Nthikeng Mohele, the gifted wordsmith pens a new novel simply titled Love
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
He ranks as an important literary voice of his generation, if not the foremost. His is a literary talent and voice that for the longest time has been rare. His ability to weave ordinary words together in such a manner that their ordinariness become complicated, giving breath to the characters that carry the author’s imagination.
In fact his word gyminastics, the ability to play around with everyday words, combined his penchant for philosophical musings through of course, the characters he imagines into existence, clothe and breathe life into, is what distinguishes his from his generation of writers.
Under Nthikeng Mohlele, the ordinary mundane activities of ordinary people become the tools he cleverly uses to tell stories that readers connect with effortlessly. Mohlele is so good that words he pens on paper sing. They have both rhythm and melody, sounding as if one is watching a live musical rendition. Under his skilful imagination words become poetry on paper. They could also be referred to as jazz for a discerning jazz lover.
I personally was read his work late, and have realised how I missed beautiful literature, once I gave myself time to immerse in it in recent years. That experience confirmed what those who had already read him had told me. And that this man is a wordsmith per excellence. And there is no exaggeration here. If you doubt tempt me and read him and come back to share your experience.
Whether it is a collection of short stories or a full novel, his strength lies in his ability to connect words that are seemingly ordinary everyday words into a form that has a superior literary value.
Those who have long discovered Mohlele, and have fallen in love with his fictional works, will be happy to know that the writer has a brand new novel, curiously titled Love. I cannot wait laying my hands on this one.
Jacana Media, Mohlele’s publisher, has confirmed that the writer has indeed released a brand new novel.
“Nthikeng Mohlele, prize-winning author, returns with Love, a thrilling and provocative new novel that dares readers to confront love as a force capable of both healing and undoing us.
Set in a hauntingly familiar Johannesburg, Love introduces readers to a man known by more than one name, a chef with a complicated past who accepts a job in a private prison. What begins as work soon becomes something far more unsettling, drawing him into a world where loyalty, belief and identity are constantly shifting.
Mohlele is known for writing fiction that challenges readers and Love is no exception. Blending elements of crime, romance and literary fiction, the novel explores the fragile space between desire, faith and redemption.
Love is poised to ignite literary conversation, captivate book clubs and resonate with readers searching for a gritty genre-blending novel. If bold, haunting and unforgettable themes intrigue you – then Love should be your most anticipated literary read of the year,” the publisher said.
With the release of this novel, the writer is adding a solid and illustrious literary contribution to to contemporary literature in South Africa.
His previous works are six critically acclaimed novels: The Scent of Bliss (2008), Small Things (2013), Rusty Bell (2014), Pleasure (2016), Michael K (2018) and Illumination (2019). He also published a collection of short-stories titled Discovery of Love (August 2021).
Love is his seventh novel.