Lifestyle Letters : Sweat and Sadness

After swallowing the cynicism of Oliver Roberts's "Sweat and lust" (May 23), I fell for his wit, and then his compassion.

I will never exercise in a gym, preferring the great outdoors, but I will have more empathy for those who feel their lives are incomplete without their daily gym fix. - Jayne Williams, Gauteng

Amber-coloured debate

I started reading Lifestyle only a few weeks ago. Last Sunday I read Ndumiso Ngcobo's "The great hippo debate" (May 23), which I found hilarious. It reminded me of my brother, who lives in Botswana and is a mathematician and author of non-fiction. A couple of months ago during a family function, he ignited a debate by stating that French is spoken more widely in Africa than any other language. Being an incorrigible arguer, he "made me" research this fact while under the influence of those amber liquids Ngcobo refers to. To cut a long story short, he was right and this brought about a sharp "riposte" in the form of a satisfied grin for what must have been an hour. - Andile Stemela, by email

A question of philosophy

In response to Ngcobo's "An insatiable appetite to fit in" (May 16). I was just thinking what brand of beer you were drinking while drowning your South African sorrows. The imported ones are not helping at all (remember they were not brewed for South African thirst).This draws my attention to my unborn child, who is due at the end of October. What would be the meaning of life for her or him if she or he had so much pressure to be a South African American like dad? - Andile ka Nkosi, eMgugundlovu

Longing for lists

I refer to Gail Hanekom's letter "Missing lists" (May 23). Please bring back the top ten fiction and non-fiction lists. I belong to two book clubs and always need to see what is on those lists. - Cathie Potgieter, Gauteng