Books 2013: The best books of the year

We asked our writers to tell us what titles they found hard to put down

Lauren Beukes on Sci-Fi

'The Space Race' by Alex Latimer

This is a kick-ass thriller with deceptively lovely insights into human relationships, about a secret apartheid space programme in the Karoo that gets hijacked.

'The New Girl' by SL Grey

The third in the series of a disturbing downside world that overlaps our own in the liminal spaces of a glossy mall, in a government hospital and now, an exclusive private school. Smart horror with a scathing moral conscience.

• Beukes's latest novel is the critically acclaimed novel 'The Shining Girls'

Imraan Coovadia on literary fiction

'The Whispering Muse' by the Iceland writer Sjon, or Sigurjón Birgir Sigurðsson

I really like this book. It's not a book I can explain. It's light, strange, related to Homer's Odyssey and Viking ballads, and sees the centrality of fish in the universe.

'A Map of Tulsa' by Benjamin Lytal

It's a perfect New York literary exercise set in Oklahoma, or wherever Tulsa happens to be, which is also a coming-of-age story.

'All That Is' by James Salter

I know I shouldn't like it but I do. It's the best novel written by someone in his 80s. In fact, it's better than any novel written by anyone in his or her 60s. And there's also something eminently distasteful in its views of women and life and its wandering story.

• Coovadia's essay collection 'Transformations: Essays' recently won the South African Literary Award for Creative Non-fiction

Pieter-Dirk Uys on political non-fiction

'My Big Fat Gupta Wedding' by Zapiro

The one genius whose cartoons can make you laugh through your tears.

'The Zuma Years' by Richard Calland

Especially good for his wonderful suggested cabinet of South African women.

'A Passion for Freedom' by Mampela Ramphele

To help flesh out the extraordinary profile of a potential national leader.

• Uys's publication 'Panorama' is in its second printing

Andrew Donaldson on thrillers

'Someone to Watch Over Me' by Yrsa Sigurdardóttir

The guff about Sigurdardóttir being Iceland's answer to Stieg Larsson is regrettable, for the Thóra Gudmundsdóttir novels are way better than The Dragon Tattoo trilogy and this, the fifth, is the best yet. A young man with Down's syndrome has been convicted of torching his care home, killing five people, and lawyer Gudmundsdóttir has been hired to prove his innocence. This is superior entertainment.

'City of Blood' by MD Villiers

The crime debut of the year, this enthralling, provocative evocation of Johannesburg's underworld has been longlisted for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger. It's a fast-moving rush, and most of the action unfolds in the eyes of an orphaned youth whose life is thrown into considerable turmoil when he goes to the aid of an elderly gogo who is being attacked by a Nigerian knifeman. Villiers has given her coming-of-age thriller a cast of memorably menacing characters, but it's the city itself that is most threatening.

• Donaldson is The Times book columnist.

Jade Zwane on erotica

'Slow Sex' by Nicole Daedone

Slow Sex encompasses OM, orgasmic meditation which is a 15-minute partnered sexual practice that refers to orgasm not in the circular. Orgasm may or may not include climax and includes everything from sweaty palms to faster heartbeat, etc.

'My Romantic Love Wars' by Betty Dodson

I consider myself a sex-positive feminist and feel that Dodson is one of its leaders. Her memoirs discuss how she came to be sexually liberated and non-monogamous after being repressed about sex.

'A Girl Walks into a Bar' by Helena S Paige

I haven't yet read this highly anticipated book, but I'll be packing it in my beach bag.

• Zwane is the author of 'aDICKted'

Sihle Khumalo on travelogues

'The Last Train to Zona Verde' by Paul Theroux

Theroux, already on his 70s, is as cranky and grumpy as ever. He calls Africa, the very continent he is trying to explore northwards along the Western shore, "violated Eden of our origins". His rich, true-to-life and picturesque descriptions of places, transport and circumstances are legendary and make one want to rough it up in Angola yesterday.

'City of Myths River of Dreams' by James Marr

Comical writing for a not-for-sissies adventure: overlanding through West Africa. Run-ins with police, a ruptured fuel tank and other endless problems are quickly forgotten when the team (author, wife and two friends) stop for yet another alcoholic refreshment.

• In 'Almost Sleeping my Way to Timbuktu', Khumalo shares his own ambitious journey through five West African countries

Laurence Brick on coffee-table books

'Interiors Now' edited by Margit J Mayer

Interiors Now is a visual indulgence of the world's best contemporary homes, from world-renowned potter, home furnishings guru and decorator Jonathan Adlers's retro-inspired colourful Shelter Island home to architect and designer Shamir Shap's modernist interiors in a former printing press in Chelsea.

'Vanity Fair - 100 Years' edited by Graydon Carter

The best gift I received for my birthday, this book reflects the last 100 years, telling the story of a century of modern culture and society. Art and interiors are part of this and beautifully documented, my favourites being on architect and furniture designer Florence Knoll, whose furniture became design icons of the 20th century, as well as highlights from the phenomenal 2006 Art Issue.

'Living with the Light' by Axel Vervoordt

Beautifully photographed, Belgian designer Vervoordt's urban and rural interiors showcase his passion for art and design.

• Brick is creative director of 100% Design South Africa

Andrew Donaldson on Music Books

'Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop' by Bob Stanley

For 50 years or so, pop music - full of the potency that held Noel Coward in such thrall - was consumed like this: you heard a song on the radio, you read about it, you bought the record, you lent it to friends, they lent you theirs, and thus you not only built a cultural network, but you provided a soundtrack to your life. What's changed? The recording industry may now be in dire straits, thanks to the digital revolution, but our love affair with pop culture is as strong as ever. Erudite, funny, informative, here is the history of it all in 750 enthralling pages. Absolutely indispensable.

'The Beatles - All These Years: Tune in, Volume One' by Mark Lewisohn

The first volume in an ambitious trilogy. It's 900 pages long and only covers the group's career up to 1962, when they were on the brink of stardom. The obvious question, given everything that's been written about The Beatles, would be: what more can possibly be said? Well, lots, it would seem. Much of what's here is the pre-Fab stuff - that is, it's unfamiliar and comes across as revelatory and fresh. Lewisohn spent 10 years on this project, and it shows.

Best for kids

'Lion vs Rabbit' by Alex Latimer

This is a delightful book. It's about a lion who is a big bully (such a relevant theme for children, no matter what age they are) and the poor animals that just can't get him to stop. Then one day, rabbit comes along and manages to beat this bully (using brain not brawn). The illustrations are beautiful and the story is so smart. I loved the clever clues in the pictures so that perceptive readers can figure out for themselves how rabbit is outsmarting lion. I think the author's playfulness with words and his superbly subtle humour are such a boon for adults, who may be reading this book over and over again to their children.

'If You Want to See a Whale' by Julie Fogliano and Erin E Stead

I so enjoyed this book for its simplicity, serenity and subtle messages about mindfulness and patience in life. The words are so lyrical and rhythmic that reading aloud is almost like a meditation, I thought. How beautiful for bedtime reading. The illustrations are muted and soft, yet have surprising details, like the little bird that appears on every page.

And the message, well, little ones may not get it totally, but surely will feel the patience and calmness that the book inspires. These are virtues that we all tend to forget in our rushed, busy world, so I think it's refreshingly worthwhile to find a book to remind us.

'Mr Tiger Goes Wild' by Peter Brown

Mr Tiger lives in a world filled with politely demure grey and brown animals, who wear clothing that is as drab and dull as they are. Oh, and they all walk on two legs. Mr Tiger is bored with all of this and yearns to express his true self in the wild (and run on all fours). I liked the ever-relevant themes of social pressure, embracing one's uniqueness and not following the crowd. How clever that the illustrations nourish the nuances of the story by showing Mr Tiger as bright and bold compared to the dullness around him. The story ends cleverly, showing how balance is best. - Anita Pouroulis

• Pouroulis's children's book 'Oh What a Tangle'recently won Best World Children's Book Award at the China Children's Book Fair.