The Reactive by Masande Ntshanga gives you a front row seat of the effects of self-inflicted guilt. Photographer: Tokiso Molefe Opening line: “Ten years ago, I helped a handful of men take my little brother’s life”. My thoughts when I read this ranged from, “did you hate your brother”, “were you a messed up druggie”. What follows is a story of a young man who is infested with guilt about a decision he made but honestly – he didn’t kill his brother. The circumstances that lead to his brother’s death haunt him for a long time. He even infects himself with HIV to punish himself. There are so many “oh wow, he did that” moments in the book. The book also plays on the theme that “birds of a feather stick together” – his friends Ruan and Cecelia are as disturbed as he is. One cannot understand what their goals and ambitions in life are. I had actually convinced myself that the book would end with some, ‘assisted suicide’ mission. That’s how troubled these young people are. ...
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