'Look a little bit further': Ivan Vladislavic on Jo'burg life and his new book, The Near North

Ivan Vladislavic's new book, The Near North, is about living – and walking – in Johannesburg, but in a different part of Johannesburg to the eastern suburbs where he used to live and which feature in his previous non-fiction work, the prize-winning Portrait with Keys.

Vladislavic recounts his and his partner's move to the "near North", the "North" being the area north of Louis Botha, with the "near North" still relatively close to central Johannesburg. The move, the Covid lockdown and his and his partner's walks through the suburbs around Riviera are the occasions for a meditation on the city, his life in different parts of Johannesburg, and the changes that happen to both over time.

At the book's launch, Vladislavic discussed the book with News24 books editor Shaun de Waal. These are edited highlights from that discussion.