Good books gift guide: Oscar and Reeva

Read all about the trial of the century

Reeva: A Mother's Story by June Steenkamp (Sphere R279.90)

It's absolutely heartbreaking from the very first chapter, in which we see a letter that a loving mother wrote to her daughter on her 18th birthday. June, pictured, wants the world to know who Reeva was - not as the model girlfriend who was shot by Oscar Pistorius, but as a strong, independent woman who made a bad decision: to try and make a relationship work with a clearly disturbed individual.

June says: "Reeva was a beautiful and intelligent woman. She was always so much more than just someone's girlfriend. She devoted her life to helping people around her and she believed passionately in human rights. She was set to make her mark on the world. That opportunity was taken from her.

"This book is my way of making sure she will not be forgotten. I have to do the best for her now that she has gone."

A story of gut-wrenching loss.

Behind The Door: The Oscar and Reeva Story by Mandy Wiener and Barry Bateman (Pan Macmillan R239.90)

This book goes beyond the facts of the case in search of the wider context behind the shocking tragedy: the back-story of the police investigation, the nature of the South African criminal justice system, the culture of violence in South Africa and the need for society to create flawed heroes who are destined to fail.

Die Staat Vs Oscar by Marida Fitzpatrick (Jonathan Ball Publishers R189.90)

Oscar se moordverhoor is 'n liefdesverhaal wat 'n misdaadriller geword het, 'n sprokie wat in bloed geëindig het. En dis hoe Fitzpatrick die verhaal vertel. Tussendeur die pakkende vertelling is uittreksels uit onderhoude wat Fitzpatrick met van Pistorius en Reeva Steenkamp se naastes gevoer het: Carl Pistorius (Oscar se ouer broer), Arnold Pistorius (Oscar se oom en vaderfiguur), Kevin Lerena (wat een van Oscar en Reeva's se beste vriende was), en Kerryn du Rand (vriendin van Reeva).

Oscar Pistorius: Van Sprokie tot Tragedie by Ilse Salzwedel (Penguin R189.90)

Vir hierdie boek het Salzwedel deur 'n vloedgolf menings gesif om sin te maak van die Oscar-saak. 'n Fassinerende prentjie ontvou waarin sleutelaspekte ontleed word, soos die belang van forensiese besonderhede, die kundigheid van polisie- en regsbeamptes, die rol van die staat en die verdediging in die hof, die effek van mediadekking op die publiek se persepsies, en nog meer.

Oscar: An Accident Waiting to Happen by Patricia Taylor and Melinda Ferguson (MFL/Jacana R194.90)

The inside story of ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor's tumultuous relationship with Oscar as told by her mother, Patricia. In her last conversation, Patricia warned the athlete: "Oscar, you have got to step out of your life. Something is going to go wrong. And it's going to happen soon. Your life is like this terrible accident."

Note: some books will be available in CNA stores from the end of November.