Bread is still available at Exclusive Books, Sandton City. Curry and Bread is also available from madeindurban.co.za, Love Books in Melville, and Clarke's in Cape Town.

 

A year ago today ...

It was a year ago today that we were proofreading Pravasan Pillay's new book, Curry and Bread!

Curry and Bread is available from Exclusive Books, madeindurban.co.za, Clarke's in Cape Town and Love Books in Melville, Johannesburg.

A list of Durban Breyanis -- from Curry and Bread

 

A page from Pravasan Pillay's new book Curry and Bread -- a list of Durban breyanis!

Curry and Bread is available from Exclusive Books, madeindurban.co.za, Clarke's in Cape Town, and Love Books in Johannesburg.

Curry and Bread still available at Exclusive Books Sandton City!

Good to see two copies of Pravasan Pillay's new book Curry and Bread at Exclusive Books, Sandton City! If you are in the area, pop in and buy a copy!

Curry and Bread is available from other Exclusive Books branches, as well as from madeindurban.co.za, Love Books in Melville and Clarke's in Cape Town. 

Look out for Curry and Bread in Umhlanga!

 

Diarise for the Umhlanga Book Fair, where Pravasan Pillay's Curry and Bread will be on sale!

Curry and Bread is also available at Exclusive Books, madeindurban.co.za, Love Books in Melville (Johannesburg) and Clarke's in Cape Town.

Christmas is coming with Curry and Bread

Christmas is around the corner, so why not buy a copy - or even two copies - of Pravasan Pillay's new book Curry and Bread as a Christmas gift? It will definitely bring the reader(s) joy and laughter this festive season!

Curry and Bread is available from Exclusive Books, Clarke's in Cape Town, madeindurban.co.za, and Love Books in Melville, Johannesburg.

Curry and Bread at the Books & Chai Festival

Pravasan Pillay's new book, Curry and Bread, will be on sale at the Books & Chai Festival in Umhlanga, on Sunday 30 November.

Curry and Bread is also available from Exclusive Books in Gauteng, Love Books in Melville, madeindurban.co.za, and Clarke's in Cape Town.

A Dye Hard Interview: Manthipe Moila: poetry as language of leaping

 

Courtesy: Salomè Dubois Han 

Manthipe Moila is from Johannesburg, South Africa, and holds a BA honours degree in English Literature. Her work has appeared in publications such as Tupelo Quarterly, New Contrast, Stirring, A Long House, 20.35 Africa, Agbowó, and Saranac Review. She was a Charles Simic Poetry Contest finalist (Hole in the Head Review) and a Best of the Net Nominee (Hotazel Review). Rootbound is her debut poetry collection and was published by uHlanga in 2025. Manthipe is currently based in Seoul, South Korea.

Your poems are autobiographical in that they draw on your own experiences, from your past in South Africa and your present, adjusting to a new life in South Korea.  What are your thoughts about confessional poetry, and do you prefer such personal poetry to more objective, impersonal work? 

I love confessional poetry – it is the reason why I am enamored with poetry at all. As for objective, impersonal poetry, I’m not sure that I’ve come across much of it. Poetry is art and objective art seems to me a bit paradoxical. As I’ve matured as a reader and writer, I’ve found myself more and more drawn to poetry that plays with language ... Read more.

Adding curry spices to canned pea soup, and other tales from a Durbanite abroad

 

A warm and enthusiastic review of Pravasan Pillay's new book has been published in Daily Maverick.

Curry and Bread is available from Exclusive Books, Love Books in Melville, Johannesburg, madeindurban.co.za and Clarke's in Cape Town.

Curry and Bread at News24

In his latest book, Curry and Bread, Pravasan Pillay explores, among other things, a georgraphy of pickles and lists his six favourite South African breakfasts. You can read these extracts at News24.

There is a paywall, but you can sign up for a free 14-day trial.

Curry and Bread is published by Dye Hard Press, and is available at select Exclusive Books branches, Love Books in Melville, Johannesburg, Made in Durban, and Clarke's in Cape Town.

Curry and Bread at Exclusive Books Sandton City

Pravasan Pillay's new title Curry and Bread on display at Exclusive Books, Sandton City, Johannesburg.

Curry and Bread is also available from other select Exclusive Books branches, Love Books in Johannesburg, Made in Durban, and Clarke's in Cape Town.

Curry and bread on sale at Exclusive Books Hyde Park, Johannesburg

Pravasan Pillay's new title Curry and Bread on display at Exclusive Books, Hyde Park, Johannesburg.

Curry and Bread is also available from Love Books in Johannesburg, Made in Durban, and Clarke's in Cape Town.

Launch of the June 2022 issue of New Coin at Love Books, Melville

 

Khosi Xaba reading from an interview she conducted in the June issue of New Coin.

Photo: Zodwa Mtirara

Garth Mason reading from his poem in New Coin.

Photo: Zodwa Mtirara

Gary Cummiskey reading three short poems from a recent issue of New Coin.

Photo: Zodwa Mtirara

Khulile Nxumalo reading his poem in the latest issue of New Coin.

Photo: Zodwa Mtirara

Zama Madinana reading his contribution.

Photo: Zodwa Mtirara

Sello Huma performing a poem.

Photo: Zama Madinana

Zodwa Mtirara reading from her collection. 

Photo: Zama Madinana

The June 2022 issue of New Coin, published by the ISEA, Rhodes University.

Photo: Zodwa Mtirara

Launch of New Coin June 2022 issue

 Various poets, including Gary Cummiskey, will be reading their poems from recent issues of New Coin, one of South Africa's oldest and most respected poetry journals. RSVP Kate at Love Books, Melville, Johannesburg.

Photos from the launch of Arja Salafranca's Beyond Touch at Love Books, Melville

Invite to the launch of Arja Salafranca's Beyond Touch

The year of the short story

Article from the Melville-Northcliff Times on the launch of Off-ramp at Love Books, November 13.

New Book, New Broom, New Coin - the launch of Off-ramp, by Rene Bohnen

Die virus tref haar tussen twee verkeersligte naby Wespark. Sy sweet en bestuur, sweet en bestuur, konsentreer deur die spitsverkeer en die yskoue prikkels in haar voete en hande. Genadiglik maak sy dit tot by die parkeer-area, sluit die motor en storm dramaties verby die wit tafels met die wynglase, verby die silwer ysemmer en camembert-broodjies, tot by die badkamer. Hoe lank bly sy daar, nee sy weet nie – deur die venster hoor sy vaagweg hoe lag en gesels die gaste wat nou reeds aangekom het vir die boekbekendstelling. ʼn Skoonmaker kom in met emmer en mop, verbaas om ʼn vrou op die vloer te sien lê naby die wasbak. Is daar fout, wil sy weet. Nee, antwoord die vrou, ek is doodreg, ek het kom foto’s neem. Ek voel soos ʼn karakter in ‘n film van David Lynch, dink sy. Of in een van Gary Cummiskey se kortverhale...Read more here