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Johannesburg - It was an intimate gathering with Marah Louw, whose book is to be the first in the series #GautrainReads, a project launched on Wednesday at the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel in Sandton.
The #GautrainReads is a virtual book club designed to get commuters to engage with reading and to use their travelling time to this end.
Louw addressed the audience about her new book, It’s Me Marah.
It was then announced that a movie would be made about her life, the initial script due for completion at the end of the month. She spoke about life, love and the trauma of abuse.
She delved into her personal issues and the domestic abuse she suffered throughout her life, which is thoroughly addressed in the book.
Louw, who is a former Idols SA judge, also blessed the occasion with her superb music.
Ingrid Jensen, the Gautrain Management Agency’s executive manager for reputation, said: “Telling our own stories is important because we know our stories better than anyone; it’s what brings us together.
Louw’s book was chosen because she is legendary and like the Gautrain, she is deeply rooted in Gauteng, Jensen added.
She said there were already Gautrain passengers using their commuting time for reading.
Jensen reiterated that the initiative was meant to encourage a culture of reading and to promote the Gautrain as a space for reading.
“As part of the initiative, there will be a quarterly social event, which are book club events where a book by a well-known author will be featured ... Such events will feature books that will be on stories that are relevant, and written by South African authors,” Jensen said.
The launch of Louw’s book might be the beginning of fast-tracking the growth of reading among the commuters of the future.
