Norwood-based writer launches own life-experience book

NORWOOD – 'The book is a complete epitome of applied oxymoron – in presentation, experience and expression and above all, its unalloyed honesty and sincerity; low on ego and high on substance.'

March 17, 2020

Thabo Jobo 2 minutes read

Saul Molobi, the author of Sounds and Fury: The Chronicles of Healing with his fans at the launch of the book launch held at The Factory's Ndawo Yummy restaurant in Norwood. Photo: Supplied

A Norwood resident and author successfully launched his first book at The Factory’s Ndawo Yummy restaurant in Norwood along Grant Avenue on 25 February.

The venue was packed with about 100 of his fans attending in support of author Saul Molobi.

Titled, Sounds and Fury: The Chronicles of Healing, the book talks about his life after his injury that left him semi-paralysed.

Saul Molobi has written and published his first-ever book titled, Sounds and Fury: The Chronicles of Healing which was recently launched at The Factory’s Ndawo Yummy restaurant in Norwood. *Photo: Supplied*

The launch was hosted by the Tafakari Book Club at one of the City of Johannesburg’s go-to cultural hubs.

According to Molobi, this is an inspirational book targeted at readers in general who could be struggling against the odds.

He said it gives hope that with a positive attitude, it is possible to triumph over adversity.

Although the book chronicles the author’s one year that he spent at a rehabilitation hospital battling to recover his health, he uses the hospital as a context to reflect on his entire life sharing snippets of his life as a teenage gardener, high school student, anti-apartheid student activist, his detention under the draconian state of emergency in the mid-1980s and his professional life that includes serving as South Africa’s Consul-General in Milan from 2012 to 2016 before moving to Norwood.

The Sounds and Fury: The Chronicles of Healing book author with his fans at the launch held at The Factory’s Ndawo Yummy restaurant in Norwood. *Photo: Supplied*

“I decided to share my everyday struggles as I fought to regain my life and I also share my difficulties in trying to reintegrate into the community and the world of work as a person with a disability – walking with an impaired movement,” Molobi said.

“The book also aims to mainstream issues affecting people with disabilities. For me, it is also about removing the ‘agh shame’ mentality when the non-disabled people look at people with disabilities. Our disability shouldn’t define us, our personality should.”

Author Saul Molobi addresses the guests at the book launch that was held at The Factory’s Ndawo Yummy restaurant in Norwood. *Photo: Supplied*

His message is simple: “Never lose hope in your struggles and sometimes adopt a light-hearted approach to dealing with the difficulties you’re encountering. Laughter is indeed the best medicine as the cliché goes.”

The book has been published by Brandhill Africa (Pty) Ltd, the publishing company that sells the book directly.

Molobi said 45 per cent of the cover price is normally charged by bookshops as their commission and it is then saved and donated as seed capital to establish the GBS Medical Research Fund which will be headed by the author’s medical doctor, Dr Langa Sibeko.

The Fund is housed by the Brandhill Africa Foundation NPC, he added.