69 Jerusalem Street

​Author: Lindiwe Nkutha
Publisher: Modjaji books
Reviewer: Hazel Makuzeni
An accountant by profession, Lindiwe Nkutha’s book is a vivid collection of eight short stories that will move you in a profound way. The stories are about the daily struggles of ordinary people living in an unjust world. She covers (amid other things) issues of patriarchy, sexuality, abuse, love, loss, marginalisation and faith. She’s unpretentious in her writing describing her characters and their circumstances in great detail.  Her sharp, humorous writing style 

and use of poetry makes the book that much more addictive. 
Some of the stories that still linger in my mind long since reading the book:
Confessions of Karelina.  A guilt ridden story about a woman caught between her Catholic faith and her unwonted desire and love for a woman.
69 Jerusalem Street.  That’s the number of a house in Phomolong Township, where on one fateful Saturday in August, a mother found courage she never thought she had to fight back against her rapist - who was also her tormentor and husband; father to her child.
The Glasspecker. A sad account on loss and grief.  A story about a young woman drowning her sorrows in liquor and cinnamon cigarettes – mourning her youth, the loss of her life and that of her lover. When all is lost, she makes the ultimate human sacrifice.
The Reader. An intriguing tale of spirituality and divination in this century. A company is in desperate need to have its aura cleansed after hitting financial difficulties. The Reader, needing plenty of cash fast, takes the job. As the week from hell comes to an end, The Reader exposes embezzlement of company funds and who the culprit is.
Black Widow. The author here not only tackle issues of love, betrayal, loneliness and death but, sensitive matters of transgender and gender reassignment.  
Jocasta’s Hairballs. A heart wrenching story of violence and patriarchy that had me both furious and shattered from begin till the end. The story is about Jocasta, a woman who endures two miscarriages, a loveless marriage and, appalling abuse from her adulterous husband. There are many characters in this story but the least said about the misogynist Pastor Paul the better. I do not know who’s more vile him or the husband.     
It’s always wonderful hearing African women’s voices coming to the forefront and Lindiwe Nkutha is a remarkable story teller. Her exhilarating stories in this book jump out of the pages and you can see them playing in your mind like a movie. She has a wealth of insight into the human psyche. I can’t wait to read more from her in the near future. ​