PROVOCATIVE STORY OF A CREATIVE GENIUS

Title: Pleasure Author: Nthikeng Mohlele Reviewer: Mapula Nkosi Publisher: Picador Africa

THE story of Milton Mohlele is not driven by a plot but by the author’s incredible story-telling talent that relies on an almost microscopic capture of the details of everyday lives.

You have to have a gift with words to paint so effortlessly what Mohlele captures about Milton’s angst, fears and rebellion.

Each turn of phrase, outrageous thought, confession, dark secrets and conclusions by Milton begs to be savoured.

You will find yourself pausing during your reading as you look at life through the unique lens as Milton.

The parallels between Milton, the inadequate teacher and author who is too hard on himself and wartime soldier Giovanni Gomez, a character in the 1940s trapped in Nazi Germany during the war, who experiences all sorts of adventures no prisoner of war can lay claim to, are fascinating, albeit the entry and exit of Gomez in the book a bit distracting at places.

Milton offers a more familiar terms of reference, however, to grasp the exploits of a detached creative genius regularly questioning his abilities and his knack to repel love.

The last chapters of the book take on a more racier pace that I enjoyed and was quite funny with more characters creeping up as opposed to the more contemplative beginning that works itself like a complicated jazz piece that needs a reader to follow its rhythm properly to be able to catch the wave when the crescendo hits.

It is a provocative story and I wish Mohlele had the energy to write every year.

Recommended price: R260