"The man of fiction"

The books I will be reading during the winter vacation

“Eish wena, you like fiction too much,” Lolonga said to me. I looked at him curiously. I’m a literature major, what does he expect of me. He told me that he’d rather read classics and inspirational novels like the Alchemist. “I love fiction and I read as widely as I can,” I countered.

“You know sister Ellen White calls fiction readers liars,” he admonished. I know sister White does not approve of fiction reading (Fundamentals of Christian Education). “I’m not a liar, but I’m honest and truthful ad I tell the truth to the best of my ability,” I protested. Lies are not part of my agenda. I find no reason to lie; even a so-called white lie is not something I indulge in. But I’ve been reading fiction since I was a child. I also read motivational books and other non fiction books but literary fiction makes for the bulk of my reading.

Lolonga took out a Cyril Ramaphosa’s biography; he reads a lot of biographies. I’ve not read a biography, only fictional autobiography. I decided to take out President Jacob Zuma’s biography by Jeremy Gordon. I’ve always seen Zuma through the eyes of the media, and reading his biography might give me fresh eyes to look at him. And who knows, maybe I’ll develop an appreciation for biographies.

But I will continue to read and enjoy fiction. That’s the world I’m comfortable to live in. When many decide to be couch potatoes and click on the remote, I open a novel and read. And this winter vacation I’ll be indulging in a lot of fiction, because I am, as Lolonga calls me, “the man of fiction”. But I protested and told him to call me a literati or man of letters instead. I have taken out a few novels and an omnibus of short stories in addition to JZ’s biography. I have a buffet of books to keep my mind going, both fiction and non fiction.

When I’m not working or teaching my daughter how to read I’ll relax with a book. What more can a man wish for. At least I’m no longer involved with political organising. I used to spend the bulk of my time attending meetings and mobilising young people to take a proactive role in the community. I did this under the banner of a socialist youth organisation. But I think I can make a meaningful contribution as a community member than I will ever achieve in a lifetime of political activism. So next year I will continue to be a community activist, sans “political.” Political activists are less interested in community development, but rather their concern has to do more with power and their wellbeing in the form of tenders and lucrative jobs for themselves and their friends and family.

I’ve learnt a lot from my involvement in the mass democratic and the working class movements, and I’m happy that I’ve put this chapter of my life behind me. I have learnt a lot about my history and the current political activism in the country. But now I have to continue reading. Maybe next year I will do an Honours degree in English Literature.