Invisible Strings

by Naledi Mashishi

A spoiled and self-absorbed Mamokgethi Pule’s life is brought to an abrupt halt by an unplanned pregnancy. As her daughter Thato grows, she begins to develop otherworldly powers ranging from visions, to seeing the dead, to healing by touch. A young pastor, Solomon Khumalo, is desperate to prove himself by preaching the word of God to a large and loyal congregation. When he discovers Thato’s powers, he makes Mamokgethi a tempting offer: in exchange for money, he would pass off Thato’s healing powers as his own.

As the pastor’s popularity and thirst for power grows, Thato finds herself increasingly haunted by the past. The ripples of a family tragedy that happened in the family 30 years ago, creates a burden on her young shoulders as she tries to solve it. The Invisible Strings is a story about the past bleeding into the present, the living and the dead, and the scourge of charismatic pastors.

Genres: Fiction

292 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

@naledimashishi's Invisible Strings creeps up on you at a glacial pace then boom☄☄☄ missiles fired. I was coming along nicely with what I thought was "I see dead people" thread, then from page 160, I was thrown in an avalanche of transgenerational trauma and the role and effect of the Tuth and Reconciliation process in our violent histories. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and our attitudes, as a black people, towards mental health and wellness as a disease of the affluent. The greater conversation around the Afterlife and wandering souls. Such an important anchor in this story. The role of the church in our communities and the tendency of pastors to weaponise the bible.

The biggest themes for me was navigating the effects of a missing loved one. The arresting nature of the effects and the shroud of silence. How do we talk OF and ABOUT a child, a sibling, a parent, who has been missing for years? The pain and trauma of a missing and a missed life. Closure, how and when? Survivor's guilt. How do those left behind start living their lives and, when?The effects of an unplanned pregnancy and how it changes the trajectory of the girl's life. Motherhood and its demands. The freedom to choose one's sexual orientation and subsequent judgement from parents, from the community. Acceptance. What does it look like?

The disruptive nature of an unplanned pregnancy and how there seems to be no options for the pregnant girl. The trauma of the physical changes. The visible shame. The psychological and emotional demands of "keeping it together" for yourself, your family, your community, BY yourself. While the young mother's life is irrevocably changed, the boy, the DAD, is living his life on his terms. The birth and not having the freedoms - physical, emotional, and financial - to process the before and after changes.

This 293-pager serves surprise after surprise. Just as you think that you know where the storyline is going, things take an abrupt turn. Very insightful. Very triggering equally intriguing and captivating. Some characters will annoy you and, you will want to grab others by their throats and strangle them. There are beautiful pockets of black joy found in all the trauma though. A true archive, reflective of the times we live in.

Order your copy from @blackbirdbooks_africa @cna_africa @bookcirclecapital

This intergenerational epic will encourage open dialogues for days. It forces the reader to examine themselves and how they interact with those close to them. We are living in extremely trying times, be kinder to yourself and others. It is such a reflective read located bang in the times we live in. Speculative fiction meets magical realism. Isn't that what we all need in this pandemic! A sprinkling of magic to right the world...

° Trigger Warnings °

Child abuse. Sexual assault. Sexual grooming.

[Lele Moloisi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel is not bad for an author’s first. In the beginning it reads like a paper written for English class with its overuse of similes and metaphors. Then it really picks up around chapter 20 as Mashishi provides engaging and brilliant storytelling until chapter 30. Afterwards there is this really unfortunate decline in the content of the story. Reading the latter end of the novel was rather tedious as there was a lot of filler information and loose/ unsatisfactory plot lines (for example: the whole Émile-Uncle Molefi thing never was unpacked really).

This book needs editing, and overall paring down. It should be 250 pages and the story needs a better ending. An ending that deserves to be in the main story and not just in the epilogue. Speaking of the epilogue, it’s a lovely way to tie up the loose ends but it would have had a greater payoff if the novel has a better ending.

Overall Invisible Strings had a great concept and it a somewhat engaging book. The writing style is easy to understand even when the world building gets unnecessarily complicated in the first bit of the book.
For those really good chapters, you won’t be able to put the book down. For the last part, good luck reading all that filler information.

[una ୨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This magical realism novel hits different, blending the supernatural with real-world struggles in the best (and creepiest) way. Through the eyes of 9 year old Thato , we step into a world where ghosts walk among the living, and the past refuses to stay buried.

Naledi’s gorgeous, immersive writing pulls you into a story of grief, family drama, the dark side of religious power, and the struggle to heal in South Africa, a country still haunted by its history. Told through multiple perspectives, it shows how the past never really lets go, sometimes in ways that are straight up unsettling.

Unputdownable, eerie, and lowkey chilling, this book had me hooked.

[Sonnymirrors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invisible Strings by Naledi Mashishi

Invisible Strings is a book by Naledi Mashishi published by BlackBirdBooks in 2021. It is a story of a little girl named Thato who becomes entangled in the chaos of the past and the present. At a young age, she develops supernatural powers that allow her to do incredible things such as seeing into the past, healing by touch and finding missing objects. The narrative, then, follows Thato, in the custody of her insecure parent - Kgethi, as she navigates her supernatural powers and all the attendant attractions: the great exploitations of the present - by envious adults including opportunists and corrupt pastors like Solomon who have an unquenchable thirst for power and a greed unequaled - and the great responsibility to heal others and to heal even the enduring familial trauma(s) of the past.

Mashishi's writing is beautiful and effortless. She seamlessly weaves together into a coherent narrative a critique of the abuse of power by religious leaders; a highlight of the poverty and economic desperation that makes so many vulnerable to abuse and manipulation; questions about healing and justice, the enduring legacies of apartheid and the lingering trauma upon families of its victims; an illustration of the anxieties and struggles of unplanned pregnancy and/or parenthood; and great commentary on spirituality and the responsibility/burdens it often comes with. The themes dealt with in this book are deeply resonant. The multiple layers of the story are handled meticulously and developed at an excellent pace culminating in a solid narrative - easy and at times heavy, but overall refreshing to read.

The fantastic and realistic elements meeting is the most exciting part of the book. Mashishi describes Thato's powers in vivid and rich detail. The showing of the powers working across time and space, through Thato and people and objects, the traveling, the visions, the worlds, the colours, the voices, the stories, all this makes for a beautiful and intimate and involving imaginative experience. Mashishi uses imagery and symbols - drawing some inspiration from African spirituality and understandings - to capture the magical elements and highlight the significance of Thato's powers. She does this in a way that offers great resonance and even connection to the reader, especially the (South) African reader familiar with the imagery and symbolism of African spirituality, black magic and/or superstition. This aspect of the book is deeply engaging and exciting.

The author develops the characters in the book so well. Thato's development was enjoyable. Perhaps for this reason I thought (wrongly) early on in the book that she would be my favorite. This was not the case. I found that I had only deep sympathy for her, and was frustrated by the abusive situations she found herself in (because of failures by adults) and the burden I perceived her to be carrying. I was only okay about her at the end. Otherwise, nothing more was felt. But Molefe. Though not the main character, he stayed with me throughout the book and even after I had finished reading it. The queer character in the book was written with so much grace and realism. In his reality, from his life, may be drawn the less that sometimes the acceptance one yearns for may not come in the way one expects it to and other times it may never come at all. Despite this, life can be full(filling). Mashishi offers something real here, something hopeful. This makes Molefe a fave, for me, a character to remember.

Invisible Strings is incredibly resonant and wonderfully told - offering an exciting meeting of fantastic and realistic elements any reader would love. Naledi Mashishi is a great storyteller and Invisible Strings is her first novel. I would love to read more of her work.

Rating: 4/5

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invisible Strings, is something to shout out loud about, it’s one of those fiction books that’s unputdownable.

Yes every now and then an exciting contemporary book comes my way with a flair of a character with unique powers.

Some people are born with powers to see dead people and spirits, like Psychic Sally Morgan.

Can you imagine having a child that has powers, to heal animals or people?

That’s exactly what happened to Mamokgethi. She wanted to be rich and famous as a top billing presenter, staying in world- class hotels, rubbing shoulders with local and international celebrities, but her dream was ruined.

When she got pregnant by a boy at a party. Once the boy found out Kgethi was pregnant, the boy didn’t want to know, her any more, then she had to deal with her father not happy that she is pregnant.

Once Mamokgethi’s little baby girl, Thato, is born it not long before she realises her daughter has incredible powers.

Word spreads around, that young Thato, finds her mother’s bracelet that has been missing.

People start to contact Mamokgethi to see if her daughter Thato can find things for them that have lost.

Theo is a child with powers, that are like magic, she sees things in her dreams that she doesn’t know what they mean, but they come true, she has the ability with healing powers and who can see the dead, and their spirit.

The story takes a twist with a new pastor, Solomon, who has found out all about Thato’s powers, he offers, Mamokgethi money to pass Thato’s powers as his own, but will she accept this money offer? I personally didn’t like the idea of what pastor Solomon’s, was up to.

I most certainly see why Invisible Strings was longlisted for the Sunday Times Literary Fiction Award.

[Cindy van Wyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blending the supernatural and the horrifically real into a tale of family, loss, religion, power and secrets best kept, Naledi Mashishi's Invisible Strings introduces us to Kgethi Pule and her daughter Thato. Despite her mother's indifference to parenting and the family squabbles she's constantly surrounded by, Thato grows into a remarkable little girl - one with powers that range from seeing the dead to healing by touch.

When power-hungry young pastor Solomon Khumalo discovers Thato's powers and makes Kgethi an offer she can't - but really should - refuse, things take increasingly dark turns until we find out just how absolutely Solomon's new-found power and wealth have corrupted him.

Invisible Strings is not my usual read, but I'm so glad I picked it up. Mashishi beautifully weaves an authentically African story that spans 40 years (if you include the epilogue, which is written 10 years later) and has so many layers. The novel casts and critical - but not at all dishonest - eye over modern churches and the things done in the name of religion, and I'll keep thinking about the subtle points made about alcoholism and communication between mothers and daughters for a long time.

There aren't many "negatives", per se, but I do think the fact the story is prefaced with the idea that Kgethi is spoiled and self-absorbed but that that doesn't translate well until later in the novel could have been tweaked a bit. It also bothered me that we never learn what really happened to Dineo, but sometimes it be's like that in real life too. Finally, there are a few things that slipped through during editing and proof-reading, especially on the back cover, and honestly, Invisible Strings deserved better.

Overall, a great read and an excellent debut.

[Nikki Marmery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naledi Mashishi's debut is beautiful, cleverly plotted, moving, and utterly original. Two stories spiral: in contemporary South Africa, Thato, a 9-year old girl with special powers is exploited by a power-hungry preacher. Thirty years earlier, her grandmother Mahlatse's beloved sister Dineo went missing as a suspected ANC activist during the Apartheid era. The strings tying the two stories together gradually become untangled as Thato unlocks the mystery of Dineo's disappearance.
Mashishi skilfully dissects her themes of intergenerational trauma, family scars, the challenges of motherhood and abuse of religious power to present a compelling tale of modern South Africa. But it's the story of Mahlatse, Dineo and their brother Molefi, rooted in the tragedies of the past, that packs the emotional punch of the book and makes the final revelations so powerful.
A stunning debut and a writer to watch.

[Tesla A · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5! Took me a but to get through this but it was a wonderful book! It took on big issues and attempted to tackle them in a fairly successful manner. The themes and people were all connected and there were hints of more here and there that kept it interesting. I found the final resolution & conclusion to be somewhat lacking as it felt like a let down from the peak of the amazing climax we go to. That ending felt a bit rushed compared to the pace of the rest of the book and the characters seemed slightly ooc. Though, I have to say the author did a wonderful job of making a set of unlikable characters interesting enough for us to keep up with them.

[Nkhensani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written story full of engaging, well-drawn characters.

I loved getting to know the people, their motivations and their desires. Recurring themes and motifs were clear and well-handled.

I enjoyed the complexity of Thato and Mahlatse, who are two people from different generations who were holding the family together.

I liked Molefi and Emile, because their story was important and relevant -- and because I love when a book gives secondary characters rich lives.

A remarkable debut from an impressive young Black woman.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was gripping and the writing was great. Sometimes it felt like the research/facts took away from the book being fiction. Loved to see Kgethi’s development through out the book

[Siân Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful novel. Such a powerful story with well-written, interesting characters. I strongly recommend this book!

[Blessing Rapotu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very well written, great characters and good storyline

[Njoki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally lol

[Thembi Matroshe · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Invisible Strings, Naledi Mashishi takes us straight into the paranormal. If you are a lover of the spooky, creepy, mysterious and psychologically thrilling - this is the book for you. While the plot is carefully constructed, with meticulously intriguing subplots that are hanging by their own invisible threads, the multilateral narratives never feel overwhelming. In a constant swap between the past and the present - 1980s, Apartheid South Africa and contemporary, Democratic South Africa; to various points of view of various characters, namely : Thato (a shy and precocious child with supernatural powers), Mamokgethi (Thato’s mother, who is barely an adult herself, often displaying spoilt brat tendencies), Mahlatse (mother to Mamokgethi and grandmother to Thato),
Molefi (Brother to Mahlatse and uncle to Mamokgethi), Solomon (former car salesman turned pastor). Each individual character’s story is intricately woven into the others, like the ongoing knitting trope, that is illustrated throughout the novel.

While I like that the text provides engaging commentary on the state of things at a particularly dark period in South Africa, it does bring to light some pertinent philosophical discussions around religion, Christianity in particular, and its relationship to African people.

From the onset of the 2010s, South Africa was plagued by the popularity of what many have referred to as false prophets. Although there are still incidents of such occurring today, there had been a concentrated amount of people attending churches that were considered as cults circa 2015, where charismatic religious leaders who claimed to be reincarnated forms of Christ, often posed strict and arbitrary restrictions on their attendees. In conjunction to the unusual methods of worship, a slew of sexual misconduct, abuse and exploitation often characterised these churches, where the pastors subjected congregants to these abuses, often preying upon young girls. The congregants? Bound to secrecy and fear, with total faith in their pastors - dared not utter a single word to those outside their communities about the happenings of their churches.

In a country with a leadership crisis, rising unemployment and a frustrated youth, it is no wonder that individuals sought refuge in such churches. Where the pastors provided definitive answers and a rule book to curing chronic ailments, gaining employment, finding romantic partnership and living a life free of sin.

This, all-too-close-to-reality backdrop, is exactly where Invisible Strings is placed. While little Thato navigates how to use her paranormal powers, she crosses paths with a desperate pastor who is in need of a career boost. Needless to say, Thato’s desperate for money mother, Mamokgethi, accepts the tempting offer to pass of Thato’s powers as the pastor’s.

In a complex narrative that often reflects on colonisation, capitalism, patriarchy, homophobia - through the eyes of the various characters, we are often forced to reconcile these intersectional systems of oppression by ourselves. While bizarre and extraordinary things are made ordinary in the novel, it is the overarching systems of oppression that are illustrated that we are forced to see as bizarre and abnormal.

In moments of anger against Mamogkethi’s poor parenting, or her own entrapment in a system that places her in a compromising position where she is forced to choose poorly, I am reminded of texts like Tony Morrison’s Beloved. Invisible Strings questions why we often place individuals at fault when it is systematic forces that lead them to their choices.

If there is anything that this novel will do, it will make you think. Deeply and sincerely about the state of affairs in South Africa. For black people, women, queers and children - the marginalised of the marginalised. It will bring new questions, that you will need to answer yourself. It will provide you with empathy and a new way of seeing things that seemed all too black and white. And it will keep you perched on the edge of your seat, desperate to turn yet another page.

[Charity (BookedonCharity) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤Writing Style

The writing in the book was easy to read and follow. This is a quick read and was a page turner.

🖤Characters

Naledi wrote the characters in this book so well. Everyone had a backstory and the characters were relateable.

Kgethi - I sympathized with in the first half of the book but quickly got irritated and frustrated with her in the second part.

Thato - I just felt sorry for the whole time for how she was used.

Molefi - Was my favourite character in the first half of the book but I could not find his relevance in the second.

Solomon - He is the villain, so nobody likes him. But, his character shows us how good intentions can quickly turn evil at the sight of greed and power.

THE DOG WITH THE SPOTS - You think it's appearance in the book is random until it's not.

🖤Plot

This story was definitely character driven and I loved that. Naledi tackles controversial topics relating to politics and religion (which is the main discussion). You can tell that Naledi has done a lot of research on these topics to be able to write the book.

The book talks Solomon's greed for power and success. Up to a point where he convinced himself that his preachings were aligned with God's will. We see how he uses people naïvety and desperations to take advantage of them.

The book also explores issues of motherhood and showing us how not every woman who is a mother can have a deep connection with her child (like society requires).

The book also include magical elements, visions and dreams.

This was a great debut book and would definitely recommend it.

[Sukoluhle Nontokozo Nontokozo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and refreshing read it was! I loved how Naledi infused the story with real history. She didn't make it a boring History lecture, she made sure it blended well with her storyline.

[Sanelisekile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this booked based solely on the cover and I didn’t regret it one bit.

The writing was simple and accessible and the story gripping.

A lovely debut.