MUKAI’s BOOK CLUB

22/09/2026

✍️💻📚 FROM ITAI VHUDZIJENA'S DESK

“What is your favorite childhood book?'

Growing up, I used to have access to many books

My earliest memory of my first book was 'Benny and Betty Sub A / Grade 1 Reader'

I still remember an extract in this book 47 years later!😀

Yes, you read that right!😄

It went like:

'One dog is drinking.
It is brown.
It is a brown dog.

Two goats are eating.
They are white.
They are white goats.

Three birds are flying.
They are grey.
They are grey birds.'

It was a wonderful set book.
My Grade 1 teacher, Mrs Bepete, made sure we memorised such extracts😊

It taught me to read, love and enjoy reading at an early age.

It was fun.

Throughout my school life, we had set books in both English and my mother tongue - Shona.

They were great reads.
We learnt the English Language, English Literature, Shona Language and Shona Literature through these books.

We had famous local authors like Charles Mungoshi, Mordecai Abenia Hamutyinei, Giles Kuimba, Aaron Chiundura Moyo, T.K Tsodzo, Patrick Chakaipa, J.C. Kumbirai, among others.

All these authors works were gripping stuff.

I loved and adored all of their novels, the story line, the plot, the way each character was portrayed and described.

Beside set books, I also had access to adventure novels by Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, Mark Twain, Nancy Drew Series, The Hardy Boys Series, and so forth.
These novels stimulated my creativity and imagination as a young kid growing up.

Mills and Boon romance novels featured greatly on my reading list back then.

Authors like Betty Neels, Penny Jordan, Violet Winspear, and Carole Mortimer come to mind.

I could finish a 180+ novel within two days.

That's how focused, engrossed and captivated I was in these authors' storytelling.

With this in mind, I would have to say my favorite childhood book would have to be Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer.

A school friend lent me this book when I was 12 years old (or thereabouts).

She had borrowed it from the local library, had read it herself and was now loaning me to read for the weekend - Friday afternoon and give it back to her first thing Monday morning so that she could return it to the library by lunch time.

I was drawn to this book right from the time I saw it, touched it and started flipping the pages.

That Friday, Saturday and Sunday I was glued to the storyline.
I ate my:
breakfast with one eye on my novel
lunch without noticing what I was eating and dinner, with my head still buried in this book!

That's how engrossed I was!

What drew me to this book?

I guess, you can say, I have always been a sucker for chivalry!😘😂

Beauvallet is a story about a sailor/ kinda pirate, known as Sir Nicholas Beauvallet.

His exploits on the high seas have made him an equal to Sir Francis Drake and a favorite of the Queen.

When a captured galleon yields the lovely Dona Dominica de Rada y Sylva, he vows to return her and her father to the shores of Spain.

But Beauvallet has never been known to resist a challenge.

With this decision to stop at nothing to make Dominica his bride, he may have just taken on his most challenging adventure yet.

Great stuff! 😘

In my opinion, I believe Georgette Heyer was one of the best historical fiction romance writers.

Would have loved to have this book turned into a movie 💞😘

What about you?

Write and tell me what is your favorite childhood book?

15/09/2026

✍️💻📚 FROM ITAI VHUDZIJENA'S DESK

“Best Classic?”

When I see this topic, the first thing that comes to my mind is:

What makes a classic? 🤔

Sarah McKenna and Penguin Editors describe a classic as:
“... a book that has stood the test of time and still feels relevant today, years after its publication.”

They go on to say:

“It is usually subversive or inventive, and has influenced books that came after it, but it can also be representative of the time it was written.”

With this description in mind, the following books come to mind ... 📚

1️⃣ The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith, published in 1892.

2️⃣ Anna Karenina by the famous Leo Tolstoy, published in 1878.

3️⃣ Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, published in 1847.

I also grew up watching television series based on this book.

4️⃣ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, published in 1884.

I also grew up watching television series based on this book.

5️⃣ Bleak House by Charles Dickens, published in 1853.

I also grew up watching television series based on this book.

6️⃣ Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, published in 1811.

I watched a movie based on this book.

7️⃣ The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch, published in 1978.

8️⃣ I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, published in 1969.

9️⃣ Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, first published in 1605.
The second Part was published in 1615.

🔟 David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, published in 1849.

I also grew up watching television series based on this book.

Italo Calvino put it beautifully in his 1986 essay, Why Read the Classics?

“A classic is a book which has never exhausted all it has to say to its readers.”

With all this information, I have to say that my Best Classic would have to be:

📚 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen, published in 1813.

WHY, YOU MAY BE WONDERING? 😊

This is a classic of a family — the Bennet family.

Mrs Bennet has five daughters and is desperate to marry all of them off because their estate will pass to a male cousin when her husband, Mr Bennet, dies.

I loved the storyline, the plot, and the drama of it all! 😂

A wealthy bachelor named Mr Bingley moves nearby and falls for the eldest sister, Jane.

Bingley brings his proud friend, Mr Darcy, who insults Elizabeth Bennet at a dance.

She instantly dislikes him.

But after Elizabeth lets go of the prejudice that blinded her to Darcy’s true, honourable character — and Darcy lets go of his pride and his tendency to look down on her lower social connections — the two finally realise they belong together.

And they marry for love. ❤️

WHY THIS BOOK RESONATES WITH ME

What drew me to this book then, and still does now, is that I come from a family of six girls.

I am the eldest of the lot. 😊

The drama, the confusion, the misunderstandings, and the nervous nature and disposition of Mrs Bennet mirrored that of my own mother! 😂

With six girls and no boys, the question of “zita”, which in my language, Shona, translates to “lineage”, was very topical.

In Shona culture, a man’s bloodline and lineage is traditionally maintained through the boy child.

And my father, being the only child of my grandmother, the issue of zita was a big thorn in my family.

Besides the issue of zita, there was also the tricky and touchy subject of dating, possible pregnancy, and complications like that.

Mum was always nervous.

Dad did not want to let go of his girls and believed no man was good enough for his precious six darlings! 😂

THE STORY OF MY FAMILY

Despite all these challenges, my parents managed to raise six straightforward, well-behaved, straight-A university graduates:

👩🏾‍💼 Quantity Surveyors — two

👩🏾‍💼 Accountant

👩🏾‍💼 Civil Engineer

👩🏾‍💼 Journalist

👩🏾‍💼 Business Management Expert

They went on to have ten grandchildren — six boys and four girls. 😊❤️

Pride and Prejudice is an illustration that still resonates with me today.

I lived Pride and Prejudice.

I am still living it.

And I believe I will continue living it forever.

WHAT PRIDE AND PREJUDICE TEACHES ME

Pride and Prejudice teaches us that society’s preoccupation with the gender of a child, who is eligible to inherit what, and the social class a person comes from, are nothing but superficial and baseless obsessions.

They mean nothing.

Yes, I am a girl — the eldest in a family of six girls and no boys.

So what? 😊

I am still my father’s daughter.

And my two children, Angela and Michael, are my father’s grandchildren.

My father’s name and legacy still reign and course through my veins.

And so does it through my children’s veins, to perpetuity.

My sisters and I are capable of running the estate our parents left us.

What matters at the end of the day is not the gender of the child or the class they emanate from.

What matters is the type of person they are.

Are they decent?

Are they loving?

Are they caring?

That’s all.

Everything else then takes care of itself.

Would sure love to hear your comments as well. 😊

11/09/2026

🟪🟧🟨 TABLE TOPICS
MUKAI HENRIETA, DTM, ASKS:
“If you had to live in a book forever, which one would you choose?”

📚 THE POWER OF A BOOK TO CAPTURE A HEART!
Being an avid reader myself, I would be spoilt for choice! 😊

But if I had to choose just one book to live in forever, I know exactly which one it would be.

Let me take you back to where my love affair with books began.

📖 A FAMILY OF EDUCATORS. A CHILD OF BOOKS.
Growing up in a family of educators, I was surrounded by learning and reading materials from a very early age.

My paternal grandfather was a teacher.

My paternal grandmother was a teacher.

My father was a trained teacher, became a Lecturer, and eventually rose to become Vice Principal of a College.

My mother was a trained teacher who became a Senior Woman and later Deputy Headmistress at a High School.

Books, magazines, newspapers, journals, and television were all part of my world.

And somewhere along the way, I developed an insatiable love for reading.

I was four years old.

Yes, four! 😊

📚 THE LITTLE GIRL WHO COULDN'T PUT A BOOK DOWN!
I remember devouring pages upon pages of autobiographies.

One that stands out in my memory was the autobiography of Anna Pavlova, the celebrated Russian prima ballerina.

If my memory serves me right, that book must have been more than 500 pages long!

I can still picture my mother exclaiming in amazement to my father about my love of reading, with Dad beaming from ear to ear.

And I loved the twinkle in Mum's eyes whenever she spotted me sitting quietly in a corner somewhere at home, completely enveloped in the stories I was devouring.

Those moments remain precious to me. ❤️

I loved reading books in English, French, and my mother tongue, Shona.

Reading opened up entire worlds to me.

It stimulated and sharpened my imagination.
As I read, I could vividly picture the storyline unfolding right before my eyes.

I was fascinated.
I was captivated.
I was transported.

💕 MILLS AND BOONS FOR LUNCH!
I loved romance novels by celebrated authors such as Barbara Taylor Bradford, Susan Howatch, and Virginia Andrews.

And Mills & Boons?

I “ate” Mills & Boons for lunch! 😂📚

By the age of eight, I had developed the art of focus and reading fast.

You see, some of my schoolmates would borrow Mills & Boon novels from the local Public Library.
After reading their books, they would loan them to me for a very short period, sometimes just two days, before they had to return them.

Two days!

I had no choice but to sharpen my reading skills. 😊

And I did.

I also loved the works of Shakespeare, Charles Mungoshi, Mordecai Abenia Hamutyinei, Chinua Achebe, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Enid Blyton, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, and many others.

My appetite for books was limitless.

🟪🟧🟨 THE BOOK I WOULD CHOOSE TO LIVE IN FOREVER
So, if I had to live in a book forever, which one would I choose?

My answer would be:

KARIKOGA GUMIREMISEVE
A celebrated Shona novel by Patrick Chakaipa.
I first came across this book at home in Gweru, Zimbabwe, on my parents' bookshelves.

I must have been about eight years old.

And this book moved me!
The storyline fascinated me.
The way the author narrated and wove the adventure from the very beginning right through to the last page left me breathless.

I was taken.
I was blown away.
I was impressed.

But most of all, I was captivated by the main character, Karikoga.

⚔️ A HERO WHO CAPTURED MY IMAGINATION
I was so moved, so taken, and so blown away by the bravery, love, conviction, strength, and fearlessness of this hero.

I was enamoured.

The story revolved around Karikoga's brave, single-handed quest to track down the raiders, rescue his beloved Marunjeya, and safely bring her back home.

What an adventure!
What courage!
What conviction!
What love!

At just eight years old, I was completely captivated by this character and his story.

I have read this book several times.

And I still love it.

So much so that I have promised myself that, if I ever get the opportunity, I would love to convert this incredible story into a movie.

Imagine that! 🎬😊

🌟 THE POWER OF A STORY
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is a classic example of the power an author can have on their readers.

The power to stimulate.
The power to invigorate.
The power to inspire.
The power to awaken the imagination.
The power to leave a lasting impression on the mind of an innocent, pure young reader.

A book can transport a child to another world.
A book can introduce a child to courage, love, conviction, and adventure.
A book can plant a dream that stays with you for a lifetime.

And sometimes, a book can inspire you to want to create a story of your own.

Incredible!

📚 MY QUESTION TO YOU

So, avid readers...

If you had to live in a book forever, which one would you choose, and why?

Would you choose a book that inspired you as a child?

A book that transported you to another world?

Or perhaps a book that changed the way you see life?

I can't wait to hear your stories!

🟪🟧🟨

10/09/2026

✍️💻📚 FROM Itai Vhudzijena 's DESK

ONCE UPON A DYNASTY — LIVE THE ADVENTURE
LEARN THE LESSON. 📚

Once Upon A Dynasty by Itai Vhudzijena was inspired by true historical facts that unfolded and led to the formation of Southern Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe) and her maternal grandfather's ancestry.

In this adventurous tale that is 378 pages long, you will encounter love, tragedy, jealousy, treachery, deceit, domestic violence, alcoholism, manipulation and care - among others - all in one bloodline - that of The Manyames.

A family plagued by a genetic disorder, Once Upon A Dynasty will tug at your heart, wrestle with your mind and take you on an emotional rollercoaster that you didn't even know existed within you.

Itai Vhudzijena believes in teaching life concepts through storytelling.

And perhaps that is why her books are more than stories.

They are lessons.
They are mirrors.
They are conversations.
They are opportunities to see life through someone else’s eyes—and perhaps make better choices in your own.

📖 GET YOUR COPY OF ONCE UPON A DYNASTY

Available on:
🔶 Amazon.com
🔶 Amazon.com.au — Amazon Australia
🔶 Amazon.in — Amazon Asia Pacific
🔶 Amazon.com.be — Amazon Brussels

Go on.

Start creating your collection! 🙂

After all, there are now 22 books to collect under the Itai Vhudzijena name. 📚

Some people collect paintings.

Others collect antiques.

Others collect stamps, coins or beautiful pieces of art.

Don't follow the crowd.

Chart your own path.

Why not start collecting Itai Vhudzijena books? 😊📚

They make thoughtful gifts for:
🎁 Birthdays
💍 Anniversaries
🎓 Graduations
🏫 School and university libraries
📚 Alumni libraries
❤️ Donations to organisations and institutions

A book can entertain you.
A book can educate you.
A book can challenge your thinking.
And sometimes…
A book can teach you a life lesson you didn't know you needed.

So, which Itai Vhudzijena book will you add to your collection next? 😊📚

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

✍️💻📚 FROM Itai Vhudzijena 's DESK

MAKAITIRENI — LIVE THE STORY.
LEARN THE LESSON. 📚

Makaitireni by Itai Vhudzijena was inspired by a true story that unfolded during the author’s growing-up years, when she was in High School.

It is the story of an ordinary couple who lived a not-so-ordinary life—with extraordinary realisations coming to light many years later.

At its heart, Makaitireni brings to light the importance of faithfulness in marriage and relationships, and the consequences that may follow when that commitment is broken.

But there is something particularly special about Itai Vhudzijena’s Semi-Fiction collection.

Her stories allow you to:

“Live other people’s lives, make their mistakes and rectify them—all within the confines of a book, without having to make those mistakes yourself and suffer the consequences.”

That is the philosophy behind her writing.

Itai Vhudzijena believes in teaching life concepts through storytelling.

And perhaps that is why her books are more than stories.

They are lessons.
They are mirrors.
They are conversations.
They are opportunities to see life through someone else’s eyes—and perhaps make better choices in your own.

📖 GET YOUR COPY OF MAKAITIRENI

Available on:
🔶 Amazon.com
🔶 Amazon.com.au — Amazon Australia
🔶 Amazon.in — Amazon Asia Pacific
🔶 Amazon.com.be — Amazon Brussels

Go on.

Start creating your collection! 🙂

After all, there are now 22 books to collect under the Itai Vhudzijena name. 📚

Some people collect paintings.

Others collect antiques.

Others collect stamps, coins or beautiful pieces of art.

Don't follow the crowd.

Chart your own path.

Why not start collecting Itai Vhudzijena books? 😊📚

They make thoughtful gifts for:
🎁 Birthdays
💍 Anniversaries
🎓 Graduations
🏫 School and university libraries
📚 Alumni libraries
❤️ Donations to organisations and institutions

A book can entertain you.
A book can educate you.
A book can challenge your thinking.
And sometimes…
A book can teach you a life lesson you didn't know you needed.

So, which Itai Vhudzijena book will you add to your collection next? 😊📚

29/07/2026

✍️💻📚HARRIET MYSTERIES
by ITAI VHUDZIJENA

Collection of 8

📕 Elizabeth
Who is Elizabeth?
Why is she important?

📘Breathe
Why is breathing the mystery?

📗 Quarantined
What happened during the quarantine?

📙New Beginnings
A hopeful title ... but what secret lies beneath?

📓 Tarisai
Another intriguing name that invites questions

📒Flight KM 4456
Immediately evokes suspense.
What happened on that flight ✈️?

📜Michael
Who is Michael?
A deep dive into the art world ...
What happened in this world?

📖Angela
Who is Angela?
A round trip adventure ... Japan ... UK ... USA ...
What happened during this round trip?

Collection is available on Amazon.

16/07/2026

✍️💻📚 FROM ITAI VHUDZIJENA'S POD