Alone by Lebo Pule

This is a memoir of a woman detailing a brief account of her growing up in Alexandra and the subtle and unconscious effects that background and society has on an individual.  Set up in the Township of Alexandra Township, Lebo Pule becomes a little bit vulnerable to her readers revealing details of the type of environment she grew up in.  Those who know Lebo Pule from social networks will know that she has never been extremely secretive so most of what she shares does not really shock you as she has somewhat touched on most of the chapters in her daily posts. What the book does is that it ties the strings together as you experience sounds of pennies dropping everywhere with every turn of the page. There is something special about someone who is very self-aware and has given themselves permission to be who they are unapologetically without fitting into a mould of what is expected of them.   

 

When I first saw the cover of the book, I truly wondered what the inspiration behind it was. Lebo explains that the woman represents a story of so many women in current day society.  That there is some sort of countenance you need to maintain no matter what is going on in your life. It is almost like wearing a prim and proper mask while behind the scenes you can barely manage to keep your bricks together.  This is unfortunately the state of many women in our country, actually let me extend this to men as well, we look good and well put on the outside but no one knows of the walls tumbling down on the inside. This reminds me of the “new woman” that Professor Pumla Gqola speaks of in her book “a Renegade Called Simphiwe”.  That this “new woman” is a social construct of what the normal woman should aspire to become even though many women do not fit this profile. In normalising this woman, any other becomes abnormal. Reading Alone, one thing is clear and that is Lebo does subscribe to this “new woman” concept. Many would say her politics around gender issues are harsh but when you have an idea of her background you understand why they are necessary. 

This book is captured with simplicity and beauty that I found myself juggling with many emotions throughout the book. I remember smiling, laughing, sniffing and also getting a bit upset. Lebo Pule gets extremely vulnerable about the type of childhood she had; the challenges of growing up in a township, being bullied by boys (because you are a girl that is not “normal”), almost being raped and also falling pregnant at a very young age and being misunderstood for it. What also captured my heart the most is the daddy issues chapter (because I am obsessed with masculinity in South Africa). Having to live with a father she had no relationship with, desperately trying to get his attention.  She details how she would savour special attention he would shower her with which was very rare. Her reflections on that relationship show the long term effects which manifested in her life when she was older.  This also allows the reader to dig deep into their own relationships with their fathers and try and find how it might have affected how they view things, especially men around them.  Although I cannot relate to Lebo Pule’s background, I can however relate to her essence.  No matter which background we all come from, there is ultimately something that weaves us together.  I am sure many readers too will definitely relate to this if not all. I say all because our stories do not necessarily need to be identical for us to see ourselves within one another. 

Lebo also talks about her career cycle and how she ventured into Entrepreneurship. She highlights some pivotal challenges which ultimately led to her bankruptcy. There is a level of a façade that is shown in the faces of Entrepreneurs in South Africa painting a picture of ballers with no challenges.  It is as if people are in denial that this is one tough sector to be a part of in South Africa. Lebo has defied all of that and has openly shared what so many of us go through when we try and become Entrepreneurs. Exposing the type of relationships we have with our finances and decisions we make when it comes to our businesses which lead to downfall and all sorts of soul crunching realities; having to once seemingly fly high to “downgrading” and returning home.  We are one of the few countries that make this a death sentence and we find that most people do not bounce back from this fall.  What is truly beautiful about this memoir is that it does not reach an ending, but rather it opens up conversations we should start having within and outwards of ourselves.  At the end of a dark night, a new day arises. 

I count myself blessed to be part of a generation that gets to witness the new day in Lebo Pule’s life. She represents women in a big way and because of her and many other brave women who tell their stories unapologetically; women will cease to be removed from history.

Every South African needs a copy of this book; no matter what gender, race or tribe.  This book gives a beautiful perspective of a part of the South African reality.  It will challenge you and it will draw you to making certain decisions about your life. To reflect on whether you are in the right space and if you need to detach yourself from those toxic spaces and lastly but importantly, whether you have decided to confront your wounds and heal. 

One critique I would have is that the book is extremely short and it leaves your tongue wagging for the next offerings by Lebo Pule; which is a good thing if you think about it, nothing sucks like feeling like you do not want to read anything else by the author after reading their book.

You can get ALONE at selected Exclusive books

You can also order on Kalahari.com

And you can order directly from the ALONE Team via this email alonelebopule@gmail.com this is their preferred method plus you get an autographed copy with a lovely message in true Lebo Pule style.

Let me know how you find it